16 Latest Software Development Trends in 2023

The sphere of software development is constantly changing under the influence of emerging technologies, various external factors, and new societal demands. In this article, we analyze the most significant software development trends that will shape the industry in 2023.

Overview 

The global COVID-19 pandemic has become an inflection point for many businesses. Small and large enterprises were forced to quickly reorganize working processes and accelerate IT priorities and technology roadmaps. They realized that they needed to move toward a primarily digital world, where software solutions would largely determine the way of life.

In the research by Accelerated Strategies Group, 63.3% of business respondents noted that they have accelerated digital transformation as a priority for their companies. Their key focus was on contactless services, cloud migration, and DevOps activities.

Though the software development industry was in a better position than other industries when the pandemic hit, it wasn’t able to avoid spending cutbacks, delayed projects, and staffing reduction. Currently, the IT sector is recovering: it returned to a growth trend line in 2021 and is forecast to restore and exceed its pre-pandemic position by 2024, with an estimated 5% CAGR.

Latest Software Development Trends in 2023

Since digital products determine the creation of sustainable and adaptable businesses, software developers and IT specialists play a critical role in building the post-pandemic world. Let’s look at the tools and strategies they use to achieve better results.

1. Blockchain Goes Beyond Cryptocurrency 

The time when blockchain technology was associated with cryptocurrency only is gone. Blockchain is now one of the key trends in the software industry. Experts note a staggering growth of blockchain adoption in many fields. The thing is that this distributed, decentralized system provides an exceptional level of security and transparency for various transactions, and can be applicable to many business sectors beyond fintech.

Here are some examples:

• Supply chain monitoring systems in logistics, automotive, agriculture, oil and gas industry.
• Accounting software systems ensuring the traceability of energy consumption
• Platforms for intellectual property protection.
• Software systems for secure electronic voting.

Thus, a growing number of blockchain-based applications will increasingly emerge in various fields.

2. Cloud Computing Facilitates Collaboration

The apparent trend is that software development companies will more actively use cloud-native solutions for app development, team management, and communication. These are software products and services hosted in public, private, or hybrid clouds. They are infrastructure-agnostic and can run on multiple servers, so any company can easily adopt them.

Based on containers and microservices, cloud-native software solutions provide flexibility and scalability, and improve the productivity of software development teams.

It should be noted that the demand for cloud services and tools has grown due to the necessity to facilitate remote work. Companies have had to implement the appropriate infrastructure and support employees in creating a work environment in their home offices.

3. Python Takes the Lead 

For many years, the list of the most used programming languages among software developers worldwide was dominated by JavaScript. Since 2020, Python has been rushing to the top of that list, and in December 2021, it managed to become the leader.  

According to the latest updates of the TIOBE index and the PYPL index in June 2022, Python was the top computer language. It seems Python’s growing popularity will continue well into 2023 and beyond, as it is the favorite language of developers creating software solutions with AI- and ML-based features. As mentioned earlier in this article, artificial intelligence stands proudly among the top software development trends for 2023.

4. TensorFlow Boosts AI Development 

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is no longer considered futuristic as it’s applied in many business sectors. Ground-breaking AI applications can process images, detect objects, and recognize human speech. 

In 2021, the global artificial intelligence market reached a value of $56.5 billion, according to IMARC Group. By 2027, this figure could reach $308.5 billion.  

When creating such software systems, programmers implement deep learning concepts using special AI libraries and frameworks. And one of the essential trends in software development this year is the use of TensorFlow for AI development. 

TensorFlow is an open-source deep learning framework developed by Google. This complex mathematical tool is currently the leading platform for building and training neural networks. On the one hand, this is a comprehensive ecosystem of the libraries, tools, and various resources needed to create intelligent models and algorithms. On the other hand, the framework is flexible and user-friendly, making it easy for developers to build advanced software.

Why is TensorFlow so popular? Because it:

• Supports several programming languages, including Java, C++, and Python. 
• Runs on multiple CPUs, GPUs, and mobile operating systems.
• Can be deployed to the cloud, locally, in a browser, or on a device.
• Has built-in intuitive APIs.
• Ensures immediate model iteration and easy debugging.
• Allows for conducting complex research experiments.

5. Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Eliminates Management Issues

Modern application development environments are intricate, with all the clusters, microservices, containers, APIs, serverless functions, and interdependencies that developers should keep track of. In such conditions, DevOps specialists are under constant pressure as they must ensure app stability and security. At the same time, developers are required to accelerate code development and even faster deployment.

That’s why DevOps teams are turning to IaC — a method of using code to manage, automate, configure, and drive continuous improvement on dynamic computing resources. Traditionally, organizations relied on a few highly skilled individuals who understood what their code depended on and how it was delivered, which resulted in bottlenecks and dependencies. The IaC practice eliminates such issues.

Using IaC, the DevOps team can create a single, trusted code base for an organization that will be used to track that apps are deployed according to security standards. Implementing IaC also allows teams to track inconsistencies in code, making it easier to fix vulnerabilities. This approach makes it possible to implement the best configuration practices within the organization’s security policies and rules.

6. DevSecOps Enhances the Role of Security 

DevOps has been a widely used practice in software development companies for many years. But the current trends in software development show the growing popularity of the DevSecOps concept.

What is the difference between DevOps and DevSecOps?

• DevOps implies tight collaboration between the teams of developers and IT operations based on agile approaches (CI/CD). The ultimate goal is to ensure that working software is delivered to users quickly. DevOps suggests using robust, automated processes that provide rapid feedback to create a continuous improvement cycle. Today, DevOps can be understood as the methodology, culture, or a set of tools for agile development.
• DevSecOps is the evolution of DevOps. This approach alters the traditional role of the security department in code development. Earlier, QA specialists joined the process after the completion of the main development stage. Under the DevSecOps approach, their participation is a must at all stages.

Thus, security practices become an integral part of the development cycle, starting with the planning of the app architecture. This allows you to identify issues at early stages and eliminate them immediately, without accumulating them in the app till the final stage.

The rise of DevSecOps can be explained by the increasing adoption of microservices and cloud-native app development, and consequently, the need to quickly find and solve issues in these complicated architectures. 

7. Outsourcing Remains in Demand

The demand for software development outsourcing is experiencing significant growth. For many businesses across industries, it’s challenging to find talented IT specialists who could develop high-quality custom software projects and do so within budget. Outsourcing software providers can give such businesses access to a rich pool of talent at a reasonable price. Outsourcing is the biggest segment of the IT services market in terms of revenue. 

• In 2021, Statista estimated the revenue of IT outsourcing at $361 billion; in 2023, it is forecast to reach $430.50 billion; by 2027, the size of the IT outsourcing market is expected to be $587.3 billion (8.07% CAGR). 

What also supports the growth of the outsourcing market is a range of practical benefits such as faster and more flexible development, cost efficiency, and availability of in-house resources.

8. Low-Code/No-Code (LCNC) Speeds Up Software Development 

Software engineering is moving toward simplification, with a new approach to creating software solutions known as low-code/no-code (LCNC) development.

LCNC platforms enable practically anyone to develop software without traditional coding via graphical user interfaces and configuration. Such programming environments have great potential because they allow people to implement their ideas into digital solutions with limited or no software development skills.

• 80% of respondents believe that the low-code approach can free up developers so that they could work on higher-level projects.
• 72% of low-code developers create software apps two times quicker than those using traditional development.
• The global value of the low-code development platform market is projected to be $46.4 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 25% during this period.

While many developers are skeptical about the low-code development approach, it brings a range of benefits such as manual work reduction, time and money savings for creating software solutions, and a lower barrier for entry into software development.

9. Progressive Web Applications (PWA) Save Costs

For many businesses, the development of progressive web apps (PWA) is proving to be the right choice. Being regular websites by nature, these software solutions may also act as traditional mobile apps. Users don’t need to download PWAs like mobile apps but can enjoy the same look and feel. This drastically improves engagement and user experience.

PWA development and maintenance is more cost-efficient for companies, so more startups and small businesses will be inclined to choose this type of software.

10. React Native Still Dominates Hybrid Development 

Many businesses opt for hybrid development since this is a painless method to create apps with rich functionality and excellent performance for multiple platforms using a single code base. React Native is the tool that currently dominates the hybrid development market. This well-known framework has earned the trust of mobile developers worldwide, and the growth of its popularity isn’t slowing down in the near future. 

Supported by Facebook — or Meta Inc. — React Native is easy to learn and use since it leverages JavaScript. The apps created with React Native are highly reliable in terms of performance and guarantee near-native user experience.  

11. IoT Continues Its Expansion 

The software development trends of 2023 cannot do without IoT. The Internet of Things continues to evolve, expanding opportunities for software developers and business verticals. 

One of this year’s significant IoT trends is the enhancement of digital twin technology. Using digital twins, you can replicate real systems in the virtual environment and experiment with variables there. This way, you search for optimization without impacting daily operations. For example, by creating a digital twin of a logistics infrastructure, you can simulate possible issues in the supply chain and take measures to eliminate them before they ever arise in real life.

Another crucial aspect of the IoT industry is edge computing. Over the past year, more organizations have been moving their analytics and decision-making from centralized cloud platforms to the edge, i.e., closer to the data source.  

12. The Internet of Behavior (IoB) Offers More Insights

The Internet of Behavior (IoB) is one of the emerging trends in 2023. The IoB concept implies the collection of the so-called “digital dust” — various data about people’s lives and behavior patterns. Information can be collected from different sources, including social networks, face recognition systems, as well as personal and medical wearables. 

IoB is a logical continuation of IoT. But if the Internet of Things unites devices into one network, the Internet of Behavior will collect data about people into a single database. The major purpose of this technology is to get a deeper understanding of human behavior. Using IoB, businesses can predict customer needs, government organizations can model human behavior patterns and mitigate societal issues, and law enforcement agencies can prevent crimes or solve them quickly. 

The key obstacle to IoB introduction is data privacy legislation. That’s why in different countries, the process will depend on specific laws and regulations.  

13. Web 3.0 Promises More Freedom

The Web 3.0 concept is a set of the latest technologies (artificial intelligence, machine learning, cryptocurrencies, NFT, the metaverse) that create comfortable conditions for working on the internet and reliably protect user data.

Brief history of the internet development:

• Web 1.0 is a phase that began in the late 1990s, when websites were static with a series of links scattered randomly on the page. At that time, users could only view publications. Web 1.0 was characterized by HTML, HTTP, and URL addresses.
• Web 2.0 gave users the ability to open and modify files, not just view them. Users began to create and post content on various blogs; complex animation appeared; UI/UX practices began to develop. This period is characterized by social networks, cloud technologies, mobile applications, and recommendation algorithms.
• Web 3.0 is a new concept of the internet that should provide users with more freedom. Its core principles are open source, decentralization, anywhere access (due to IoT devices), and no third-party control. Web 3.0 lacks both centralized databases for data storage and centralized web servers for backend processing. Instead, it uses blockchain technology along with decentralized servers and applications (DApps).

The ultimate goal of Web 3.0 is to create a more trusted digital environment, where users will be active participants, personal data will be protected from unauthorized collection and usage, and complex search queries will be processed more efficiently. 

14. Microservices Architecture Contributes to Scalability

Another trend to look forward to in the software development world in 2023 is the rising adoption of microservices and containers powered by Kubernetes — an open-source container orchestration platform.

• In 2022, 85% of companies were switching their apps to a microservices architecture, according to the survey conducted by Solo.io and ClearPath Strategies. Experts predict that the number of companies using microservices and Kubernetes will grow even further.

The reason for the increasing adoption is the rising number of projects that require scalability, security, and 24/7 availability. While containerization and a cloud-based microservices architecture are a perfect fit for such projects, Kubernetes is a great tool for managing containers, building a microservices architecture, and automating the software deployment process.

15. 5G Technology Opens Up More Opportunities

5G connectivity implementation is among the top trends for 2023. The major reason for this is that the technology helps companies realize the full potential of IoT ecosystems. The more reliable the connectivity is, the better the performance demonstrated by connected devices.

Initially launched in 2018, the superior fifth-generation standard of mobile connectivity, 5G, is currently going mainstream, promising the following benefits for IoT solutions:

• Low latency
• High speed
• Ubiquitous coverage
• Energy efficiency

5G networks allow enterprises to increase the number of connected devices in their business processes and leverage value. For instance, IoT and 5G contribute to digital transformation in municipalities, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, and other areas. Particularly, 5G can contribute to the wider adoption of remote surgery or remote maintenance of industrial machinery in hazardous conditions. Thus, many companies will be able to offer new services, especially those based on the real-time processing of data from numerous sensors.

16. Augmented Reality Transforms the eCommerce Industry 

The role of augmented reality (AR) in online commerce is growing rapidly. Why so?

First, due to the pandemic, the demand for online shopping has increased significantly. According to the PwC Survey conducted in 2020, 47% of consumers preferred in-store shopping for non-food items before the pandemic. Since the pandemic outbreak, the situation has changed: 45% of respondents say they shop via mobile phones.

Second, along with the growing popularity of eCommerce, there is also a growing demand for tools that increase efficiency and make the shopping process as seamless as possible. Augmented reality is among such tech tools.

With AR, eCommerce mobile apps can provide more detailed information on products, transferring them from the digital space to the real world. For example, shoppers can see how the clothes will fit their body type or configure furniture according to their room parameters. This allows customers to make their purchasing decisions with greater confidence. 

Here are some more convincing stats on the importance of AR:

• A survey by Google found that 6 out of 10 people want to be able to visualize how a product could fit into their lives before making a purchase.
• In 2020, global AR advertising revenue grew to $1.41 billion, nearly triple the 2019 figure. According to ARtillery Intelligence, global AR ad revenue could reach $8.02 billion by the end of 2024.
• As of June 2020, 35% of the US respondents used AR to evaluate custom designs of furniture or vehicles.
• It’s expected that the expansion of 5G will make more retailers show interest in AR technologies due to the higher network bandwidth. 

Why You Should Choose SaM Solutions as Your Software Development Provider 

SaM Solutions is an international software provider with almost three decades of hands-on experience in various domains. We develop custom software products for SMBs and large corporations worldwide. Our key expertise includes eCommerce, IoT and embedded, web, cloud, mobile app development, DevOps, and QA services.   

Summing Up

Software development is a constantly evolving field. While some tools and technologies are emerging, others are becoming outdated. To remain competitive in this digitalized world, businesses should keep up with the latest trends and integrate new technologies into their processes. 2023 is the year when artificial intelligence, augmented reality, blockchain, and IoT lead the parade of software solutions.