What Happened This June: The application development landscape is constantly evolving. In June 2024, several key trends were shaping the industry. A focus on speed, agility, and user experience is driving innovation. Let’s explore some of the most impactful advancements in application development and modernization.
- Rise of Low-Code/No-Code (LCNC): This approach not only simplifies the creation of applications but also empowers users with minimal coding knowledge. We see that 70% of new business applications will use low-code/no-code technologies by 2025. The use of drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-built components makes it accessible to a wider range of users, instilling a sense of capability and confidence, even in those without extensive programming knowledge.
- Cloud-Native Development: The trend of building applications specifically designed for the cloud environment is gaining traction, and for a good reason. Our research shows that 94% of production applications are being deployed across two or more clouds. This approach leverages benefits such as scalability, elasticity, and easier maintenance, instilling a sense of optimism about the future of application development. Containerization and microservices architectures are key aspects of this approach, promising a bright future for developers.
- AI & Machine Learning (ML) Integration: AI and ML are not just trends, they are transformative forces in development. Nearly $22bn of the AI market is being deployed in hybrid cloud environments. They automate tasks, optimize performance, and personalize user experiences, opening up a world of possibilities. For example, AI-powered chatbots or recommendation engines can be integrated into applications, sparking excitement about the potential of these technologies.
- Continued DevOps Adoption: DevOps, which merges development and operations teams, is crucial for faster development cycles and improved application quality. Decision makers are tasked with faster deployments, with 37% of respondents saying deployments are expected to be completed 50-100% faster than 3 years ago, and 33% saying deployments are 25-50% faster. This collaborative approach streamlines the process from coding to deployment.
- Focus on Observability and Security: Observability Security remains a top priority with increasing cyber threats. Approximately 75% of respondents indicated using 6 to 15 observability tools to gather organizational data. New development practices and tools emphasize building actionable insights from observability and security into applications from the ground up and integrating technologies such as blockchain for enhanced data management.
Aligned with these trends covered in June are Mezmo, Zededa, and Amazon Web Services. These trends are expected to continue shaping the application development landscape throughout 2024 and beyond.
Technology Developments
What? Mezmo – ​​Tucker Callaway, CEO of Mezmo, discusses on Mezmo Data Management, Observability, and getting real value out of telemetry data; what Mezmo Data Management is; the fact that 52% of organizations use 6 to 15 different tools in observability, and why DevOps or application developers are creating logging capabilities.
- Why? Mezmo simplifies log management by bringing all your logs together in one place and giving you the tools to quickly understand what’s happening within your applications. This saves time and money by helping you identify problems faster.
- What It Means: For users, Mezmo means less application downtime and smoother performance. By helping identify issues quickly, Mezmo translates to a better user experience with the applications they rely on. Read more here.
What? Zededa – Erik Nordmark, CTO of ZEDEDA, explores the exciting world of edge computing. He addresses concerns about open source adoption and how the Linux Foundation helps navigate them. He dives into how containers, like those managed by Kubernetes, can modernize legacy software and become the foundation for modern applications. Nordmark offers guidance for businesses embarking on their journey to the edge, helping them navigate the challenges of managing these distributed resources, including physical security and connectivity. Finally, he explores the potential of AI-powered applications processing data directly at the edge, enabling faster decision-making and reduced latency.
- Why? The future of computing is at the edge, where data is processed locally. Understanding how to leverage open-source technologies, containerize applications, and address security concerns is key to unlocking the efficiency, innovation, and cost savings that edge computing offers.
- What It Means: Edge computing puts processing power closer to where data is created, like on your phone or a factory machine. This can lead to faster decisions and cooler tech (literally, less data travel means less energy used). See more here.
New Products or Services
What? Amazon Web Service Summit 2024 – The AWS Summit in New York City happened on July 10th, 2024. Dr. Matt Wood, VP of AI Products at AWS, presented the keynote, highlighting how to leverage data for secure and responsible development of AI. A major announcement was the introduction of various functionalities within Amazon Q Apps to allow anyone to build generative AI applications simply by using natural language prompts. See the complete press release on AWS Summit on the Amazon website.
- Why? The AWS New York Summit showcased advancements in AI development, making it more accessible and impactful. Key takeaways for developers include: easier customization of AI models, a user-friendly interface for AI development, and improved data access for conversational agents. These developments empower a wider range of users to leverage AI. Business leaders should be aware that generative AI is becoming more available, offering opportunities for automation, data utilization, and innovation. Investing in workforce training and prioritizing sustainable cloud solutions are also important considerations.
- What It Means: AI tools are becoming easier to use, with features such as customizable models and user-friendly interfaces. This means more people, even without extensive coding experience, can now build and integrate AI into their work. This could lead to a wave of innovation across various industries.
Market Developments
What? Building apps is getting easier! Drag-and-drop tools (LCNC) let even beginners create them. Cloud storage (cloud-native development) makes them more flexible and scalable. Plus, AI is making them smarter and more personalized. This is all good news for the future of app development.
- Why? This matters because it means creating powerful applications is within reach for more people. No longer do you need to be a coding expert to build something useful. This opens doors for new ideas and innovation across many industries. Faster development cycles and more user-friendly tools will lead to a wave of exciting new apps.
- What It Means: The recent application development trends mean:
- For businesses:
- Faster Innovation: LCNC tools and cloud-native development allow businesses to build and deploy applications quicker, enabling them to adapt to changing market demands and experiment with new ideas faster.
- Reduced Costs: Cloud services offer flexible pricing models that scale with usage, potentially reducing IT infrastructure costs. Additionally, faster development cycles can lead to quicker time-to-market and potentially higher return on investment.
- Improved User Experience: AI and ML can personalize applications and automate tasks, leading to a more engaging and efficient user experience for customers.
- For developers:
- Increased Productivity: LCNC tools and cloud-native development can streamline development processes, freeing up developers to focus on complex tasks and innovation.
- Expanded Skill sets: The integration of AI and ML opens up new opportunities for developers to learn and apply these skills, making them more valuable in the job market.
- Focus on User Experience: With the rise of automation and pre-built components, developers can shift their focus toward crafting intuitive user interfaces and functionalities.
- For businesses:
Disclosure: The Futurum Group is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of The Futurum Group as a whole.
Other Insights from The Futurum Group:
ZEDEDA Soars with $72 Million to Fuel Edge AI and Computing
AWS New York Summit 2024 Focuses on Democratizing Generative AI for Business Impact
Author Information
At The Futurum Group, Paul Nashawaty, Practice Leader and Lead Principal Analyst, specializes in application modernization across build, release and operations. With a wealth of expertise in digital transformation initiatives spanning front-end and back-end systems, he also possesses comprehensive knowledge of the underlying infrastructure ecosystem crucial for supporting modernization endeavors. With over 25 years of experience, Paul has a proven track record in implementing effective go-to-market strategies, including the identification of new market channels, the growth and cultivation of partner ecosystems, and the successful execution of strategic plans resulting in positive business outcomes for his clients.
