Latest Technologies in Software Development
Software development is an ever-booming field evolving by the second, with the greatest trends and technologies being introduced every day. Thanks to the various tweaks and improvements in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) like:
Technology might become prominent today and obsolete in the next ten years. When we look at the current trends and technologies in the software development process, we can see how significant changes have been made in the last ten years regarding the development, deployment, and managing software. For a software engineer or developer, it is essential to learn, relearn and unlearn certain technological concepts of this growing trend, out of necessity if not for desire.
This article will provide a walkthrough of the latest technological trends in software development, which is a sure shot to shape tomorrow's future.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Artificial Intelligence has already been in the technological buzz since the last decade. Irrespective of other technological advancements and trends, AI has made a significant and notable impact on the way we live and make advancements in software developments. With the development of AI technologies, machine learning has also significantly impacted software development. It has a superior application in speech recognition, personal assistance, smart navigation, and other such applications.
Machine learning is a subset of Artificial Intelligence now deployed in different industries. It is also considered one of the best fields offering great resources for beginner software engineers and skilled professionals to help computer systems “learn” from their past experiences. According to reports from Forrester, AI, ML, and automation will take over 90% of the software industry in the US by 2025. Mastering this field will help professionals secure a job as:
Low code and no code software development
Although coding is considered the basis for the software field, the recent trends of decreasing or eliminating the amount of code have created a wave in the software field. The complexity of developing the right code for different functionality is increasing day by day, and new talents are reluctant to work in such high-pressure environments.
This is where low-code or no-code software development comes into play. Although the tools used for this trend do not necessarily replace the development of programs and code, it helps in bringing further benefits like:
In this method, developers create applications using visual interfaces with different drag-and-drop tools instead of writing code from scratch. One of the primary advantages is to develop software applications faster, especially for non-technical users. Hence, it is one of the widely spreading trends in the business field.
Augmented, virtual, and mixed reality
AR, VR, and MR are the three technologies that have stagnated over several years. As a result, most software developers in development teams are often looking for efficient ways to increase experience on the user end by implementing low-cost and efficient technologies. However, AR, MR, and VR are the trends that will fundamentally change how we interact with the world around us.
Augmented reality (AR)
The applications of AR are used in a wide set of industries, from AR-powered GPS apps for navigation to e-commerce and logistics. They offer more reliance on digital technologies with more target-to-user experience.
Virtual reality (VR)
One big use case of VR is in the gaming industry, as it provides an unparalleled user experience to immerse the user into a virtual world. However, with its growing impact, it is also effectively used in software development, education, and entertainment fields.
Mixed reality (MR)
The amalgam of better VR and AR is Mixed Reality. This trend mainly blends the physical world with the digital world and also poses the potential to change how users interact with the physical world around them. Microsoft has produced precuts like HoloLens to lay the groundwork for MR, which could be the next big thing in the software development industry.
Quantum computing
Although his name has been long introduced in the software development field, its application of it is limited in today's world. It makes use of quantum phenomena like quantum entanglement and superposition principles to develop, study, monitor, and analyze the data, which can be tamed regardless of the source. For example, it was one of the main technologies in preventing the spread of coronavirus and developing potential vaccines for the pandemic.
Quantum computing also has widespread applications in finance, fraud detection, and other such fields. Computers built using quantum computing technologies are called quantum computers, which are a multitude of times faster and more efficient when compared to our regular computers. Top companies like Honeywell, AWS, Google, and much more are heavily invested in this field which is predicted to surpass $2.5 million by 2029.
Internet of Things
IoT application is not limited to software development but extends to almost every field in the world. Many "things" are built and connected through Wi-Fi and other wireless connections, which further connect to the internet. It is the future!
The applications of IoT are already in use for smart home devices, smart cars, and home appliances, which are growing potential in today's world. Business software developers recommend the drastic shift to IoT models as they provide better decision-making technologies and enhance the efficient use of collected data.
According to study forecasts, by 2030, 50 billion IoT devices are set to hit the market in different fields, making life much easier and connected to things. However, in order for people to develop a future in IoT, they need to have knowledge in the following field:
Blockchain
When we hear the word, most people associate it with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. However, it is much more than that! It is one of the most significant technologies which is developing secure trends in software development. Since it is a decentralized chain of data, no data can be removed or altered, hence making it a secure platform for many industries. The technology mainly works on a distributed ledger that securely records all transactions between two parties in a transparent manner.
One of the major applications of Blockchain technology is in supply chain management. Helping companies create a transparent and secure way to move their goods efficiently across different supply chains. Blockchain is also used to build dApps (decentralized applications), which helps develop greater security, transparency, and resilience compared to traditional applications. This will help revolutionize not just the software industry but logistics, finance, and healthcare.
Extended reality
It is one of the greatest inventions which will help the software industry multitude of times as it combines the trend of Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Mixed reality, and other latest technologies in between. Furthermore, this trend is used to break the real boundaries of the world by creating a virtual world without a tangible presence. Therefore, it is one of the most popular development trends amongst gamers, the modeling industry, retail professionals, and medical specialists.
Datafication
This trend is simply defined to make our lives easier. It means it is the modification of all the human chores and tasks to form a data-driven environment. The technology mainly makes use of smartphones, industrial machines, and other appliances powered by AI to secure data and perform the necessary actions.
Since, in this trend, everything is dealt with by data and programming, it has a high demand for IT professionals, managers, technicians, data scientists, and engineers. Some of the popular careers in datafication are:
Data science and big data run hand-in-hand and have now become the most mandatory norm in every IT industry and software development procedure. Many software engineers have upskilled to cater to big data needs. Since the scrutiny for big data has increased twofold, it has become a number one priority to store all these data in an organized fashion with integrated security management systems. Since there is also an increase in the concept of data-as-a-security, big data security will become the next new thing in the development industry.
Key takeaway
Software development is a constantly changing field. Today's trend might quickly be replaced by better and more efficient technology. However, the ones mentioned above are here to stay due to the impact they have on society and our dependency on software developments and applications. With the use of the above mentioned technologies and many more like 5G, DevOps, cloud computing, edge computing, and so on, it has become increasingly easier for people to stay connected to the world and make their life easier and more secure. With the increase in such trends and technologies, there is also an increase in demand for people working in the software world.