With all these developments, the coming year will see many innovations and ways to continue using technology to generate remarkable results.
Software development is constantly evolving and will continue to evolve in the coming months. Technological and social needs are driving many of the changes we are likely to see. For example, the need for a secure way to execute contracts is taking blockchain to the next level, while new uses for artificial intelligence (AI) are forcing the industry to become more concerned with “ethical AI”.
#1 Cloud Emphasis
The year 2022 demonstrated the need for cloud services to scale up or down as needed. While some industries have thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic, others (like tourism) have seen a sharp drop in demand. Companies with cloud-based platforms have avoided having to pay for unnecessary data center services. Therefore, it is likely that many more companies will move their operations to the cloud in 2024.
#2 Growing Use of Blockchain
Although blockchain technology is well known for its role in cryptocurrency, it also has other uses, which help prevent fraud in confidential transactions. Some functions are likely to increase in 2024, including use in smart contract platforms. The following video explains what smart contracts are and how they are used:
#3 Evolution of AI
AI is also expected to gain traction in 2024, given that companies with AI-driven capabilities are likely to succeed. The area of Natural Language Processing (NLP), which allows computers to write text and software programs, is of particular interest. And awareness of ethical AI – that is, ensuring that software engineers program machines to “do the right thing” – is expected to increase as computers begin to take on additional human functions.
#4: A Rise in Low-Code/No-Code Development
The need for software engineers has outpaced their availability, making low-code/no-code (LCNC) programming a must for companies that need the ability to easily move forward with new initiatives. This type of software allows those without development training to create databases and other applications to support agile operations. This capability is becoming more common and will grow in 2024 and beyond.
#5 The Ascendancy of Python and JavaScript
Programming languages that are easy to learn and use are becoming more popular, which is why Python and JavaScript will likely remain in demand in 2024. Python is widely used in data sciences as well as several other fields, while JavaScript remains the language most popular overall, especially for development beginners.
#6: Progress in the use of modern languages
Modern development languages are also prepared to meet the demands of today's software engineers. Those like Rust, Go, and Kotlin are becoming more popular due to features like type inference, null safety, expressiveness, and succinctness. In particular, some experts predict that Rust will make a breakthrough in 2024. Microsoft and Amazon have recently announced significant investments in Rust.
#7 Increase in Native App Development
Given the proliferation of mobile devices, mobile applications are becoming increasingly important. To create applications with greater flexibility and better performance, software development teams working for companies that can afford it are choosing to use native application development, which means creating two or more separate versions of an application to work with each major mobile operating system (OS).
#8 Increase in Progressive Web Apps
Progressive web apps (PWAs) reflect the benefits of websites and mobile apps to provide users with a streamlined experience without companies having to create separate mobile apps for specific operating systems. They are built using languages such as JavaScript, CSS and HTML and can operate on any platform that uses a web browser. Because PWAs can enable cost savings while improving customer engagement, their use is likely to increase in 2024.
#9 IoT Expansion
The Internet of Things (IoT) is rapidly expanding to include billions of connected devices across many industries such as healthcare, agriculture, shipping and manufacturing, contributing to many modern conveniences. Each of these devices requires software to operate it, creating a huge need for software engineers to write it and contribute the security needed to prevent each from becoming an entry point for hackers within a given system.
#10 Scaling Edge Computing
Edge computing , which supports IoT, occurs closer to where data is created. For example, utilities can use edge devices to collect information about equipment and process it nearby, sending only relevant information back to the central office. Software engineers are required to ensure that these devices take advantage of the computing speed and processing efficiency they are capable of, while also being mindful of special security considerations.
#11 Importance of User Experience
Software development is not just about functionality. It's also a question of usability. In other words, users must be able to easily understand how to operate applications, regardless of their size or complexity. User experience (UX) has become an important business driver in recent years and will continue to determine how companies design products and services. Therefore, in 2024 and beyond, engineers will increasingly be required to focus their energies in this domain.
#12 Increased use of CI and CD
Continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD) are part of the software development process, with CI ensuring that code changes from multiple engineers are integrated into a software project. The CD promotes configuration and functionality changes, as well as bug fixes, quickly and sustainably. Both processes allow development companies to complete projects faster, saving money and increasing efficiency, key factors in 2024.
2024 will be a big year in software development
With all these developments, the coming year will see many innovations and ways to continue using technology to generate remarkable results. This will be especially true as more companies achieve digital acceleration and start thinking differently about how to use technology to meet their financial, social and customer service objectives.
