Developers : What are the trends for 2020? Between the implementation of artificial intelligence in business applications and the arrival of low-code platforms, the development landscape is undergoing a major transformation. According to Forrester, these changes will gradually call into question the way IT departments are organised, and will see developers increasingly attached to business departments by 2020. Here are 3 trends that will impact the market this year.
#1 Kotlin, the rising star of languages
As the list of computer languages grows longer and more complex, the IEEE Computer Society has analysed the programming market to predict the key languages of the year.
While Python and Java remain two essential pillars, the IEEE is focusing on Kotlin, a language designed to be fully interoperable with Java, and which has been in the spotlight since Android announced that it would make it its primary language. The craze is such that many applications, such as Pinterest, have already switched to Kotlin. This strong migration should, in the near future, push Google to favour applications developed in Kotlin over Java.
#2 The rise of “mesh services
#2 The rise of “mesh servicesLaunched in 2017 with Istio, service meshing tools will gain ground in 2020. According to Forrester, these technologies, which make it easier to control communications between applications and microservices, will benefit from closer integration with runtime environments.
However, this mesh-based management cannot stand alone. By 2020, mesh services solutions will need to be integrated with API management solutions and serverless platforms. According to Forrester, they will also need to be better integrated with data governance, compliance, access and authentication management.
#3 “Low code” platforms, the joker in the corporate pack
In 2020, one developer in two plans to use a low-code solution: a clear increase on 2019, when 37% were already banking on this tool. These platforms, which offer a graphical interface rather than traditional programming, are becoming increasingly important, so much so that Forrester predicts that low-code applications developed by Microsoft (Microsoft Power Apps, Microsoft Power Automate) will be implemented in 50% of companies by 2020. For the research firm, the evangelisation of low-code platforms will be one of the most significant developments in the sector in 2020.
In the light of these trends, 2020 looks set to be a pivotal year for developers. The proliferation of new languages and the democratisation of tools boosted by artificial intelligence are reshaping the boundaries of their profession. In the long term, it is likely that programming will become the prerogative of an AI, while the role of the developer will be more that of a project manager.
