Software Development Trends 2023

Index

1. Programming languages
2. Low code and no code
3. IoT e Internet of Behaviour (IoB)
4. Full serverless architecture
5. Progressive web applications (PWAs)

software trends

What will the software development landscape look like in 2023?

Perhaps the least surprising, but nonetheless noteworthy trend in programming languages that we expect to see in 2023 is the continued popularity of Python, the general-purpose programming language that has become the most widely used in the world in recent years. This is followed by a continued rise of no-code and low-code programming, partly due to the fact that the barriers to entry into software programming for non-developers are being reduced. The growth of the IoT sector and its development, the IoB, also continues. The advantages of a serverless architecture will also be greatly appreciated this year, and finally, we can count on an increase in the relevance of PWAs.

Let us look at all these points in detail.

1. Programming languages

There are various indices that provide an insight into the most popular and growing programming languages. Today we consider two of them: TIOBE and PYPL.

TIOBE measures the frequency with which a programming language appears in a search query on a search engine. According to its authors, the index does not reflect the best programming language, but ranks different programming languages according to websites that reflect the number of qualified developers, courses and jobs worldwide. About 25 search engines are used to calculate the TIOBE index, which is updated monthly.

Below are the results of the top 15 programming languages according to the current TIOBE index.

TIOBE classifica

PYPL ("PopularitY of Programming Language Index") measures the frequency with which programming language tutorials are searched for on Google. Here are the top 15 positions:

PYPL indice

The PYPL figure shows that there are considerable differences compared to the TIOBE index. However, in both cases, the same programming languages appear for the most part in the top five entries. From this, one can already read a certain trend: Python is at the top of both rankings, taking first place. Other languages at the top of both rankings are Java, C/C++ and C#.

2. Low code and no code

One of the trends of 2023 are no-code and low-code platforms. These platforms allow users to create and develop applications without the need for strong programming skills. The advantage is obvious: companies can bypass the shortage of skilled labour in certain sectors by simplifying the creation of prototypes and the testing of new products, which can be realised by in-house teams without the need for IT specialists.

Low-code and no-code thus benefit from the fact that IT skills are increasingly in demand, but also in short supply. In addition, there is a wide range of products covering almost all needs: websites, marketplaces, e-commerce, mobile applications or even databases.

This is particularly interesting for SMEs, but also for very small companies due to the ease of use and speed with which new developments can be realised on no-code and low-code platforms. These services are perfect for prototyping, testing and further iterative development. It is also true that they can significantly increase productivity, especially for growth hacking and marketing teams. Such automation platforms connect applications already in use, such as CRM, e-mail, databases or accounting. This automates the flow of data and eliminates the need to manually copy and paste data.

However, it is fair to mention that not all aspects of application development are eliminated when using these platforms.

3. IoT e Internet of Behaviour (IoB)

Many of us are familiar with the so-called Internet of Things (IoT). Even if we cannot explain ad hoc what it is, we are already confronted with IoT applications on a daily basis. Smart speakers, smartphones, smart homes or smart watches are among them. IoT means the increasing networking of 'smart' electronic devices. Devices communicate with each other and exchange data. These in turn can be used for analyses in which the connection of individual devices is primarily considered.

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to just this, to an interconnected network of physical devices, vehicles, buildings and other objects equipped with various software to collect and manage data. The development of customised software applications for the IoT is set to grow in the coming years. According to the US market research firm Gartner, the IoT is a technology trend that will have a significant impact on IT operations by 2025.

A further development of the IoT is the Internet of Behaviour (IoB). The IoB consists mainly of analysing the users of devices. It then extracts structured conclusions about their behaviour. This usage data can be used to better understand or influence user behaviour enabling companies, for example, to propose personalised advertisements perfectly adapted to users and their behaviour. In addition to personalised content, companies can also identify the perfect times when target persons are interested in certain products. In this way, the desired action, e.g. purchase, becomes as likely as possible.

4. Full serverless architecture

Serverless architecture enables developers to design and maintain products without having to worry about the underlying infrastructure because a cloud provider, such as Google, Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure, provides the back-end infrastructure for their application.

The biggest advantage of implementing a serverless architecture is that it frees developers from time-consuming maintenance tasks and saves the company a lot of operational costs. When the developers do not own the back-end infrastructure that runs the applications, they have far less to worry about maintenance, provisioning and scalability.

One of the most attractive reasons to use a decentralised back-end infrastructure is the scalability and automatic troubleshooting that cloud providers offer with serverless architectures. Serverless architecture also has a positive impact in terms of responsibility and accountability. If something goes wrong on the back-end, the responsibility for fixing the problem lies with the provider, not the developer. Thus, in the event of problems, developers do not have to spend time and tools to solve them.

Last but not least, a serverless architecture can be a cost-effective option depending on the size and requirements of the company. Saving developers' time also means saving costs and reducing the total cost of ownership.

5. Progressive web applications (PWAs)

Progressive web applications bridge the gap between traditional websites and mobile apps. They are developed on the basis of programming languages such as CSS, JavaScript or HTML. Their particular strength is that they can be used on any web browser and on any platform. Moreover, they do not have to be developed individually for operating systems. This helps companies attract new customers and retain existing ones as well as being cost-efficient at the same time. For this reason, progressive web applications are one of the most interesting trends in software development, especially in times of rapidly increasing inflation.

Below is a list of their advantages: