Top Software Development Trends for 2018

In the world of technology, changes are often happening. This constant evolution keeps bringing new trends and it looks like software development will become even more complex in 2018 as new processes and technologies change the way organizations develop software and engage with customers. In this article, we will be discussing the top trends in software development in 2018 and beyond.

Developers working for various Software Development Services can become excited to see many opportunities ahead in 2018 with new technologies like blockchain, machine learning, chatbots, AI etc becoming more mature for real world projects. Also developers have to learn these new technologies and concepts quickly and deliver code and functionality faster without compromising security or performance. Below are the top trends which will drive the software development in 2018 and in years ahead.

Demand for Blockchain developers will rise exponentially:
Blockchain has become a hot technology in 2017 and early 2018 thanks to the Bitcoin’s phenomenal rise. Other than the digital currency, blockhain technology has revolutionized almost each industry. In 2018 we have already started to see this through business class blockchain platforms. Many technology companies have introduced their own blockchain platforms. What this means for the software industry? Businesses in all industries are going to start building apps on blockchain platforms which means that the demand for blockchain developers is going to increase tremendously.

IoT is Becoming More Practical and More Popular:
Now Software Development needs to be focused on IoT. Although there are some wearables in the market like Apple Watch and Fitbit but right now they are just the start of the vast IoT ecosystem. From cars to roads, retail shops to living rooms, nearly everything is turning into a data carrying device. These devices generate enormous amount of data and software developers are exploring faster methods of processing and analyzing it. That’s where edge computing comes. Processing on the edge saves time and money from porting all of the data to a central data server. This means IoT devices will perform faster real time analytics. Therefore database and network engineers will be required to create the infrastructure of the IoT future.

Cybersecurity is becoming highly relevant and more important:
With security issues originated by viruses or malware like WannaCry and many others, 2017 was a difficult year for data security agencies on internet. As security is the top priority for every enterprise, organization and governments in the world hence there will be more investment and focus on developing security solutions. Cybersecurity deals with two categories: internal and external. Businesses will be focused on building secure software so that there is no vulnerability introduced during development. There is a shortage of cybersecurity talent hence software developers in the field of cybersecurity will be in high demand in the coming future.

Artificial Intelligence is Becoming a Necessity:
The current market situation in Custom Software Development is that the trend for adopting AI is becoming a necessity if you want to stay relevant in the market. Voice activated home assistants, Big Data, smartphones, Smart speakers all have good time ahead due to fast AI adoption in the market. Related AI developers and data scientists are already in high demand now. Research report says that AI will eliminate the boundaries between structured and unstructured data and most of the data officers will start to report to CEO. Therefore most of the data-related jobs are for data engineers. This shows the need for talented data professionals which can directly increase the bottom line. Hence it is important to keep an eye on AI in years to come.

Virtual Reality Can Become Mainstream:
In 2017, we have seen the high-end, commercially available VR headsets. Facebook’s Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are leading the way in full power VR systems alongwith smartphone powered systems like Galaxy Gear VR although the adoption rate is still not high. Reports says just 1 million VR units have been sold. In 2018 and beyond, both these systems are expected to make big moves. Companies are launching lite and cheaper versions of VR headsets.

Cloud technology is gaining popularity:
Now a days users use so many devices and they want to access their data from many gadgets. This is where cloud technology becomes very useful. So many companies around the globe are investing heavily in cloud computing and cloud security. As per a research report, by this year i.e by 2018, 30% of the service centric companies will move the majority of their ERP applications to the cloud as it offers them huge benefits. According to a researcher, the most powerful games of 2018 will combine console and cloud based power. Therefore it looks like the cloud experience will soon become an advantage and necessity in any business field.

Conclusion:
We have just discussed the latest trends in software development on which the developers are focusing on and surely they need to do more to implement them effectively in the new software they will develop in 2018 and beyond. Although trends are volatile still it looks like that these trends will define the future of software development. As these trends are highly relevant in your industry hence you need to keep a close eye on these.