It is about the time of the year when the internet gets flooded with the classic 'Top x trends in 2023' type of listicles. And rightly so; these are important questions to ask. Regardless if I'm a silicon valley giant in Florida or a budding software development company in India, we can all benefit from understanding the up and coming trends in the tech space and possibly even surf the hype wave to success.
But if I'm being honest with you, these listicles can sometimes get on my nerves.
Think about it, what happens when you click on one of these? Nothing much apart from being told that Javascript is the best language and AI and 5G will take over the world for the billionth time.
As a tech employee who isn't a software engineer, I want to know what's up in the software space. As a writer, I want to report on the latest advancements, understand business and investor interests, speculate the trajectory of software development, and try to understand the technologies that power this digital universe.
So this article is just that, my humble attempt to make sense of the vast and sometimes intimidating world of software. And while we are at it, I want to uncover the latest trends and technologies that are likely to dominate the coming year and why they are important.
Yes, this is a listicle, but I hope for it to be so much better. Here is a quick gist of the post if you are in a rush:
The State of Software Development in 2023
The likely audience for an article like this are businesses and investors looking for the next big thing in software, as well as aspiring software engineers and wanna-be programmers who want to know what they should be focusing on learning in the coming year.
Keeping these two important demographics in mind, I've explored key software categories from different perspectives that will be relevant in 2023. Oftentimes when talking about trends, we tend to forget what makes certain trends relevant and important in the first place. However, taking a broader perspective gives us more insight into why certain trends are relevant as well as a better chance of taking advantage of these trends. So without further ado, let's dive into some of the most promising trends, categories, and skills likely to dominate in 2023.
Dominant Software Development Categories for 2023
I've discussed below the leading categories and trends that are likely to dominate the software world in the coming year. This is however, a more opionionated post. If you wish to read a more 'neutral' report on the matter, one neatly packed with fancy stats and facts, then read our research on software development.
#1: Low Code and No Code Will Take Over the Development Space
Low Code and No code development has recently been gaining a lot of attention across the world, be it software development companies in Bangalore or silicon valley enthusiasts in California. From the surface, it is easy to dismiss something like no code; after all, we'll always need developers to do the heavy lifting when it comes to building software. However, low and no code begins to seem obvious once we look at the history of digitization.
Once a digital skill crosses a certain threshold of adoption and becomes mainstream, it becomes necessary for businesses to invest in the same in order to stay ahead of the curve. Consider the example of design software like photoshop. Photoshop is a powerful and all-around design tool that can be challenging for beginners and amateurs. But as demand for easy-to-use design software grows, alternatives like Canva pop up all over the market.
While Canva may not be as robust as Photoshop, it is precisely what most rookie designers need on the go. Canva isn't trying to compete with its design capabilities since that's where photoshop enjoys an inherent advantage. Instead, Canva's real offerings are convenience and design solutions that are easy to use.
The same is the case with Low and No code development tools. They don't exist to replace full-scale development teams but instead to make software building easy and accessible for the majority of users that don't need something too fancy.
So the natural question to be asking here is…
What do businesses need to know about Low Code and No Code in 2023?
Well, if you are a business, Low Code and No Code development tools can be a great way to quickly produce a prototype or an MVP for a website or app concept. These solutions do not demand extravagant development budgets or top talent to get started with, opening up previously unavailable opportunities.
What do beginners need to know for a career in software?
If you are a beginner wanting to learn how to code, then these could be a great place to start, allowing you to get your foot in the software world without having to commit years of education required to master a difficult skill.
#2: Cyber Security will Remain Essential
Cyber security has been a growing concern since the inception of the internet and will continue to be so in the coming year. As cyber threats continue to grow in number and complexity and work from home becomes the norm, many enterprises and business networks remain vulnerable.
Some of the biggest vulnerabilities moving into 2023 are mobile, cloud, and IoT devices. The threat of Ransomware and State-sponsored cyber attacks also looms over most countries and businesses alike. Cybersecurity and software development companies in Pune and worldwide do take this threat seriously and have attempted to leverage AI against these attacks,
Artificial Intelligence may have a major role to play in threat detection and system building. Where human ethical hackers and specialists fall short, AI-driven models can be trained to find vulnerabilities and backdoors in networks, devices, and systems. Check out our full report on how AI can be used for strengthening cybersecurity efforts.
What do businesses need to know about Cybersecurity 2023?
As a business, investing in the right cybersecurity infrastructure is critical. For firms managing a ton of sensitive customer data, getting cyber insurance is a must. Participating in hackathons, building a security-driven culture, and putting in a security assessment and response team are all helpful ways of improving your firm's cyber security.
What do Beginners Need for a Career in Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity presents great prospects for beginners hoping to make a career within the same. However, getting a high-paying cybersecurity job requires a slightly different route compared to your standard programming/tech job. For starters, having a computer science degree really helps. However, cybersecurity is an area where success comes with experience.
#3: AI, The Future of Software Development
AI is indisputably the future of software development.
As accessibility and adoption grow in the coming year, more businesses and individuals will get to deploy AI, improving our overall productivity and output. Today we have AI models for anything we can imagine, from writing content to creating deep fakes, from creating software to diagnosing cancer; AI's reach sometimes seems beyond comprehension.
But the best part about AI in the coming year would be the growing use of self-learning models. AI tools no longer need to be explicitly programmed; they can learn as they go, freeing up time and development resources as well as allowing for automation.
But much like Any highly disruptive technology, AI is a double-edged sword capable of doing as much harm as good, which is why developers, policymakers, and netizens need to come together to create an environment that ensures the better use of technologies like AI.
Read more of our detailed reports on AI to find out why AI's domination in the software world won't end anytime soon.
What do businesses need to know about AI in 2023?
The business prospects of AI in 2023 are beyond spectacular. The amount of AI based tools and technologies available today for enterprises are too many to mention. What's more is that these technologies continue to get more accurate and optimized as we speak, providing a great ROI for businesses.
Companies, thus, need to start taking advantage of these opportunities. Training their existing workforce to make better use of these technologies can be a good start. While the benefits of AI may seem limitless, what we do know for sure is that businesses ignoring AI are missing out on massive opportunities for sure.
Further, AI influence won't be localized. Meaning it won't just affect software development companies in Ahmedabad, Chicago or Tokyo. Instead, its effects will be global, virtually reaching out to every internet user. Artists, strategists, educators, and doctors, everyone can leverage AI to benefit them in their craft.
What do beginners need for a career in AI?
From a developer's perspective, the possibilities are immense. If you are hoping to get started with building a career in AI and ML, learning languages like Python, Java, and C++ is a good place to begin. Data analytics, neural networks, and research are going to be some major AI trends in the coming year, so building up on your statistical, mathematical, and programming skills is a good idea.
#4: Web 3.0 and Blockchain will Create a Decentralized Internet
It is 2023, and decentralization is in the air. Blockchains are creeping towards going mainstream, making their way into gaming, finance, software development, and everything in between. Tech nerds are talking about a decentralized internet, and brands are already here to capitalize on the trend. It is the next version of the internet, unfolding already.
The blockchain and web 3.0 hype has certainly taken a hit with the recent fall in crypto prices. But experts believe the technology has surpassed the tipping point in adoption to survive the ongoing crypto winter.
One primary way blockchain will make its way into our lives in 2023 will be via dApps. These are applications that use blockchain technology to achieve decentralization, adding greater transparency, trust, and security. Check out our podcast episode on the concept of dApps to know more.
Web 3.0 will also bring trends like the Metaverse, and useful NFTs and make leaps in sustainability. Building decentralized social media apps is also an option.
What Should Businesses Know About Blockchain and Web 3.0 in 2023?
Businesses wanting to test out web 3.0 need to prepare for decentralization. Transferring business operations on the Blockchain requires a dedicated team of blockchain devs but can reap huge benefits down the line. Understanding how smart contracts can be implemented in your business processes is another way of utilizing Blockchain for business.
What Do Beginners Need to Know for a Career in Web 3.0 and Blockchain?
Speaking of blockchain devs, as demand grows, blockchain development can turn into a lucrative career in the coming year. Much like any other software development category, there are different levels of complexity and expertise needed to succeed as a blockchain dev. There are two categories here; blockchain core developers, folks who work on the Blockchain itself, and Blockchain software engineers, who work with the blockchains to develop different solutions.
#5: Cloud Computing Will make Businesses Effecient
Cloud computing has taken center stage in the IT world as it offers a flexible and cost-effective opportunity for businesses to access cutting-edge solutions they otherwise could not afford. Goodfirms' recent research of cloud computing trends discovered that around 80% of companies either already have cloud solutions deployed or are in the process of setting these up.
This number is likely to grow in light of upcoming cloud advancements. Google, for instance, has remained a leader in offering cloud solutions to enterprises, but Google has also made significant advancements within quantum computing. When these two come together, we'll have the power of quantum supercomputers distributed across the cloud. Add to that the efficiency of edge computing, and we'll have complex computing at a never-before-seen rate, with low latency, without spending a ton of bandwidth.
All things considered, cloud computing is an essential technology for the future of global commerce.
What do Businesses Need to know about Cloud Computing in 2023?
The most popular cloud delivery model is the SaaS model. More than half of cloud products in use are software productions that companies gain access to on a subscription basis. The next most popular category is Paas, the Platform as a service model of cloud delivery. Both of these can be game changers since they allow brands to bypass expensive development and maintenance of critical IT infrastructure.
To take advantage of cloud services in the coming year, businesses need to reimagine their business operations in terms of cloud offerings, even recalibrating their processes to be better optimized for the cloud. Many businesses, especially small enterprises, are reluctant to make the switch to the cloud, but taking the leap can be one of the best things for your business.
What do Beginners Need to Know for a Career in Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing presents itself as a great career with massive growth potential. Much like with any other tech career, you'll need demonstrable experience and a reliable network. To add to that, one can never go wrong with platform-focused certification. AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft are the leading cloud computing platforms, all of which offer certification for deserving candidates.
Conclusion
We are in a golden age of technology where software development companies in Delhi and worldwide are making unimaginable leaps forward in seemingly every direction. The internet already reinvented society a decade ago, and we are set to do it all over again.
2023 is bound to be a great year for software development and tech in general, given the incredible innovations mentioned above. While AI will transform our relationship with technology, cloud computing will make these tools more accessible. While Blockchain will bring forth an age of decentralization, Low and No Code tools will turn us all into developers. It is an incredible time to be involved in the software space, and this is just the beginning.
