Bit by bit: colocation and the death of distance in software developer networks

Abstract

Digital work environments potentially facilitate remote collaboration, thereby decreasing geographic friction in knowledge work. I examine spatial collaboration of 190,637 software developers in the USA on the largest coding platform, GitHub. Using a gravity framework that accounts for cluster size, I find that colocated developers collaborate about nine times more frequently than non-colocated developers. This colocation effect is about two to four times smaller than in less digital settings in inventor or social networks. Increased distance beyond colocation has little impact on collaboration. Heterogeneity analyses demonstrate the colocation effect is smaller within large organizations, among experienced developers, and for sporadic interactions. Results suggest geographic proximity is less important for collaboration in digital knowledge work.