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Software revenue is set to exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2024, reaching nearly $700 billion. The global number of software developers is also expected to grow, with 28.7 million developers projected by year-end.
This growth is unsurprising, as software remains the backbone of all technological advancements shaping our digital world today.
With tightening budgets and rising customer expectations, businesses are under pressure to meet goals more efficiently, making high-quality software crucial for success.
This blog post will delve into the top software engineering trends of 2024, beginning with an overview of the industry’s current landscape.
The Current State of the Software Development Industry
In 2023, the technology sector was shaped by several major trends in the software industry, marking significant shifts.
Generative AI became mainstream, while high-profile cyber-attacks heightened concerns around cybersecurity and data protection. The blockchain industry underwent notable transformations, and SaaS companies continued their growth.
Despite economic challenges, many global businesses have recognized the value of digital transformation, increasing their software and technology budgets.
The demand for advanced software solutions remains high and is expected to grow into 2024.
Software engineering is evolving with the rise of generative AI coding tools, a focus on user-centred development, and the expansion of low-code/no-code platforms. Agile principles continue to be essential in today’s development practices.
AI-driven tools and no-code platforms are now widely used across development, from generating code and fixing bugs to deploying software.
Here are the key software trends shaping how we develop, deploy, and use technology this year.
1. Security concerns on the rise in software development
Software development has shifted toward greater flexibility, speed, and responsiveness to customer needs, moving away from traditional, rigid development cycles to more agile methods.
AI plays a pivotal role in this transformation, reshaping how developers write, test, and deploy software. Machine learning algorithms now automate routine tasks, enhance code quality, and predict potential issues before they occur.
Cybersecurity has become a top priority as software becomes increasingly vital in daily business operations. With rising cyber threats, protecting software systems from unauthorized access and data theft is critical.
Research reveals that nearly 4,200 cyberattacks occur every day. In 2023, 24% of all breaches were ransomware attacks, targeting software like Windows-based executables. Businesses are facing more cyberattacks year after year, with 48% of companies reporting an increase.
Many businesses are investing in cyber insurance to manage these risks. In the US, premiums surged by 50% in 2023, and the market is expected to grow from $10.3 billion in 2023 to $17.6 billion by 2028.
To qualify for cyber insurance and secure better premiums, businesses must adhere to best practices, including secure coding, regular security audits, encryption, and compliance with standards like ISO 27001 or the NIST framework.
The rise in cybercrime has led businesses to consolidate their software tools, opting for fewer, more secure systems to minimize vulnerabilities. All-in-one platforms like ClickUp, offering integrated solutions, streamline operations and enhance security by reducing complexity and lowering the risk of multiple system vulnerabilities.
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) transforms software development
AI is no longer just a buzzword; it has become an integral part of our daily lives, particularly in software development. AI technology has raised the bar for performance and business efficiency across various industries, from automating code reviews to leveraging predictive algorithms.
For example:
- In pharmaceutical research, AI speeds up the drug discovery process by predicting the effectiveness of different compounds, resulting in faster development cycles.
- AI forecasts the stock levels required to meet manufacturing demand, helping to optimize inventory and minimize waste.
- AI forecasts the required stock levels to meet manufacturing demand, assisting in optimizing inventory and cutting down on waste.
Generative AI, a growing market
One of the most significant advancements in late 2022 was generative AI, highlighted by ChatGPT. This technology brought AI-powered image, text, and code generation into the spotlight. Generative AI is poised to continue as a major trend in software engineering as ChatGPT and similar platforms introduce even more advanced versions in the future.
More businesses are implementing AI.
AI patent filings have surged by 34% annually since 2000, reflecting its increasing adoption across industries and research organizations worldwide. This trend demonstrates how businesses around the globe are integrating AI into their operations in diverse ways.
Simultaneously, there is a growing emphasis on ethical AI, which ensures that AI systems function responsibly and adhere to ethical guidelines in the digital realm.
Welcoming the next-gen software apps through AI
AI tools like GitHub Copilot and OpenAI are becoming increasingly advanced, assisting developers in creating powerful, feature-rich applications. These tools now support cutting-edge technologies such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), AutoML, and quantization, simplifying the process for development teams to build optimized and innovative solutions.
AI-powered project management takes centre stage.
Project management software streamlines tasks, enhances decision-making, and boosts project success.
ClickUp’s project management tool is designed specifically for software teams, offering an all-in-one platform to simplify development. It centralizes teamwork, tools, and information, enabling real-time progress tracking and efficient sprint backlog management.
ClickUp Brain’s AI-powered tools accelerate app development and documentation. Within the platform, you can generate product ideas, create roadmaps, and assign tasks to your team. It also automates updates and standups, transcribes meetings, summarizes lengthy requirement documents, and provides many other features to streamline your workflow.
With the rising demand for AI-powered services and tools, businesses are increasingly adopting no-code project management and AI development platforms. By the end of 2024, at least 30% of automation projects will depend on these tools, making them a significant software engineering trend.
3. Serverless computing and microservices reinforce the dominance of cloud computing
Cloud computing delivers IT resources over the internet, enabling users to access them on demand.
With cloud computing, users can access shared resources like storage, servers, and databases as needed, without managing the underlying infrastructure themselves.
Cloud adoption has surged in recent years, with Amazon Web Services (AWS) at the forefront. Holding 32% of the market, AWS offers scalable, flexible, and cost-effective computing services for public sector organizations, small businesses, startups, and large enterprises.
The impact of cloud computing on software development is immense
Cloud technologies have empowered businesses of all sizes to innovate, adapt, and grow in ways that were previously only achievable for large companies with hefty budgets.
The benefits of cloud computing include:
- Cloud computing eliminates the need for expensive networking equipment, physical servers, and storage. With a pay-as-you-go model, you only pay for what you use.
- Cloud resources provide flexibility, enabling you to experiment with different setups, architectures, and technologies like AI and ML without the risk of wasting money on unused resources.
- Cloud computing lets you scale your applications up or down without the need for physical hardware. This flexibility helps you efficiently manage changing workloads.
Cloud computing is a key trend in software engineering this year, with the global market projected to surpass $1,266.4 billion by 2028. As AI continues to grow, cloud computing will keep expanding in 2024, bringing many significant advancements.
Here are three key developments to look out for:
a. Serverless computing
Serverless computing provides backend services only when needed, freeing developers from managing servers or infrastructure. This approach is perfect for building and deploying cost-effective, flexible cloud applications that scale effortlessly. Major cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and IBM all offer serverless computing services. As this technology advances, it will become an increasingly important trend in software development.
However, with the rise of serverless computing, security risks also grow. To tackle this, the IT industry is leveraging advanced vulnerability testing tools. Tools like PureSec, Aqua, and Snyk are gaining traction to protect serverless applications from security threats and breaches.
b. Microservices
Microservices architecture is a fundamental concept in cloud computing. It involves creating applications as a collection of small, independent services, each running its own process and communicating through simple methods, typically via an HTTP resource API.
This approach is highly compatible with cloud environments, offering the scalability, flexibility, and efficiency required for modern applications.
Microservices leverage the cloud’s ability to distribute system components across multiple servers and regions, enhancing the system’s reliability, fault tolerance, and global reach.
This model supports rapid, continuous development and deployment while allowing businesses to take advantage of the cloud’s pay-as-you-go model, helping reduce costs and improve resource management.
c. Hybrid and multi-cloud evolution
Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all cloud solutions. With the rise of hybrid and multi-cloud environments, businesses can now select the most suitable cloud resources for their specific needs, reducing redundancy, enhancing resilience, and avoiding vendor lock-in.
A hybrid cloud model blends private and public cloud services, while a multi-cloud model involves using two or more public cloud services. These approaches provide businesses the flexibility to customize their IT infrastructure according to their current needs and objectives.
Research predicts that by 2024, the interoperability and portability of hybrid and multi-cloud systems will improve by 45%, leading to enhanced cost-effectiveness, risk reduction, and a 75% increase in flexibility.
4. The rise of low-code and no-code platforms democratizes software creation
The industry’s shift from traditional waterfall models to the more flexible, iterative, agile software development approach has brought significant change. However, challenges like the shortage of skilled developers still cause delays and setbacks.
To address these issues and enhance agility and adaptability in software development, new trends and innovations have emerged.
One of the most exciting developments is the rise of low-code and no-code platforms. These tools are designed to simplify and accelerate app creation.
Low-code platforms require minimal coding to build software, enabling developers to utilize visual interfaces and configurations instead of traditional coding. Even non-technical users can create apps using drag-and-drop features and model-driven logic.
In 2024, the combined power of low-code and no-code platforms will continue to transform software development, making it more accessible and efficient.
- You can lower hiring costs by minimizing the need for specialized coding skills.
- Businesses can quickly adapt to market shifts or internal requirements by updating existing apps or creating new ones to meet increasing demands.
- These platforms come with integrated security and compliance features, ensuring that apps adhere to industry standards and regulations.
- With cloud infrastructure and a modular design, software developed using these technologies can seamlessly scale to accommodate more users as required.
Integration of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) capabilities within low-code and no-code platforms
RPA streamlines repetitive tasks and is projected to grow into a $30.85 billion market by 2030, with an impressive CAGR of 38.2% from 2024 to 2030.
By integrating RPA with low-code/no-code platforms, businesses can achieve rapid and compliant digital transformation across various dynamic industries.
5. DevSecOps integrates security into the development life cycle as a new norm
DevSecOps, which stands for development, security, and operations, integrates security into every phase of the software development process through culture, automation, and platform design.
In 2024, focusing on DevSecOps is essential due to the rising complexity of cyber threats.
While traditional DevOps embraced agile principles, emphasizing continuous integration and deployment to boost teamwork and collaboration, DevSecOps elevates this by incorporating security at every stage.
In traditional development, security testing often occurred late in the process, leading to vulnerabilities like data leaks, permission errors, and insecure plugins.
DevSecOps tackles this by addressing security issues in real-time, ensuring that code is secure by default and offering full traceability throughout the development lifecycle.
With the power of generative AI, DevSecOps teams can keep up with the swift deployment of cloud-native apps, safeguarding digital assets in today’s interconnected world.
Conclusion
As technology advances, software engineering is playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of businesses and industries. In 2024, trends such as AI-driven development, low-code/no-code platforms, DevSecOps, cloud-native solutions, and RPA integration will dominate the landscape. Staying informed about these innovations will enable businesses to boost efficiency, enhance security, and stay competitive in a fast-evolving digital world. Embracing these trends is no longer optional—it’s essential for thriving in the next era of software development.
