The past year saw rapid improvement in software development as many software development companies have adopted new technology trends. Conversations around the IoT ecosystem went mainstream involving everything from wearable trackers to smart refrigerators. Additionally, cybersecurity continued to be a vital part of all software development.
2019 will extend some of these software development trends, and see new trends emerge. Because software development touches so many parts of a business, these trends will influence everything from consumer gadgets to business processes. We’ve gathered some of the largest trends in software development that will impact the world of business in 2019.
4 Software Development Trends in 2019
1. Progressive Web Apps
Progressive web apps (PWA) are basically sites that look and feel like a native mobile app. PWAs are a mix between a regular web app and a mobile application. PWAs allow the script to run in the background, separate from the web page. It can do many of the same functions an app can do such as push notifications and smart caching.
Without the need to download anything, PWAs boast the information, features, and capabilities of a standard mobile application. PWAs also require much less development time because there is no need to develop and maintain multiple apps for the different mobile platforms. Rather than create an iOS version and an android version, PWAs will work for all users regardless of the device they are on.
Benefits of using PWAs include a faster load time for the user which can lead to better conversions and improved user engagement. The industries that may see the largest gains from PWAs include travel, banking, e-commerce, and healthcare.
2. DevOps on the Frontline
Many organizations and enterprises have been using DevOps for over a decade, and it cemented itself as an integral part of modern software development. Using DevOps correctly combines the efforts of software developers and the operational team to speed up software development while still delivering fixes, updates and features. Application modernization Projects that will be implementing DevOps should think about planning their approach and tooling alongside the design phase of the application.
Automation will become a large focus for DevOps teams. By leveraging software automation tools, like Docker registies, teams will be speed up the software cycle even more. For example, while testing is a crucial part of the review process, setting up testing environments with every update or new feature can take time. Rather than manually run these repetitive tasks, DevOps teams can collaborate to automate the provisioning of test machines and deploying the software to be tested. Additionally, automations can be built so that some testing is done automatically. While the initial automation set up may take a bit of time, DevOps teams that utilize automation will see a large return on investment in time saved over the course of months or years.
3. Blockchain Technology
If you have been keeping an eye on emerging technology, you’ll know that Bitcoin has brought blockchain technology into the forefront for currency exchanges. However, 2019 will see blockchain technology rev up and revolutionize other industries.
Blockchain technology is a distributed ledger technology that removes the need for centralized accounting. Or, stated a different way, blockchain technology is a peer-to-peer network of connected computers that provides more secure storing of data and information. The technology removes expensive intermediaries and reduces the time and cost of transitions. Companies within several industries are looking into using blockchain for the following business activities:
- Automated governance
- Smart contracts
- Creating financial avenues for impoverished communities
- Decentralization
- Identity management
- Supply chain management
In 2019, blockchain will see widespread use outside of just transactions and currency.
4. Low-Code Development
Low-code development (LCD) is fairly new. However, the technology has seen rapid growth among businesses.
Low-code development enables non-technical workers to create business applications that cater to the specific needs of the company. This technology can be as simple as using if-this-than-that logic, while other options offers user-friendly features such as drag-and-drop interface, visual programming, and automatic code generation.
Many large enterprises are adopting LCD for building and deploying enterprise-grade applications.
Summing Up
The software development landscape is rapidly changing and growing. Some older technologies will go more mainstream in 2019 like blockchain, AL, and Machine Learning. New trends are also emerging like Low-Code Development and DevOps automation. Many of these emerging trends provide opportunities for companies to become more efficient and offer better services to customers. Keeping tabs on these trends is essential if you don’t want your company to be left behind.
