How many programmers would have been unsuccessful if Stackoverflow didn't exist?

[__b_tom_kasidy]

Well, there wouldn't be that much of the difference because StackOverflow is just the most popular site for asking coding question, if it didn't exist there would a different one just as big, as long as the internet is open there will always be a site like that. A better question: "How many programmers would have been unsuccessful is the internet was not open to the public?"

[aledalgrande]

Forgot all the programmers that came before SO?

I think Github had a much bigger impact. I enjoy seeing how other developers solved a problem I have.

SO pays off in the short term, but in the longer term you are left with nothing but superficial knowledge and badges.

[bongowok]

StackOverflow is just the path of least resistance. There was a time when developers would just have framework or language books sitting around for reference.

[AwesomeFaic]

At least one! Ha ha cries in copy-paste

[amoitnga]

Way less than if online search engines wouldn't exist

[probinso]

before stackoverflow there was "documentation" and "man pages"; would have worked out alright

[aljmyl]

All of them.