Software development stretches in devices, platforms and form factors well beyond PC. Now and then, people with less knowledge in IT wonder how the software development process looks like and the processes involved. However, IT gurus usually view this as asking the number and types of cars out there.
However, there are numerous ways of categorizing the methods of software development. Here are some examples of types of software development.
Web development
This is considered as the golden child for the current and future generation of coders. Web development means coding of the web pages you access every day. The development process is diverse and varies in complexity. For instance, <h1> “hello people” </h1> to hundreds of interconnected files which can only be organized by the original developer.
Today, web development is exploding. This has been attributed to the emergence of new web technologies and APIs, which allows applications to connect with websites and also with connect to other useful features. The web today can deliver customized apps to suit your needs exactly.
Thanks to the fact that nowadays browsers are more than URL bar and Ad-blocker. Languages used in web development include R, PHP, C/C++, HTML, ASP.NET, and JavaScript.
Mobile development
This came into play less than nine years ago and is at its peak today. It can be described as App Development and involves designing and developing apps which can run on mobile platforms which include Android, iOS, and Windows Phone OS platform. Most of the popular OS’s have their own programming language. However, some traditional languages can be used as well.
The flexibility of mobile development has led to the development of mobile games. Mobile development does not focus on game development only. There are all kinds of apps which can fit nearly all our daily activities like looking for cab services, eating joints, traveling and reminding us when to take medicine or water.
Languages used in mobile development include C#, Objective Swift for iOS, Android, and HTML5.
Software tools development
This is very critical in the software development industry even though many consumers don’t use it. The development is used in building software which can be used by other developers to test their codes. Apart from code testing, the software ensures that the codes developed by other software developers conform to the industry standards as well as remaining maintainable.
It is not easy to develop programs used to test other programs. However, tech giants like Google and Microsoft use software development to design test applications for testing other projects.
Languages used include Python, Java, and C++
Data science
This is a major field in overseas but only gaining momentum in South Africa. Think of using cluster computing to crunch large dataset. Developing scientific applications require a detailed and accurate numerical approach.
The applications of this are way cooler than what most of us think; actually, it’s like how machines think. Data processing applications require processing large amounts of data to come up with any meaningful analysis. Data science ensures that data presentation in done in the correct form before being fed to the applications.
Programming languages used here include Python C/C++ and MATLAB.
API development
This is the art of developing extensible things. Here, developers design programs that act as puzzle pieces on all operating systems, desktop, the web, and mobile. The software developers allow third-party developers to interact with the tools or functions related to the API.
API development is the actual laying of a foundation’s standard procedures, tools, GUI, and databases access used in software development. These frameworks are used by other developers in developing applications that use that API.
Programming languages used in API development vary. This is because APIs are normally designed for specific platforms or functions. Therefore, each API contains the programming language for the specific function, platform or device it’s designed for.
