3 Web Development Trends To Watch
Staying up-to-date on the latest developments in your field is vital for delivering maximum value to your clients. For web developers in particular, trends in key areas like cloud computing, information security, and the way people browse online can have a major impact on your work.
These articles from the Hiring Headquarters—Upwork’s resource for businesses, freelancers, and entrepreneurs—will help you stay abreast of several noteworthy shifts.
Navigating the Shift To HTTP/2
Late last year, HTTP saw its first update in over two decades, and adoption of HTTP/2 has grown steadily in 2016 as many websites are making the jump. With ample time to kick the tires since its debut, industry experts now have a stronger sense of the perks and pitfalls of this significant overhaul.
“The HTTP/2 Protocol: Its Pros & Cons and How to Start Using It” explores some of the core differences between HTTP 1.1 and HTTP/2, while looking at the advantages and disadvantages of the main changes to the protocols.
Overall, HTTP/2 is seen as a big improvement over the web’s older outdated protocols, although the article highlights a few deficiencies to be aware of and work around when implementing it into your systems. Additionally, the article features helpful graphs and offers detailed tips for how to get starting using HTTP/2—on both the client and the server sides.
Software Stacks Headed To The Cloud
The tried-and-true LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) has long been the stack of choice for many designers of dynamic websites and apps, due in large part to its free, open-source nature. Some developers, however, are now favoring a modern ecosystem-style stack approach that encompasses a broader range of modular, open-source tools, cloud-based infrastructure, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers.
“How Cloud Computing Is Changing the Software Stack” looks at how the advent of the cloud has impacted software stack preferences in recent years and what this means for developers. The article explores many of the different factors driving this shift and takes a look at the main platforms emerging as the go-to for this new cloud-centric stack landscape.
Here are three big factors cited as heavy influences on this migration over to the cloud.
- Easier tool integration. Modern APIs are designed with modularity in mind, and many easily interface with one another with minimal effort or hassle.
- Affordably scale faster. Cloud-based infrastructure makes the process of scaling to meet current needs a far smoother and more flexible process.
- Greater reliance on distributed teams. More companies are relying on remote workers and distributed teams for web-based projects, which makes cloud-friendly options a strong fit.
Increased Need for Tighter Security
As the online world expands and evolves, so do the countless ways that hackers harness the Internet in an attempt to cause damage and mayhem. Keeping clients’ systems safe and secure should be a top priority for any developer, and designing your code and infrastructure with security in mind from the ground up is always a good idea.
Of course, it also helps to have a strong understanding of the latest threats to watch for.
“Trends in Cyber Security Threats & How to Prevent Them” is an exhaustive discussion of many types of potential cyber attacks you’ll want to guard against—from classics like viruses and phishing scams to newer threats like ransomware.
The article offers helpful definitions to classify attack types, and also explores how hackers use these tools to damage systems, steal information, and wreak havoc. It’s an excellent source for anyone eager to tighten their security.
