Time changes everything, things that were once considered untouchable or were presumed to be at the zenith also changed with the passage of time, due to advancements in technology.

In the same way, it is anticipated that programming will also undergo a tremendous change which will lead to a new era of software and mobile app development services.

But, before we explore the ways in which programming will change, let us first talk about programming.

What Is Programming?

Programming refers to process of designing, writing, and crafting a computer program to perform a certain task(s). In simpler terms, programming is the mechanism to write and give a computer program certain tasks that it is supposed to execute.

History of Programming  

It might seem like a surprise to many, but programming has come a long way since the 1940s. Back in the day, most programs were written manually, transcribed, and then digitalized.

The earlier programming languages were highly technical, mathematical, and mechanical that could be understood by a handful of qualified people. But that is not the case today.

Programming is taught as a disciple to school-going students and is seen as an impetus for advancing economies and countries. In fact, it is the fastest-changing, evolving, and most dynamic fields in the world.

Having said that, it is anticipated that the discipline will undergo more change in the next five years. Curious? Let’s read on…

1. The Cloud Is Here To Stay

Back in the olden days, a computer’s processing speed largely depended on the speed of its central processing unit (CPU), and to increase the system’s speed and its productivity, you had to upgrade your computer every year, that is, had to obtain a faster and efficient CPU.

However, cloud technology has changed everything. Now, to increase your computer’s productivity, you no longer have to upgrade your CPU, instead you can store information on cloud. Cloud technology allows the user to store information on someone else’s system in an unknown part of the world, which can be retrieved from anywhere in the world.

While technology has made storage easier, it has also made matters complicated for programmers. Programming will now have to adapt to cloud technology, more smarter and efficient language will have to be made that enables programmers to extract metadata from big data in the shortest time span.

2. Abstract Programming Is The Future

The future is all about serverless technology, which prompts many developers to think that abstraction, is the future, which will remove minute details from coding programs.

Therefore, the new and upcoming challenge for coders and programmers is that they must unleash their creativity and design programs that complement technologies like virtual reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) software.

Thus, programmers will have to gain skills that work well with those technologies, which will be a challenge.

3. Artificial Intelligence Is Here To Stay

Recently, Microsoft added an Artificial Intelligence (AI) toolkit into its Microsoft Edge web browser. In addition, it also recently added AI platform into its Windows 10 update, thus, every programmer who builds an app on the operating system (OS) will have the liberty of using pre-trained machine learning tools, which will make the task easier for him or her.

Apart from that, researchers from Rice University have designed an application called BAYOU. BAYO uses deep learning and acts as a search engine for coding, which allows programmers to enter certain codes or keywords, which will help them with their task.  

4. There Is More Likely To Exist A Universal Programming Language

As mentioned before, programming has changed since the olden days and it will continue to do so. Python, C++, Java, and others are considered relatively easy languages,

However, in the future, things are likely to change. Python, it is anticipated by computer researchers from Tufts will become the great-great grandfather of modern languages. Modern languages, they think, are more likely to be closer to English than to a present-day computer language.

Why? You may wonder. It’s because English is a universal language, and as programming and programming languages are gaining momentum and are becoming increasingly popular, the need for a universal programming language is also on the rise.

Therefore, in the future, we might see one dominating universal programming language.

5. Data Will Be Of Key Importance

A New York University’s (NYU) Stern School of Business study predicts that in the future, programmers will have to have more skills than just programming. Data, they say, will be of key essence.

Programmers, in the future, will have to be proficient in linear and non-linear data analysis, data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

6. Programming Will Be Integrated Into School Education

Back in the day, or perhaps even today, programming is taught at the college-level. People that possess an interest in the field either learn it through online courses or at the college-level by enrolling themselves in certain courses or getting a degree in software engineering.

However, studies suggest that this should change, and in some places, a change is underway. Programming is increasingly becoming an essential skill to possess, just like reading, writing, and arithmetic.

It is anticipated that in the next five to ten years, every professional career will require some form of programming skills. The more you have, the more likely are you to succeed. Hence, studies conclude a strong foundation of an architecture-based language, Python must be taught at the school-level. Programming, they say, not sharpens peoples’ minds, but also allows them to develop critical thinking skills.

Conclusion

Just like everything else in the world, programming has undergone tremendous change and it will likely undergo the most change in the next five years. Programming comes under the umbrella of Information Technology (IT), a field that is most growing and dynamic in the world.

The challenge and lesson for today’s programmers is that they must not confine themselves to one set of skills, they should constantly challenge themselves and diversify their skill set by learning new languages and programming techniques. The future, as it can be expected, is full of change and ups and downs, but self-growth is the only way forward.