With the end of 2010, it is time to summarize the most significant developments in 2010 in the software development community. It is difficult to judge the importance of events in spaces one is not familiar with, so I tend to favor areas that I do know and am able to make some educated conclusions about their significance.
Thus below are the top major events occurred in the industry.
Java EE 6
Java EE 6 was technically finalized in late 2009, but 2010 has been its year of implementation and adoption. There has been significant enthusiasm for Java EE 6. The question is whether Java EE 6 can lure even more developers away from the Spring Framework and other common alternatives.
.NET Framework 4 and Visual Studio 2010
Roughly 2 1/2 years after the release of .NET 3.5 and Visual Studio 2008, .NET 4 and Visual Studio 2010 were released in April of 2010. .NET Framework 4 offers numerous new features including support for covariance and contra variance for generics, simpler property syntax in VB.NET, optional method parameters in C#, late/dynamic binding in C#, security improvements, improved ability to measure performance diagnostics, background garbage collection as a replacement for concurrent garbage collection, code contracts, and built-in Tuple support.
Oracle/Google Dispute over Android
For those of us who identify ourselves as members of the Java community, this Oracle lawsuit over Android and Java is a big deal because one of the attractive aspects of Android development is the ability to use language syntax we are familiar with to develop applications for mobile devices that run on the Android platform.
The Rise of HTML5
Web developers have been frustrated with HTML/CSS/DOM/JavaScript behavior across major web browsers (particularly the most popular web browser) for years. Developers doubt to some extent regarding adoption of HTML5 at a level that would make it truly viable. Although it's certainly "not there yet," HTML5 finally seems to be gaining the traction it needs among the major browsers and among web developers and authors to be worth paying attention to. In particular, market-leading browsers Google Chrome, Firefox 4 (beta), and Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 (beta) have or are advertised to have significant greater HTML5 support. As important as it is that the desktop web browsers provide consistent HTML5 support to make it more attractive to use, it seems that the mobile device arena is already pushing HTML5 features heavily. Many of the HTML5 features, such as the web forms features, are more useful and more interesting on mobile device browsers, more granular HTML forms controls are truly appreciable.
Cloud Computing
Some developers still have some lingering doubts about cloud computing as a long-term widely applicable concept. Others still question whether it's something a majority of developers will ever really need to deal with as-is, but at this point it's obvious that at least some significant portion of developers will and already are dealing with development for the cloud. With all the major vendors want a piece of the action, there are at least short-term gains associated with that action. IBM, Oracle, and Microsoft have all expressed commitment to cloud computing. Although it's normal for vendors to chase anything new because it's easier to sell products and services for new rather than for familiar. That type of sales pressure often leads to acceptance.
Thus below are the top major events occurred in the industry.
Java EE 6
Java EE 6 was technically finalized in late 2009, but 2010 has been its year of implementation and adoption. There has been significant enthusiasm for Java EE 6. The question is whether Java EE 6 can lure even more developers away from the Spring Framework and other common alternatives.
.NET Framework 4 and Visual Studio 2010
Roughly 2 1/2 years after the release of .NET 3.5 and Visual Studio 2008, .NET 4 and Visual Studio 2010 were released in April of 2010. .NET Framework 4 offers numerous new features including support for covariance and contra variance for generics, simpler property syntax in VB.NET, optional method parameters in C#, late/dynamic binding in C#, security improvements, improved ability to measure performance diagnostics, background garbage collection as a replacement for concurrent garbage collection, code contracts, and built-in Tuple support.
Oracle/Google Dispute over Android
For those of us who identify ourselves as members of the Java community, this Oracle lawsuit over Android and Java is a big deal because one of the attractive aspects of Android development is the ability to use language syntax we are familiar with to develop applications for mobile devices that run on the Android platform.
The Rise of HTML5
Web developers have been frustrated with HTML/CSS/DOM/JavaScript behavior across major web browsers (particularly the most popular web browser) for years. Developers doubt to some extent regarding adoption of HTML5 at a level that would make it truly viable. Although it's certainly "not there yet," HTML5 finally seems to be gaining the traction it needs among the major browsers and among web developers and authors to be worth paying attention to. In particular, market-leading browsers Google Chrome, Firefox 4 (beta), and Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 (beta) have or are advertised to have significant greater HTML5 support. As important as it is that the desktop web browsers provide consistent HTML5 support to make it more attractive to use, it seems that the mobile device arena is already pushing HTML5 features heavily. Many of the HTML5 features, such as the web forms features, are more useful and more interesting on mobile device browsers, more granular HTML forms controls are truly appreciable.
Cloud Computing
Some developers still have some lingering doubts about cloud computing as a long-term widely applicable concept. Others still question whether it's something a majority of developers will ever really need to deal with as-is, but at this point it's obvious that at least some significant portion of developers will and already are dealing with development for the cloud. With all the major vendors want a piece of the action, there are at least short-term gains associated with that action. IBM, Oracle, and Microsoft have all expressed commitment to cloud computing. Although it's normal for vendors to chase anything new because it's easier to sell products and services for new rather than for familiar. That type of sales pressure often leads to acceptance.
