Software design and development
Software design and development encompasses an array of processes and methodologies. Developers have a lot to manage and will need guidance on how to handle different tasks and projects. Brush up on everything from app-dev approaches such as low code, test- and model-driven development, code refactoring and management practices, UI and UX design, and developer tools.
Top Stories
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Tip
21 Dec 2023
Object-oriented vs. functional programming explained
While plenty of developers entertain the idea of adopting a functional programming model, it's important to first know exactly how it differs from the object-oriented approach. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Dec 2023
The 5 SOLID principles of object-oriented design explained
In this primer on SOLID, we'll examine the five principles this development ideology embodies, the practices they encourage and the reasons these concepts matter. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Dec 2023
How to set up Python coding standards for a dev team
Python team leaders have two challenges when it comes to code standards: creating a style guide and getting developers to stick to it. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Dec 2023
The pros and cons of a layered architecture pattern
Layered architecture patterns provide a consistent and secure way to organize code when implemented correctly. However, the way those layers interact should remain a top concern. Continue Reading
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News
06 Dec 2023
Google Gemini, AWS GenAI tools face uphill battle for devs
Google's Gemini model claims performance advantages over GPT-4, while AWS touts foundational model choice, but Microsoft still has the advantage in developer tools, IT pros say. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Nov 2023
Elixir vs. Clojure for functional programming at scale
While they don't have the prestige of JavaScript or Python, Elixir and Clojure are making a name for themselves when it comes to functional programming at scale. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Nov 2023
6 common problems with open source code integration
Open source provides its fair share of benefits for businesses that put it to use. However, don't ignore these six hazards that development teams may face along the way. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Nov 2023
6 green coding best practices and how to get started
Software developers can support sustainability efforts via a range of green coding tactics. These best practices range from shrinking artifacts to maximizing efficiency. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Nov 2023
Logistics firm taps Netflix Conductor service to manage AI
SPI Logistics looks to a microservices orchestration service provider founded by the creators of Netflix Conductor as it prepares to weave AI into developer workflows. Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2023
Intel exec affixes OpenSSF, CNCF open source security efforts
Intel's Arun Gupta, now governing board chair of both the CNCF and OpenSSF, discusses his plans to bring all three organizations together to improve open source security. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Oct 2023
Compare Ansible vs. Docker use cases and combinations
Ansible and Docker play particular roles. Used together, Ansible's playbooks and Docker's Dockerfiles provide greater control and configurability over servers. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Oct 2023
Best practices for automated end-to-end testing
Advanced end-to-end testing can save a company time and money, but it isn't easy to implement. Let's look at some of the important elements of test design. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
18 Oct 2023
How to tame Gradle dependency version management
Need to quickly and easily switch between versions of your dependencies at build time? Gradle's dependency catalogs are the answer. Here's how to use them. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Oct 2023
Is a continuous planning process in DevOps worth it?
Is a continuous planning strategy right for your organization's DevOps efforts? Know the practical benefits and challenges, as well as how to improve development efficiencies. Continue Reading
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News
05 Oct 2023
Docker enters GenAI development fray with new tools
Docker jumps aboard the generative AI bandwagon with a pre-built set of tools to jump-start app development using LLMs and a Docker AI productivity tool. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Sep 2023
Collaborative coding basics and best practices
Successful collaborative coding includes teamwide situational awareness, highly effective communication, strong project management practices and strict version control. Continue Reading
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News
07 Sep 2023
Server-side WebAssembly takes shape, but faces challenges
Server-side Wasm's release next quarter will provide a cleaner way to connect apps, followed by further improvements in early 2024. Will it be enough to convince skeptics? Continue Reading
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Opinion
07 Sep 2023
Containers vs. VMs: Is the VM all that bad?
Containers and VMs are needed to build and maintain software. Containers can deploy and scale apps, while VMs are more resource-intensive and can support separate environments. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Aug 2023
Compare machine learning vs. software engineering
Although machine learning has a lot in common with traditional programming, the two disciplines have several key differences, author and computer scientist Chip Huyen explains. Continue Reading
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News
21 Jul 2023
Postman API platform will use Akita to tame rogue endpoints
Akita's discovery and observability will feed undocumented APIs into Postman's design and testing framework to bring them into the enterprise governance fold. Continue Reading
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News
20 Jul 2023
GitHub Copilot Chat aims to replace Googling for devs
GitHub's public beta of Copilot Chat rolls out GPT-4 integration that embeds a chat assistant into Visual Studio, but concerns about AI linger for some developers. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jul 2023
Haskell vs. PureScript: The difference is complexity
Haskell and PureScript each provide their own unique development advantages, so how should developers choose between these two popular programming languages? Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Jul 2023
The negative impact of technical debt
Adding features on top of poorly written code is a recipe for a bad reputation and a compromised user experience. Here's a look at 12 negative effects of technical debt. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
06 Jul 2023
Concurrent programming in Go with channels and goroutines
In this hands-on guide, you'll learn how to write faster, more efficient Go code by taking advantage of channels, the language's built-in mechanism for managing concurrent tasks. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jun 2023
5 noteworthy challenges of automotive software development
Modern cars are loaded with technology, but creating in-vehicle applications isn't always a cakewalk. Here are five unique challenges developers face with automotive software. Continue Reading
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Feature
21 Jun 2023
How AI changes quality assurance in tech
AI and automation have become more commonplace across business processes. In the tech industry, for example, the use of both can enhance quality assurance. Continue Reading
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Quiz
20 Jun 2023
Scrum master certification exam questions and answers
Are you ready for the Scrum master certification exam? Test yourself on these 10 tough Scrum master exam questions and answers. Continue Reading
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Quiz
20 Jun 2023
More Scrum product owner certification exam questions
Want to get Scrum product owner-certified? These tough practice exam questions test your ability to apply the Scrum framework in the capacity of a Professional Scrum Product Owner. Continue Reading
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Quiz
20 Jun 2023
Scrum product owner certification exam questions and answers
Here are 10 tough sample Scrum product owner exam questions and answers to help gauge your readiness for the certification test. Continue Reading
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Opinion
19 Jun 2023
App development trends and their security implications
Enterprise Strategy Group analysts look at how organizations are modernizing software development processes and how security teams can support the growth and scale. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Jun 2023
Microservices vs. headless architecture: A brief breakdown
Microservices and headless architectures are both techniques capable of providing flexibility and modularity, but how do you make a wise choice between them? Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2023
CISA SBOM standards efforts stymied by confusion, inertia
Efforts to establish SBOM standards and guidance have progressed, but unanswered questions persist -- including how the federal government plans to enforce its own requirements. Continue Reading
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News
08 Jun 2023
Sysdig CNAPP runtime threat detection wins over BigCommerce
Sysdig's fast, comprehensive data collection, now part of a larger CNAPP product, sealed the deal with the e-commerce company. Next, it might replace vulnerability management tools. Continue Reading
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News
06 Jun 2023
Free Atlassian Jira DevSecOps tab opens doors to expansion
Vulnerability management data from Atlassian partners surfaces in a new Security in Jira tab for cloud customers, setting the stage for a potential DevSecOps expansion. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 May 2023
The emerging usability of ChatGPT in software development
In the hands of a creative developer, ChatGPT has what it takes to be a helpful coding tool. But generative AI may soon attain the capability to act as more than an assistant. Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2023
Google teases generative AI expansion within its own cloud
Google's new generative AI features, including a coding assistant, were tied closely to GCP in preview demos this week, while industry experts said its LLM still lags rivals. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 May 2023
Is ChatGPT better for coding than low-code platforms?
ChatGPT can write code, but it can't integrate code or produce design ideas. Also, it poses security and licensing risks. For now, AI enhances but doesn't replace low-code platforms. Continue Reading
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Opinion
09 May 2023
Addressing the confusion around shift-left cloud security
To clarify how shift-left security should work in terms of cloud-based application development, Enterprise Strategy Group analyst Melinda Marks dives deep into the process. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Apr 2023
The promises and risks of AI in software development
Incorporating AI into software development could be transformative, but it raises ethical and practical concerns. What does AI-generated code mean for the tech sector's future? Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Apr 2023
A quick look at the Carbon programming language
Carbon is an experimental programming language built to stand on the shoulders of C++ -- but with a new outlook on memory safety, threading and functional programming. Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2023
Server-side Wasm boosts K8s bonds, devx ahead of key update
Early adopters await a WASI update this year before server-side Wasm can be ready for wider production use. For now, PaaS vendors have begun to bridge some of the gaps. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Mar 2023
JavaScript vs. TypeScript: What's the difference?
TypeScript and JavaScript are two complementary technologies that are driving both front-end and back-end development. Here are the similarities and differences between the two. Continue Reading
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News
30 Mar 2023
Azure Pipelines vulnerability spotlights supply chain threats
Legit Security researchers discovered a remote code execution flaw within Microsoft's Azure DevOps platform that could give threat actors complete control of development pipelines. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
27 Mar 2023
Simplify code with for_each and dynamic blocks in Terraform
In this tutorial, get hands-on practice using Terraform features like dynamic blocks and the for_each attribute to write cleaner, more reusable code for cloud deployments. Continue Reading
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News
22 Mar 2023
Java 20 Project Loom updates set stage for Java LTS
Java 20 reincubates two Project Loom scalability features, making them prime candidates to become standard in September's Java LTS. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Mar 2023
Code comment best practices every developer should know
Source code can benefit from well-written code comments. If teams implement proper writing strategies, code comments can be a great tool to explain code intent. Continue Reading
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News
20 Mar 2023
Docker Free Team concerns linger after mea culpa
Docker apologized for a 'terrible job' sharing its plan to deprecate a Free Team subscription, but some observers remain worried about security implications from the transition. Continue Reading
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News
13 Mar 2023
GitHub SBOM updates build automation foundation
A new CLI extension and other features due to ship this month lay the groundwork to help developers make better use of software supply chain data and mitigate vulnerabilities. Continue Reading
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News
09 Mar 2023
GitHub 2FA plan adds SMS, account lockout safeguards
GitHub has added SMS support and fresh account lockout prevention features to its phased rollout plans as it prepares to implement a 2FA requirement for accounts beginning Monday. Continue Reading
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News
02 Mar 2023
ChatGPT API sets stage for new wave of enterprise apps
The new API is faster and cheaper than the previous ChatGPT interface, and users can opt out of submitting their data to it, opening new doors for enterprise developers. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Mar 2023
6 alternatives to Heroku's defunct free service tiers
Though the end of Heroku's free-tier services has left many developers and software teams in the cold, a flock of cloud platform providers seem determined to fill the void. Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2023
AWS, Hugging Face and the growing generative AI competition
The tech giant and LLM vendor team up as rivalry intensifies between Microsoft and Google in the generative AI war. The partnership is Amazon's response to the competition. Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2023
AI might fix GitHub code search developer pain points
GitHub code search helps developers query complex codebases. But the tool could benefit from more tailored results and better support for natural language queries. Continue Reading
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News
13 Feb 2023
Warranty company devs get serverless computing boost
A company bogged down in AWS CDK code busted serverless development bottlenecks with DevZero, which gives developers their own production-like environment. Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2023
Atlassian Jira updates aim to democratize product discovery
Atlassian Jira's new tools help to organize projects, provide better visibility, and align the goals of software delivery, operations and product teams. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Feb 2023
The 10 most promising tools for Web 3.0 development
Web 3.0 doesn't exist yet, but there are many tools for developing apps for the next generation web and bridging the gap from today's Web 2.0 infrastructure. Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2023
Jellyfish value stream management tool busts bottlenecks
Jellyfish adds value stream data to its productivity tracking tool for engineering teams that want to address inefficiencies in software development. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Jan 2023
10 Web3 courses to try in 2023
Gain the skills necessary to engage with the newest iteration of the web using one of the many Web3 developer courses and learning resources available online. Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2023
Efforts to improve memory safety in software gain momentum
Unsafe memory access can cause financial woes for enterprises and personal harm to individuals, experts say, advising enterprises to switch to memory-safe languages. Continue Reading
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News
25 Jan 2023
OpenSSF GM talks funding, legal software supply chain issues
The OpenSSF leader lays out plans fund open source software supply chain security in a slowing economy and to speak out against the EU's Cyber Resilience Act. Continue Reading
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News
25 Jan 2023
Devs discuss when to use TypeScript vs. JavaScript
TypeScript catches errors at compile time, which benefits developers and users. But the language isn't suitable for every project due to its additional overhead. Continue Reading
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News
24 Jan 2023
Microsoft offers developer guidance on green software tools
Microsoft, UBS and others back developers' use of open source carbon-aware tools. Two case studies -- one enterprise and one academic -- demonstrate green software tools in action. Continue Reading
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News
17 Jan 2023
Experts rate programming languages for beginners in 2023
Python and JavaScript are two standouts for novices, according to developer experts. But fledgling coders should diversify their toolbox with newer languages too. Continue Reading
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News
12 Jan 2023
Updates to GitHub Actions add efficiency, risk of friction
GitHub Actions required workflows and configuration variables can reduce duplicate configuration code and shore up policy compliance but may add to developer frustration. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Jan 2023
What is low-code? A guide to enterprise low-code app development
Learn how low-code concepts and practices code can help enterprise developers be more efficient, create valuable apps more quickly and contribute to broader business initiatives. Continue Reading
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News
09 Jan 2023
AI risks shadow software development security trend
The rise of AI-assisted workflows will facilitate software development security amid growing open source vulnerabilities, but comes with the threat of AI-generated attacks. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Jan 2023
How to validate a Kubernetes manifest
Dev teams must validate Kubernetes manifests. Developers can navigate validation and issues that arise with the help of native and third-party tools and other coding methods. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Dec 2022
Compare Go vs. Python: What are the differences?
Golang and Python are both versatile, popular languages, but they have some important differences that developers should take into account when planning software projects. Continue Reading
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News
21 Dec 2022
Prospects unclear for two Nucamp coding boot camp graduates
A coding boot camp can jumpstart a career in tech, but only for those willing to go the extra mile. Here's how two non-developers fared in a four-week web development boot camp. Continue Reading
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News
16 Dec 2022
Salesforce DevOps Center ships to rein in low-code apps
Salesforce DevOps Center rolled out with features meant to bring low-code and pro-code custom apps on its CRM platform up to date with current software development practices. Continue Reading
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News
15 Dec 2022
Lego site vulnerabilities highlight API security gaps
What's old is new again: Lego site BrickLink was found vulnerable to cross-site scripting and other well-understood types of attacks, intensifying scrutiny on API security. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Dec 2022
Tools and techniques to test Kubernetes objects
Kubernetes manifests and objects represent the baseline of code development on the platform. Here's why and how to test these integral elements of Kubernetes. Continue Reading
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News
15 Dec 2022
Spotify Plugins for Backstage aimed at developer productivity
Spotify Plugins for Backstage improves the development environment, but it can also help users tackle the developer shortage, according to one industry expert. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Dec 2022
Best practices for low-code integration within dev pipelines
When a nontechnical team leads the charge on application development, it still falls to developers and testers to integrate low-code tools and apps into the pipeline. Continue Reading
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News
14 Dec 2022
ChatGPT writes code, but won't replace developers
Recent advancements in AI portend the rise of the robot coder. Developers will need new skills to succeed in an AI-based industry, experts say. Continue Reading
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News
13 Dec 2022
Tidelift GC: Paid open source can stave off another Log4j
If the industry wants to thwart software supply chain attacks and prevent another Log4Shell, the way forward is to pay open source maintainers, Tidelift GC Luis Villa says. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Dec 2022
Creative AI, FinOps among hot developer trends of 2023
Here's a look at the hottest trends for application developers in 2023. Keep an eye out for decentralization, FinOps, consolidation and AI. Continue Reading
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News
01 Dec 2022
AWS DevOps tools expand low-code features, focus on devx
Many of the features of AWS CodeCatalyst and Application Composer were technically possible before, but the new services package them accessibly via a low-code UI. Continue Reading
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News
29 Nov 2022
Amazon boosts CodeWhisperer, AI and ML tools
AWS rolled out updates to a series of AI tools and services, highlighted by improvements to its CodeWhisperer coding system and Textract AI service for extracting document text. Continue Reading
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News
28 Nov 2022
Small open source projects pose significant security risks
Open source security initiatives might prevent large-scale vulnerabilities such as Log4j, but smaller projects pose risks without more maintainer support, industry experts say. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Nov 2022
How to make and use maps in Golang
Maps are a popular data structure in many programming contexts thanks to their efficiency and speed. But, in Go, some unique features make maps especially useful. Continue Reading
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News
21 Nov 2022
Software developer layoffs and hiring freezes on the rise
As tech companies tighten their belts, developers should prepare for a tighter job market by updating resumes and expanding job searches beyond big tech, say industry experts. Continue Reading
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News
21 Nov 2022
Diffblue expands AI-powered unit testing platform
Diffblue Cover is gaining traction amidst a trend toward AI-augmented testing, say industry analysts. Cover can now run a suite of unit tests without developer intervention. Continue Reading
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News
16 Nov 2022
Atlassian Open DevOps tools stitch together more workflows
As all-in-one DevOps tools vendors grow, Atlassian argues users want choice; customers say third-party tools integration is a timesaver, but the company faces headwinds. Continue Reading
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News
16 Nov 2022
SAP low-code platform looks to fill developer gaps
SAP Build, a new low-code platform that debuted at SAP TechEd, is designed to enable business users to create apps, but it's entering a noisy market and may struggle to find users. Continue Reading
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News
10 Nov 2022
Low-code API management tool fights complexity, with caveats
A new low-code API management tool could bring benefits such as increased speed, fewer coding errors and wider accessibility. But it must prove itself in the market. Continue Reading
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News
09 Nov 2022
GitHub security updates and Copilot expansion make waves
New features unveiled at GitHub Universe include private channels for security issues and Copilot for business, which may fall under a cloud of ongoing litigation. Continue Reading
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News
04 Nov 2022
Go updates to tackle pain points, but Golang 2 is dead
Go Day 2022 highlights include possible Go updates to tackle compatibility, security and developer pain points such as for-loop scoping. But Golang 2 will never happen. Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2022
Pega CTO: Ethical AI for developers demands transparency
Pegasystems CTO Don Schuerman believes the cure for AI's ethical issues lies in broad data inputs, being sensitive to biases and algorithms that make explainable decisions. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Nov 2022
Sustainable software needs more tools, corporate buy-in
Several tools can help developers build sustainable software, but it won't make a dent in carbon emissions without organizational support and better monitoring tools. Continue Reading
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News
27 Oct 2022
API documentation can make or break developer experience
At this week's API World, experts highlight issues with poor API documentation and suggest ways to fix it, such as ditching jargon and adopting the OpenAPI Specification. Continue Reading
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News
24 Oct 2022
Developers want improved performance, efficiency in Java 20
Java 20 will likely include useful features such as improvements to concurrency and profiling, but the incremental updates are unlikely to please everyone. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Oct 2022
What Golang generics support means for code structure
Generics are a relatively recent addition to the strongly and statically typed Go language. Learn the benefits of using generics in Golang and how to get started. Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2022
Developers warned: GitHub Copilot code may be licensed
Questions surround GitHub Copilot's use of open source code, but it's a Supreme Court decision on Warhol's art that developers should keep an eye on, according to one legal expert. Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2022
Oracle CloudWorld rollout includes new serverless options
New Oracle Cloud Infrastructure serverless offerings hide more of the gory infrastructure details from application developers to hasten software delivery workflows. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Oct 2022
What IT pros need to know about low-code limitations
Low-code environments promise to simplify and speed up software development, but their limitations can create challenges for enterprise IT. Compare models for low-code adoption. Continue Reading
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News
03 Oct 2022
EvolveWare feature adds agility to application modernization
EvolveWare's Intellisys gives enterprises a business rules extraction option that won't lock up legacy or modernized applications when code changes are required. Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2022
Intel SDKs give developers tools for AI, quantum software
Intel launched new SDKs for AI and quantum computing and added tools underpinned by the Intel Developer Cloud in an effort to attract developers to build on its hardware. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Sep 2022
Explore the pros and cons of Go for DevOps
Author and Docker engineer Teiva Harsanyi explains the benefits of Golang -- including why he sees it as the future of back-end development -- and how to avoid common pitfalls. Continue Reading
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News
22 Sep 2022
IT pros pan government software supply chain security advice
As the prospect of federally mandated SBOM drives up usage of the software supply chain security tech, the government's documentation so far adds to risky confusion, experts say. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Sep 2022
Experts: 3 trends in software development worth following
Trends come and go, but AIOps and MLOps, spatial computing, and a low-code and high-code toolkit are the future of software development, industry experts say. Continue Reading
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News
14 Sep 2022
AutoRabit tool seeks to simplify Salesforce security for DevOps
OrgScan extends CodeScan's security scanning ability in Salesforce. CodeScan Shield aims to simplify security for devs as the trend to shift left continues, industry analysts say. Continue Reading