There is no denying the vast potential for growth within the software development sector. In today’s rapidly expanding business landscape, it is crucial to remain up-to-date with the latest advancements in technology and other related industries, including software development.
With the rapidly evolving software development landscape, it can be quite challenging to attract and hold onto top-tier programmers. The software development approaches of DevOps, SRE and agile have become essential in modern software development practices. What is the current status of web development, which languages are most effective, and which approaches are commonly used? It can be difficult to source skilled programmers with experience in these practices.
The Strength of Web Design and Development
There has been some talk recently about the future of web development and the use of DIY website building tools for small businesses. It seems this technology is growing in popularity.
Wix, Weebly and Squarespace have gained immense popularity among service sector professionals as they provide an affordable and user-friendly way for small businesses such as plumbing companies, barbershops and dog grooming parlors to create a website without requiring specialized coding expertise. Business owners value these technologies as they have minimal requirements in terms of technical skill sets and offer a low initial cost.
Despite the wealth of available tools, custom web development continues to be a highly coveted service. With the ever-evolving nature of web development, businesses often must outsource due to the lack of in-house knowledge and technical skills required to achieve a tailored solution.
For larger or enterprise-level websites, website builders often fall short due to their lack of creative flexibility and inadequate integration with search engine optimization. In such cases, businesses may find it more beneficial to outsource their web development needs to specialist developers. This way, they get access to expert knowledge and cutting-edge solutions at a cost-effective rate.
Present and Future Programming Languages
To gauge the level of demand in the market, one can examine the popularity of different programming languages. According to Stack Overflow’s 2023 Developer Survey, which aggregated responses from over 85,000 developers, the top five programming languages are:
- JavaScript
- HTML/CSS (HyperText Markup Language/ Cascading Style Sheets)
- Python
- SQL
- Java
HTML, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and JavaScript are three web technologies that work in harmony. Python is a robust language that is widely used in data science, machine learning and other backend applications. In addition, Structured Query Language (SQL) has gained popularity due to the increase in Big Data and the need for effective database management.
Java, a programming language that has been around for quite some time, is experiencing a resurgence because of its widespread use in both desktop applications and Android mobile development. Currently, LinkedIn shows over 54,000 job openings for Java developers.
The long-term future of Java is uncertain; however, other languages such as JavaScript, HTML/CSS, Python, and SQL are expected to remain popular in the coming years. Accordingly, businesses looking to develop new software should prioritize applications that use these technologies, whether produced internally or by an external provider. Additionally, hiring junior developers in these areas can offer cost savings.
DevOps
As the software industry evolves, so do the fundamental principles and best practices associated with it. The Waterfall approach is one of the oldest software development methodologies still in use, even though it has its drawbacks. This approach involves handing the project over to IT for deployment soon after its development is completed.
DevOps is an innovative approach that has disrupted the traditional workflow by integrating software engineering and IT operations. For an extended period, these two teams worked independently of each other. However, in 2008, the DevOps movement began to gather pace and has since had a profound impact on the industry.
Recently, many sizable organizations, including major software companies, have incorporated DevOps into their development process. Despite this trend, some organizations remain the exception.
- Amazon
- Netflix
- Walmart
- NASA
- Adobe
The DevOps methodology emphasizes collaboration throughout the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). It prioritizes building a solid foundation of software with the appropriate IT infrastructure and expert guidance.
Site Reliability Engineering of Physical Systems (SRE)
For a business already immersed in DevOps, embracing Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) could be the next logical step. SRE considers IT as an integral part of business operations and is a software development approach. Google created this methodology in 2003, and it has grown into a significant industry concept, with an expected annual growth rate of 22% until 2023.
Engineering’s success can be attributed to its capability to minimize the workload of system administrators. The primary objective of engineers as IT solutions is to simplify running a business. Site Reliability Engineers (SREs) monitor aspects like latency, uptime, and performance, with the aim of optimizing operations and reducing downtime.
Outsourcing software engineering is a prosperous enterprise, and Software Reliability Engineering (SRE) is a perfect example. SRE professionals have extensive knowledge of both software development and computer science, and their work process is well-suited for remote work.
Agile
Agile methodology has been a favoured approach to software development for quite some time. Advocates of the agile approach support a cyclical build process of software to enable continuous refinement and improvement. As project managers often have a strong grasp of agile methodology, it is often selected for outsourcing.
Agile and DevOps are not mutually exclusive, and both methodologies can complement each other. In bigger companies, software development teams can be divided into smaller groups, each for a specific feature, while the operational side can be distributed into smaller teams, enabling every member to focus on their specific area of expertise. For Agile methodology, team sizes should typically range between 5 and 11 people.
Sprints, which are brief and iterative time periods, enable businesses to become more agile than ever before. Instead of dedicating months to create a single, massive deliverable, developers who adopt agile methodology divide the process into smaller, more frequent cycles. Hence, when adjustments in the growth trajectory are required, teams can respond quickly and make necessary modifications. This allows businesses to alter their direction whenever they find it necessary.
What Are Some Roles for Programmers?
Businesses of every size need to have access to experienced software engineers as soon as possible. One of the most daunting challenges for recruiters is hiring for software development roles. Filling a position requiring full stack engineers could take up to two months, which could be detrimental to any ongoing software projects.
To fulfil the increasing demand for technically skilled professionals in the developing industry, universities are implementing developer and engineer pipelines to prepare students better for this burgeoning industry. Although these pipelines are relatively recent, they are critical to ensuring that students have the required skills and experience to thrive in this sector.
Given the skills crisis persists, delegating development teams could prove to be a viable solution for organizations seeking to complete software projects within specified budgets and timelines.
Get Ready for 2023 Right Away
As the software development industry progresses swiftly, businesses need to start contemplating their 2023 plans. Staying up-to-date with developing trends and investment opportunities is crucial to remaining competitive. Monitoring emerging technologies, programming languages, best practices, and approaches is vital as they can soon become standard practices.
The software development industry is projected to undergo significant changes in the coming years due to the advancements in machine learning, data security, blockchain and cryptocurrency, low-code/no-code, and increasing demand for outsourcing. Therefore, both in-house and outsourced development teams need to make early investments in developing the skills of their developers for the future.
