Trends in the Future of Programming
To help you gain a better understanding of where IT- and computer-related jobs are
headed, several trends in the future of programming are examined in the following
sections, along with the skills that software development professionals need to
adapt and stay on the cutting edge of their fields.
Programming Languages of the Future
Software developers and other computer-related professionals need to be aware of
the current top programming languages. Programming is what runs all of society’s
machines; everything from smartphones to traffic lights to heart monitors are
programmed with computer languages. Learning and using programming
languages is an essential part of a software developer’s job.
The programming languages of the future are Go, Kotlin, Python, TypeScript, R,
Scala, Swift, Rust, Ruby, and Haskell,as reported by TechRepublic. Proficiency or
advanced skills in these programming languages would elevate a professional’s
technical abilities and potentially open up more opportunities when looking for
jobs.
While highly sought after by employers, some of the programming languages are
actually pretty obscure. For example, Go and Scala are among the highest-paying
programming languages due to the small number of qualified professionals
specializing in each language. Go is defined in a Forbes article as an “open-source
compiled, statically typed language in the tradition of C” while Scala is a “general-
purpose, functional, and object-oriented language compatible with Java.” Go was
designed at Google and is used not only there, but also at Adobe and Facebook.
Meanwhile, Netflix, LinkedIn, and Twitter use Scala.
Cross-Platform Development
As technology has progressed, so have the devices people use to connect to the
world, like smartphones, tablets, laptops, and even smartwatches. Each of those
products has software developed for it. Companies want to place their apps on as
many platforms and devices as possible, and thus programmers need to choose
the right language for developing across multiple platforms.
The demand for cross-platform development is high and getting higher. Forrester
reports that over 60 percent of companies already use cross-platform
development, and that number is expected to increase due to device proliferation.
According to TechBeacon.com, programmers need to become well-versed in cross-
development applications: Adobe, Xamarin, Appcelerator, iFactr, Kony, SAP, Alpha,
5app, FeedHenry, and Sencha.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The future of programming also includes artificial intelligence (AI). Enterprise
Strategy Group (ESG) research reveals that 12 percent of companies use AI-based
security analytics extensively while 27 percent use AI-based security analytics on a
limited basis. AI integration is poised to completely change the IT and computer
industries, as AI becomes increasingly capable of dealing with incident detection,
prioritizations, remediations, software vulnerabilities, threat intelligence, and risk
assessment.
Programmers can use AI techniques, such as machine learning and deep learning,
to develop software for network security. As time goes on and technology evolves
to such an advanced degree, AI may be the only realistic way to deal with the
consequent cybersecurity threats. These concerns are why the tech industry is
hiring professionals with advanced AI technology knowledge to protect its company
assets.
According to an ESG article, machine learning technologies can be either “applied to
existing security defenses as helper apps” or “work on a stand-alone basis coupled
with other security and analytics technologies.” To stay ahead of the big changes AI
will bring, programmers and developers need to ensure that they have the skills
necessary for success, such as knowledge of AI, machine learning, and
cybersecurity analytics.
Prepare for a Career in the Future of
Programming
Technology’s rapid progression indicates how important it is for professionals in the
IT and computer industries to constantly update their coding, development, and
design technology skills. Learn more about the programming languages of the
future, cross-platform development, and AI applications explored by Maryville
University’s computer science degrees and accelerate your preparation for future
success today.
