8 Programming Trends to Watch

At TITANS, we are in daily contact with experienced IT specialists and clients looking for reinforcements in their IT departments. Since we are aware of how challenging it is to keep up with the ever-changing market in programming, we have prepared a brief overview of the technologies that will be most in demand by companies this year.

1. The importance of the cloud in programming will grow again

The global trend of remote working is just one of the many reasons the market is seeing increased demand for cloud computing. Another advantage of the technology is that it can be used by companies to replace expensive data centres. This is great news for all software engineers specialising in the cloud, especially if they have experience in software-as-a-service (SaaS), infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS). Allied Market Research estimates that the global cloud services market will generate a value of USD 2.5 trillion by 2031. However, the key factors in designing and programming digital infrastructure are no longer just speed and flexibility, but also energy efficiency and sustainability.

2. The use of blockchain will expand

According to industry surveys, the largest investments in blockchain continue to be in the financial sector. However, Avivah Litan, an analyst at Gartner, said that the technology is not only being used by the cryptocurrency market but also by well-established financial institutions, which consider it a key element of their infrastructure upgrades. ReportLinker calculated that the global blockchain banking and financial services market grew from USD 1.89 billion in 2022 to USD 3.07 billion in 2023. Blockchain also has applications in other industries, such as environmental, social, governance and compliance, and can be used to create more efficient, effective and secure platforms for a variety of business needs. These include identity and access management, supply chain management, smart contracts, and document processing and authentication.

3. Artificial intelligence will bring further innovations

A particularly promising area of artificial intelligence (AI) is natural language processing (NLP), which allows computers to understand and interpret human language. Moreover, there is a growing interest in ethical AI, which aims to ensure that its systems behave in a way that is beneficial to humanity. Next Move Strategy Consulting forecasts that the value of the global AI market will grow to more than USD 298 billion throughout 2024. For example, AI software enables banks to provide the hyper-personalization demanded by customers, while in healthcare it can improve the analysis of disease symptoms and detect treatment errors. In the business world, robotic process automation (RPA) automates routine tasks so that a skilled workforce can focus on projects with higher potential value.

4. Development on Low-Code No-Code platforms will become more significant

Programming on Low-Code No-Code (LCNC) platforms allows people without advanced IT knowledge or coding skills to create applications. This trend is helping to address the shortage of software engineers and it is also making development easier and faster. KPMG reports that the number of CEOs who cite coding on LCNC platforms as their most important automation investment has nearly tripled since the pandemic began.

5. There will be progress in the use of modern programming languages

New programming languages are becoming increasingly popular. Go, developed by Google, is appreciated for its simplicity and efficiency, while Kotlin is the preferred language for Android app development and Rust is gaining attention for its focus on performance, reliability and productivity. However, other modern languages such as React, JavaScript, Swift and TypeScript are also popular. Python is also on the rise, largely due to its simplicity and versatility. It is often used in data analysis, machine learning, web application programming, and automation.

6. The focus will be on cybersecurity

The value of the global cybersecurity market is expected to grow to USD 345.4 billion by 2026. In particular, ransomware will be an increasing threat, with one of the latest trends being double blackmail: this tactic involves hacking groups first seizing a company’s data to extract a ransom. Later, they threaten to publish the data if another ransom is not paid. Critical steps to ensure data protection will include putting robust security measures in place, keeping up to date with the latest threats and training internal teams on safe practices. IBM Security reports that organizations that fully implement security automation will potentially save up to USD 3.58 million in the event of a data breach.

7. The Internet of Behavior will provide personalization

The Internet of Behavior (IoB) is a new trend that is expanding the Internet of Things (IoT). Besides collecting data from devices, it enables the tracking and analysis of people’s behaviour as they interact with apps and devices. The data collected in this way can be used to create a more personalized user experience.

8. Companies will continue to look for outsourcing in programming

According to a 2022 survey, as many as 73% of CTOs say it’s challenging to fill open technology positions. To combat labor shortages, many companies are turning to non-traditional methods. IBM, for example, plans to train 30 million people in programming by 2030. Another way companies are looking to expand their IT departments is through outsourcing, which offers flexibility, cost savings and valuable time savings, among other benefits. The industry is projected to reach a market value of USD 689 billion by 2027.

We at TITANS are also experiencing a growing interest in external IT specialists – more than 30,000 of them have joined us during our eleven-year existence on the market. We offer them excellent projects from more than 650 companies in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and abroad, and with the help of our own internal system, we can make a perfect match. As a result, we have conducted more than 5,350 interviews and allocated over 1,000 freelancers. If you are also attracted by the freelance life, but you are worried about accounting or negotiating contractual terms with clients, do not hesitate to contact us. As a long-time leader in the Slovak market, we will be happy to lend you a helping hand.