Tech Trends Shaping 2024: Beyond the AI Hype
While everyone’s talking about AI, several other technology trends are quietly reshaping how we build and deploy software. Here’s my take on what actually matters in 2024.
Edge Computing Comes of Age
Edge computing is finally delivering on its promises. With 5G rollouts accelerating and IoT devices becoming more sophisticated, we’re seeing real-world applications that weren’t possible before.
What’s Changed:
- Better developer tooling and frameworks
- Improved cost models from cloud providers
- Real performance benefits for latency-sensitive applications
The Platform Engineering Movement
Platform engineering is becoming a distinct discipline. Companies are investing in internal platforms that abstract away infrastructure complexity and improve developer productivity.
Key Components:
- Self-service infrastructure provisioning
- Standardized deployment pipelines
- Integrated observability and security
WebAssembly Beyond the Browser
WASM is expanding beyond browser sandboxing into server-side applications, microservices, and even embedded systems. This is enabling new architectures and deployment patterns.
The Rise of Local-First Software
Applications that work offline-first and sync when connected are gaining traction. This shift addresses privacy concerns and improves user experience in unreliable network conditions.
Sustainable Technology Practices
Green computing is moving from nice-to-have to business imperative. Organizations are optimizing for energy efficiency and carbon footprint alongside traditional metrics.
These trends represent fundamental shifts in how we architect, build, and deploy software systems. Understanding their implications early provides a competitive advantage.