Programming is such a unique industry. Not only does it involve learning about computers in depth, but it is also one of the fastest changing industries around.
Programming languages seem to rise and fall every few years. While some languages remain, the shift can feel very dramatic. Languages such as Swift were nonexistent five years ago but now they are mainstream.
Such trends are only expected to continue. Here are four bold predictions for the future of programming.
- Programming will be abstract
The industry is already witnessing trends that include serverless tech, containers and platforms that involve low code. These trends suggest that a future of more abstraction is possible for programming.
The lower-level details that have dominated coding since its inception may not be so important, depending on the environment in which a coder is operating. Some experts believe the infrastructure of how cloud native apps are built will become less important.
With AR and VR getting mainstream attention, it may be possible to build applications with both voice and natural language processing capabilities. It is the type of work modern programmers may have to adapt to in a few years.
- AI will NOT replace programmers
Some confidently predict that AI will take over from programmers in ten years. But some experts do not agree. They believe that developers may benefit from AI making their jobs faster, as it can predict their intent in fewer steps.
But programmers will still be necessary, as they are the ones who will build the applications and technologies that modern technology will utilize.
- Developers must work with data
Kristen Sosulski, who is an assistant professor of information at NYU, believes that developers will need to learn data analysis in the future. She believes that statistical data analysis, non-linear analysis and machine learning will all be a part of a programmer’s job in the future.
- Programming will be taught at all schools
Programming is still in an odd position where the education system is concerned. While administrators and professionals agree that more kids should learn to code, it is still not a requirement at more than a handful of places.
But experts believe that in a decade or two, every profession in the world will require some interaction with machines. Whether it is data analysis, simulations or other processes, people will have to know how to code.
Such mainstream use of coding will mean that schools require students to learn coding when they are younger. It will become a core tenant of the education system.
Programmers who have been involved with the industry for the past 20 or 30 years know how much it has changed. Some of that change may feel natural and intuitive to those who were in the midst of it. But looking from the outside, there are aspects to programming that are completely different from 20 years ago.
Similar changes are expected in the next decade. Some believe those changes will be even greater.
However it turns out, it will be interesting to watch the evolution of programming as technology becomes even more important in everyone’s lives.