Software development has changed dramatically over the past decade, with technology becoming easier to understand and use while also becoming more complex and sophisticated. As software developers continue to build on what they’ve already created, there are some trends that will shape their approach in the future. Here are nine software development trends in 2021 to watch for now.
1| Native App Development
Native apps (applications developed for a particular operating system and device) will continue to be refined and improved, but mobile applications as we know them now will likely become less common as more companies adopt hybrid or progressive web apps. More than 80% of businesses worldwide don’t have an app, so as smartphone penetration rates increase to more than 50%, it’s reasonable to expect that those numbers will increase accordingly. Progressive web apps deliver experiences that are essentially indistinguishable from native apps, but they also offer several advantages: They use much fewer data and can work across all platforms without downloads. They load instantly and can send push notifications and run background tasks. Additionally, users don’t need to install anything; they just access them through a browser.
2| The Internet Of Things
Internet of Things is a big buzzword in 2016. IoT is short for the Internet of Things, which means that physical objects will be able to connect with other online devices and share information. In 2021, expect more machines to be connected to each other, giving us an unprecedented level of control over our things and making it possible for us to get better service from them. I’m talking home appliances that can text you when they need servicing or a coffee maker that knows how many scoops you usually use and will brew your morning coffee before you get out of bed.
3| Human Augmentation
We’ve already begun to augment our physical capabilities with things like exoskeletons and powered prosthetics, but in many ways, it will be augmented intelligence that will change everything. With technology continuing to improve at exponential rates, there are no limits on what you can do with an augmented brain—you’ll think faster, learn more quickly, and remember it all. More than just becoming smarter than your average person, though, human augmentation will also mean people become more productive through easy communication with one another. Using tools like AI assistants, augmented humans will find it easier to learn new skills thanks to machine-generated content for them to consume.
4| Big Data
Big data is already here and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. It’s not just a trend—it’s now a critical part of business as we know it. At major software companies like IBM, big data-related projects will take up over 60% of development cycles in 2015 and beyond. As that number grows, we can expect to see an increase in demand for people with skills in big data technology and analysis. This trend will only continue as small businesses and even non-profits become more aware of just how much actionable information they can collect through new technology tools—and how that information can help them improve their bottom line or further their cause.
5| Artificial Intelligence Expansion
Systems that utilize artificial intelligence have been getting a lot of attention lately. New data from IDC shows that AI will expand from an estimated $8 billion industry in 2017 to a massive $58 billion market by 2021, as more companies take advantage of what it has to offer. In fact, IDC predicts AI-related products and services will grow at a 27% CAGR over those three years. But what does that mean for software developers? It means that now is a great time to start learning about machine learning and AI systems. At a minimum, you should be familiar with how these technologies work and why they’re important going forward if you want to stay relevant as a developer.
6| Continuous Integration And Deployment
This software development trend is already well-established, but it will continue to be increasingly important in years to come. Continuous integration and deployment are two sides of the same coin. Continuous integration is a software development process that ensures that all code being worked on by developers adheres to standards, or criteria within given standards, so errors are caught early in testing phases. Deployment refers to how these tested pieces of code are integrated into production environments. Developers have historically had to manually deploy pieces of code once they’ve gone through an extensive test phase; however, with continuous integration and deployment processes in place, developers can push new versions to production-level environments at any time without compromising quality control.
7| Progressive Web Apps
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are web applications that look and behave like native mobile apps. Because of new browser capabilities, they work on every smartphone regardless of operating system; no downloads are required, and they’re more engaging than traditional mobile sites. Google, Mozilla, Apple, Microsoft, and Opera all support PWAs. They can be built using platform-agnostic frameworks like Ionic or React Native without any specific knowledge of programming languages. I predict that in 2021 every single app will run on a PWA stack regardless of its actual platform (iOS/Android).
8| Low-Code Development
Although some people might not be convinced that low-code is actually software development, I think it is safe to say that it is part of our future. For decades, technology companies have been giving end-users more control over how they interact with their applications. From Visual Basic’s forms to Windows Presentation Foundation’s XAML, developers are taking a back seat in allowing users access to run their own code. Not only does it help them cut costs on hiring full-time employees, but it also gives them complete control over their systems for quicker changes and updates. A simple example of low-code can be found with Google Sheets. It is essentially an alternative to Microsoft Excel that almost anyone can use without needing any coding experience at all.
9| Cross-Platform And Hybrid Development
However, it’s not just mobile applications that will take advantage of cross-platform technologies; you can expect desktop software development tools to take advantage of cross-platform coding as well. Cross-platform development also helps ensure that every device runs an application made specifically for it, with no need for complex workarounds or testing; developers simply write an application once and let computers do all of the hard work. A new startup called Meteor aims to make it easy for developers to create both cross-platform apps and websites with its launchpad for developing applications on multiple platforms quickly.
10| Cross-Platform And Hybrid Development
These are two very specific areas that developers will need to know how to work with in order to create products that span multiple devices. Web technologies have been popular because they allow developers to easily develop applications that can be accessed from virtually any device or web browser. Because of these benefits, many companies have been using HTML5 and other web-centric programming languages in order to create apps for a variety of devices, including PCs, smartphones, and tablets. In addition, Microsoft has recently unveiled a new web-centric platform called Windows 8. Rather than producing a single operating system for all devices, Windows 8 is specifically designed for use on tablets and PCs rather than solely on mobile phones.
| Conclusion
In conclusion, I think that software development will remain a popular career choice for decades to come. In terms of specific technology, programming languages will change and evolve based on new technologies and frameworks. Technology is evolving rapidly right now with artificial intelligence becoming more mainstream each day. If I were a software developer in 2021, I would need to keep up with these developments while also staying current on emerging frameworks and programming languages that are yet to be fully adopted by developers today. In addition, I’d need to decide if I wanted to focus my energy on front-end or back-end development. If you are looking for a software developer there are many software development company that can help in developing software for your business.
