Software engineering, unlike many other areas of study, is a constantly evolving one, with new technologies and trends reshaping the field one innovation at a time. And therefore, it’s crucial for developers to keep track of the latest predictions and trends in the field of software engineering to keep themselves industry relevant, especially when artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) driven models are bringing significant changes to how we have thought of technology so far.
For software engineers, these frequent changes are intriguing and daunting, and adjusting to them involves stepping out of their comfort zone to upskill themselves. But with an ever-changing environment due to massive technological investments, preparing yourself beforehand is essential to gain a competitive advantage.
Key Predictions to Watch in Software Development Space
IT and software spending in 2022 was expected to reach its peak at nearly $4.5 trillion, up 5.1% compared to 2021, as per a report by research firm Gartner. This year and the coming years will be no different as companies worldwide continue investing in software development and technologies.
Here are the top predictions and trends that software engineers should keep a tab on to stay at the top of their game:
1. Increased Use of AI and ML
The two much-talked-about technologies – artificial intelligence and machine learning – are all already playing a significant role in software development and will continue to do the same in the times to come. Newer models and platforms are now being built using AI and ML, and therefore it has become essential to master the technology to stay relevant in the ever-changing workforce.
Software developers are integrating AI and ML to make their existing applications and platforms smarter and more intelligent, thus saving time and costs. Their use will also help developers to create more personalized products for consumers. Market research company Tractica predicts that global income generated by deploying AI technologies will reach $126 billion by 2025.
2. Low-code/No-code
Low-code or no-code platforms, as the name suggests, help software developers to create software applications with minimal coding. The rising popularity of low-code and no-code development platforms is enabling even non-tech individuals to build and scale tech-based products and services.
Shortly, it’s highly likely that we will see a lot of companies offering products and services built on top of low-code or no-code platforms, making it easier for anyone with no technical expertise to create their software applications and platforms.
3. Increased Focus on Cybersecurity
In the past few years, there has been a renewed focus on cybersecurity with the rise in the number of cybercrime incidents and tougher government norms. As a result, around 65% of businesses are all set to increase their cybersecurity budget in 2023, according to the latest research – 2023 Technology Spending Intentions Survey – by ESG Global.
Going forward, software engineers must be more agile to take on cyber attacks. And therefore, more innovations in space are likely to arrive at the scene to stop malware, phishing, crypto-jacking, and other types of cyber attacks.
4. Open-source software
Open-source software basically means computer software that can be used, modified, and distributed without the need to buy a license. Software developers and large conglomerates are likely to continue banking on open-source software to continue building platforms and applications that are easily scalable while saving costs.
Platforms such as Kubernetes and OpenStack will likely become more popular shortly as they offer developers more flexibility and are far easier to use. Moreover, developers can collaborate with industry peers on projects via open-source software to drive further tech innovation.
Key Trends to Watch in Software Development Space
1. DevOps Saving Costs
DevOps, which combines cultural philosophies, practices, and tools to significantly bring a positive change to an organization’s ability to deliver at high velocity, has become a crucial part of today’s software engineering practices. The rising use of DevOps applications will continue to reduce overheads as developers streamline the processes.
2. Use of Containers and Microservices
There has been rising popularity of virtualizations via containers and microservices, which enable developers to come up with applications that are more scalable and modular. The new breed of developers is prioritizing package data into containers and microservices. It will be interesting to see how developers will use them for their new-age applications and software products.
3. Revolutionizing Cloud Computing
While cloud computing has been here for years, it continues to change the landscape of modern-day software engineering with the ease it offers to developers. In the years to come, the technology will find newer and more scalable applications as its adoption continues to surge in a big way globally.
4. Internet of Things (IoT) Integrations
IoT devices are finding their applications across homes and industries. Technology is already reshaping how we live and making us more tech-savvy. In the coming years, software developers will continue to build newer IoT devices that can easily handle large data volumes. With the launch of 5G, IoT will also find more use cases.
5. Quantum Computing Integration
Despite being in its early stages, quantum computing is already creating a sort of revolution in fields like aerospace, mechanical, and of course, software engineering. The technology has immense potential to solve complex problems that remain unsolved due to previous generation computers.
6. Diving Deeper Into Deep Learning
Deep learning models have been increasingly integrated with the existing software to extract additional sets of information with ease. Companies like Meta and Google already have their own deep-learning platforms up and running, while many others will look to either create their own models.
Summing Up!
2022 has been a tough year for software engineers, and 2023 has brought no respite yet. But that doesn’t mean software engineers will eventually go out of business. With newer models and use cases coming to the fore, it would be interesting to see how things shape up.
And as many have been saying for decades, the future of software engineering continues to be exciting and full of possibilities. However, for software engineers, staying on top of the above-mentioned trends is now more crucial than ever.
FAQs
1. What are the top latest tech stacks for Software Developers?
Technologies are an inevitable part of a human’s life and they are getting updated day by day, some of the latest technologies are-
2. How to keep updated yourself?
In order to persist in your job as Software Engineer you need to be updated according to ongoing technologies and for that one should follow the following steps.
- Follow tech blogs such as GeeksForGeeks
- Do experiments with new technology
- Attend national and international conferences
- Read technology-related books
- Keep practicing your existing tech
- Join different developer communities
- Try to join and collab with other Developers
3. Will software engineers continue to be in demand?
Surely, Sofware engineers will continue to be in demand. As of now many things are getting automated and the dependencies have increased but, in the end, the generation of new ideas and solutions to new problems would only be possible with Software engineers. To know more reasons behind the same, please refer to the article – 5 Reasons Why Software Engineers Are in High Demand.
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