5 Big Trends in Software Development: 2023-2024 and Beyond

Despite the instability caused by the pandemic, technology continues growing more rapidly than ever before— and so do various technology trends. According to statistics by Gartner, Global IT spending was down 5.4% in 2020 but eventually began to rebound, with total projected spending of $3.8 trillion in 2022. Global IT spending is expected to grow in the coming years, with some key trends driving it. These significant trends in bespoke software development for 2023-2024 and beyond include.

1. Accelerated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Adoption - Artificial Intelligence is one of the most apparent and touted technology trends, already mainstreaming with wide adoption of applications such as ChatGPT and many others. Leveraging AI, computers can learn from past behavior and about the world as humans do — they learn from their experience than having to be specifically programmed. In recent years, the abrupt and phenomenal explosion of computing power and data has sent artificial intelligence (AI) barreling forward. In fact, the world is excessively using AI in various everyday tasks in the form of Siri, ChatGPT, Amazon Echo, and other technologies. Here're a few supporting examples:

• In healthcare, AI is used to develop new drugs and treatments, diagnose diseases, and provide personalized care.
• In banking, AI provides banks with the hyper-personalization that customers demand in today's world as well as advancements in security. McKinsey predicts that AI could drive $1 trillion of additional value annually.

2. DevSecOps - DevSecOps, the fusion of development, security, and operations, has emerged as an advancing software development paradigm, emphasizing seamless security integration throughout the entire IT lifecycle. DevSecOps proves crucial for organizations aiming to fortify their software security while accelerating the development and rollout of new features. Traditionally, software releases were infrequent, allowing security testing to be conducted after development. However, the contemporary software development landscape is characterized by rapid iterations, necessitating a more agile security approach.

• DevSecOps offers a viable solution by embedding security into the development process immediately. This proactive approach enables early identification and resolution of security issues, minimizing the likelihood of complications during production.
• As a result, DevSecOps not only enhances the security posture of software but also expedites the development and deployment of new features. Besides, the Return on Investment (ROI) of DevSecOps is evident.
• Organizations adopting DevSecOps practices experience increased deployment frequency, cost reductions, and expedited resolution of security flaws.

3. Extensive Use of the Internet of Things (IoT) - The IoT is a network of devices coupled to the internet and can gather and exchange data. According to Statista, by 2025, the number of IoT devices will triple from 2019, reaching over 75 billion. One of the key drivers of IoT growth is the increasing availability of low-cost, high-performance sensors and constantly improving connectivity. These factors make it possible to connect to a broader range of IoT devices , including smart speakers, wearables, and sensors for healthcare and industrial applications. IoT is having a significant impact on a wide range of industries.

• For example, IoT monitors patients' health remotely and tracks medical supplies' movement in the healthcare industry. Forrester predicted that wearables and sensors aimed at letting patients monitor their health at home will surge in the future.
• IoT improves efficiency and productivity in the industrial sector by monitoring equipment and processes. IoT is also having a significant impact on the workplace.
• For example, IoT in cameras can be used to monitor employees' handwashing and social distancing to help prevent the spread of disease.

4.Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) - PWAs are a promising technology for businesses that want to provide their users with a high-quality mobile experience without requiring them to download an app. They are also a good option for companies that want to reach a wider audience, as PWAs can be accessed on any device through a web browser.

Starbucks is one popular example. The company is fully utilizing the benefits of PWAs and is providing convenience to customers who don't have a reliable network connection throughout the day. Starbucks' PWA enables customers to browse the menu and even customize their orders without being connected to the internet. They can see specific pricing for the nearest location and place their order when they connect. After implementing the PWA, Starbucks doubled the number of web users who place orders daily.
PWAs are installable on a user's device and can be launched from the home screen. They run on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, just like regular websites, but they can provide a more app-like experience by taking advantage of features such as offline access and push notifications.

Here are some of the benefits of PWAs:

• Faster loading time than regular websites.
• Offline access for users who have limited or unreliable internet connectivity.
• Push notifications to end users to keep them updated with new content/alert them about important events.
• Provide app-like experience with advantages of features, such as home screen icons and the notification bar.

5. Deployment and Scaling Simplified with Microservices Architecture - Microservices architecture is a software development approach that structures an application as a gathering of loosely coupled services. Each service is self-contained and performs a specific task or goal.

Microservices architecture offers several benefits over traditional monolithic architecture, including:

• Scalability: Can be scaled independently, making it easier to accommodate increased demand.
• Agility: Can be developed and deployed more quickly than monolithic applications.
• Fault tolerance: Continues to operate if one service fails.
• Reusability: Can be reused in other applications.

Docker is a popular tool for deploying microservices. Docker tool provides containers that encapsulate each service. A container includes the source code, operating system libraries, and dependencies required to run the service in any environment. This makes it easy to deploy microservices to different environments, such as production, staging, and development.

The IBM survey in 2021 found that 88% of current microservices users agree that microservices architecture offers scores of benefits to their development teams. The survey also found that 87% agree that adopting this approach will be worth the effort and expense.

Microservices architecture is a promising approach to software development that offers several benefits over traditional monolithic architecture. As the market for cloud microservices continues to grow, this approach will likely become even more prevalent.

Conclusion

We're on the brink of an exciting time as far as technologies and software development are concerned. Disruptive technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), Machine Learning (ML), and more, are all set to take center stage in the coming years. However, to leverage these technologies' capabilities, software development will also have to advance and grow - which will be done through trends such as containerization, functional programming, multiplatform UI development, and various others. Software developers across the globe have an exciting path ahead of them in bringing forth these changes.