Software technologies such as cloud computing, open source development and mobile platforms are reshaping the way we do business. The biggest beneficiaries are consumers and businesses that are looking for new ways to manage their data and deliver personalized services. Software developers have created new methods of using the cloud and the app stores to develop more engaging apps. Consumers have also responded by expecting more from their mobile devices and staying attached to their phones through longer usage cycles. Enterprises are starting to learn how to tap into these new relationships to gain a competitive advantage.
Cloud computing and mobile apps go hand in hand. Consumer demand is driving this transformation because it makes it easier to stay in touch, manage data, access information and communicate with other people more easily than ever before. Businesses are starting to see the importance of a mixed reality where they can make the most of their mobile resources and streamline processes. A mixed reality is a term coined by software technologies to describe the combined benefits of having a desktop application and running it on a mobile device, for example.
Another trend impacting the software industry is the increased usage of open source programs by consumers and businesses. Consumers expect open source solutions to be easy to use and customize. They also expect to find bugs more quickly and easily than those provided by the software industry’s leading software development tools. While many in the software development industry have adapted to these changes, others are resisting the trends.
One reason why software developers are resistant to change may be the fact that they have become associated with specific programming languages. XML web programming languages, object-oriented languages and hybridizations of these programming languages have made it difficult for software developers to adapt to changes in technology. Changing the programming language used by software developers has the potential to change how they build, test and deploy their systems.
The most promising impact of the distributed ledger technology of the future lies in the use cases that such technology provides. With widespread use cases of decentralized control over the transfer of value between users, the distributed ledger technology of the future may very well replace the traditional client-server model of the past. In particular, distributed ledger technology such as the distributed ledger software stack called Corda may very well replace the need for legacy IT departments. Many IT departments may decide to outsource functions such as database management to a cloud service provider in the future.
Another one of the trends impacting the software industry comes from the mobile apps revolution. As consumers continue to move their data from PC and tablet computers to smart phones, developers must continue to create mobile apps that are optimized for the changing mobile market. Smartphones are quickly becoming the primary devices for consumers who do not want to deal with traditional software and business models. With the ability to access information and perform transactions through the mobile world, developers should be thinking about creating mobile apps that go beyond basic functionality.
