Top 5 Software Engineering Trends to Watch for in 2024

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Software revenue will surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2024, reaching nearly $700 billion. The number of software developers worldwide will also increase, with a projected 28.7 million developers by the end of the year.

This growth is not surprising, as software is the foundation of all technological advancements that drive our digital world today.

With tighter budgets and rising customer expectations, businesses are pressured to meet their goals more efficiently, making quality software essential to success.

This blog post will explore the top software engineering trends in 2024, starting with an overview of the industry’s current state.

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The Current State of the Software Development Industry

In 2023, the technology sector was shaped by several key trends in the software industry, signaling major shifts.

Generative AI became mainstream, while high-profile cyber-attacks raised cybersecurity and data protection concerns. The blockchain industry also experienced significant changes, and SaaS companies continued to grow.

Despite economic challenges, many businesses globally have recognized the value of digital transformation and increased their software and technology budgets.

Advanced software solutions are in high demand and are expected to continue into 2024.

Software engineering is also evolving, with the rise of generative AI coding tools, a focus on user-centered development, and the expansion of low-code/no-code platforms. Agile principles remain crucial in today’s development practices.

AI-driven tools and no-code platforms are now widely used throughout development, from generating code and fixing bugs to deploying software.

Here are the key software trends influencing how we develop, deploy, and use technology this year.

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1. Security concerns on the rise in software development

Software development has shifted towards greater flexibility, speed, and responsiveness to customer needs, moving away from traditional, rigid development cycles to more agile methods.

AI plays a major role in this transformation, changing how developers write, test, and deploy software. Machine learning algorithms now automate routine tasks, improve code quality, and help predict issues before they arise.

Cybersecurity has become a top priority as software becomes increasingly essential in daily business operations. With rising cyber threats, it’s vital to protect software systems from unauthorized access and data theft.

Research shows that nearly 4,200 cyberattacks happen every day. In 2023, 24% of all breaches were ransomware attacks, targeting software like Windows-based executables. Businesses are seeing 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 follow best practices, such as secure coding, regular security audits, encryption, and complying with standards like ISO 27001 or the NIST framework.

The increase in cybercrime has led businesses to consolidate their software tools, preferring fewer, more secure systems to reduce vulnerabilities. All-in-one platforms like ClickUp, which offer integrated solutions, help streamline operations and enhance security by minimizing complexity and reducing the risk of multiple system vulnerabilities.

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2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) transforms software development

AI is no longer just a buzzword; it’s become a key part of our daily lives, especially in software development. AI technology has set new standards for performance and business efficiency in many industries, from automating code reviews to using predictive algorithms.

For example:

• In pharmaceutical research, AI accelerates the drug discovery process by predicting how effective different compounds might be, which leads to quicker development cycles.

• AI predicts the stock levels needed to meet manufacturing demand, helping to optimize inventory and reduce waste.

• AI predicts the stock levels needed to meet manufacturing demand, helping to optimize inventory and reduce waste.

Generative AI, a growing market

One of the biggest advancements in late 2022 was generative AI, showcased by ChatGPT. This technology brought AI-powered image, text, and code generation to the forefront. Generative AI is set to remain a key trend in software engineering as ChatGPT and similar platforms release even more advanced versions in the future.

More businesses are implementing AI.

AI patent filings have increased 34% annually since 2000, highlighting its growing adoption across industries and research organizations worldwide. This trend shows that businesses globally integrate AI into their operations in various ways.

At the same time, there is a rising focus on ethical AI, which aims to ensure that AI systems operate responsibly and follow ethical guidelines in the digital space.

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Welcoming the next-gen software apps through AI

AI tools like GitHub Copilot and OpenAI are becoming more advanced, helping developers create powerful, feature-rich applications. These tools now support cutting-edge technologies like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), AutoML, and quantization, making it easier for development teams to build optimized and innovative solutions.

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AI-powered project management takes center stage.

Project management software helps streamline tasks, enhance decision-making, and boost project success.

ClickUp’s project management tool is designed for software teams. It offers 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 help speed up 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 long requirement documents, and offers many other features to streamline your workflow.

With the growing 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 rely on these tools, making them a key software engineering trend.

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3. Serverless computing and microservices reinforce the dominance of cloud computing

Cloud computing provides IT resources through the internet, allowing users to access them whenever needed.

Cloud computing lets users access shared resources like storage, servers, and databases as needed without managing the underlying infrastructure themselves.

Cloud adoption has grown rapidly in recent years, with Amazon Web Services (AWS) leading the charge. Holding 32% of the market, AWS provides 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 enabled businesses of all sizes to innovate, adapt, and grow in ways that were once only possible for large companies with big budgets.

The advantages of cloud computing include:

• Cloud computing removes the need for costly networking equipment, physical servers, and storage. With a pay-as-you-go system, you only pay for what you use.

• Cloud resources offer flexibility, allowing you to try different setups, architectures, and technologies like AI and ML without risking losing money on unused resources.

• Cloud computing allows you to scale your applications up or down without physical hardware. This flexibility helps you efficiently manage changing workloads.

Cloud computing is one of the major trends in software engineering this year, with the global market expected to exceed $1,266.4 billion by 2028. As AI grows, cloud computing will keep rising in 2024 with many important advancements.

Here are three key developments to look out for:

a. Serverless computing

Serverless computing delivers backend services only when needed, so developers don’t have to manage servers or infrastructure. This is ideal for building and deploying cost-effective, flexible cloud applications that can scale easily. Major cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and IBM all offer serverless computing services. As this technology grows, it will become an increasingly important trend in software development.

However, with the rise of serverless computing, security risks also increase. To address this, the IT industry uses advanced vulnerability testing tools. Tools like PureSec, Aqua, and Snyk are gaining popularity to protect serverless applications from security threats and breaches.

b. Microservices

Microservices architecture is a key concept in cloud computing. It involves building applications as a group of small, independent services, each running its process and communicating through simple methods, often using an HTTP resource API.

This approach works well with cloud environments, offering the scalability, flexibility, and efficiency needed for modern applications.

Microservices utilize the cloud’s ability to distribute system components across different servers and regions, improving the system’s reliability, fault tolerance, and global reach.

This approach supports fast, continuous development and deployment and allows businesses to use the cloud’s pay-as-you-go model, helping to reduce costs and manage resources more effectively.

c. Hybrid and multi-cloud evolution

Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all cloud solutions. Thanks to the rise of hybrid and multi-cloud environments, businesses can choose the best cloud resources for their specific needs, reducing redundancy, improving resilience, and avoiding vendor lock-in.

A hybrid cloud model combines private and public cloud services, while a multi-cloud model uses two or more public cloud services. These approaches allow businesses to tailor their IT infrastructure to meet their current needs and objectives.

Research predicts that by 2024, hybrid and multi-cloud interoperability and portability will improve by 45%, boosting cost-effectiveness, reducing risks, and increasing flexibility by 75%.

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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 marked a major change. However, challenges like a shortage of skilled developers can still cause delays and setbacks.

New trends and innovations have emerged to address these issues and make software development more agile and adaptable.

One of the most exciting developments is the rise of low-code and no-code platforms. These tools are designed to make app creation simpler and faster.

Low-code platforms require minimal coding to build software, allowing developers to use visual interfaces and configurations instead of traditional coding. Non-technical users can even 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 reduce the costs of hiring experienced developers by reducing the need for specialized coding skills.

• Businesses can easily adjust to market changes or internal needs by quickly updating existing apps or creating new ones to meet growing demands.

• These platforms have built-in security and compliance features, ensuring apps follow industry standards and regulations.

• With cloud infrastructure and modular design, software built on these technologies can easily scale to support more users as needed.

Integration of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) capabilities within low-code and no-code platforms

RPA simplifies repetitive tasks and is expected to grow into a $30.85 billion market by 2030, with a CAGR of 38.2% from 2024 to 2030.

Combining RPA with low-code/no-code platforms enables fast and compliant digital transformation across dynamic industries.

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5. DevSecOps integrates security into the development life cycle as a new norm

DevSecOps, short for development, security, and operations, is a method that integrates security into every step of the software development process using culture, automation, and platform design.

In 2024, focusing on DevSecOps is crucial due to the increasing complexity of cyber threats.

Traditional DevOps followed agile principles, highlighting continuous integration and deployment to enhance teamwork and collaboration.

Use ClickUp Docs with real-time editing to brainstorm and plan off-site meeting ideas.

In traditional development, security testing often came late, leaving room for issues like data leaks, permission errors, and insecure plugins.

DevSecOps solves this by addressing real-time security problems, ensuring the code is secure by default, and providing full traceability throughout development.

With generative AI, DevSecOps teams can also keep pace with the rapid deployment of cloud-native apps, protecting digital assets in today’s connected world.

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Conclusion

As technology evolves, software engineering continues to shape the future of businesses and industries. In 2024, trends like AI-driven development, low-code/no-code platforms, DevSecOps, cloud-native solutions, and RPA integration will dominate the landscape. Staying updated with these innovations will empower businesses to enhance efficiency, improve security, and remain competitive in a rapidly changing digital world. Embracing these trends is no longer optional—it’s the key to thriving in the next era of software development.

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FAQs

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