A Beginners Guide to the Many Types of Software Development

Jake Barthelmy -

A well-managed software development project ensures a successful launch. Managing a project efficiently requires choosing the best methodology from the many types of software development that exist.

All software development methodologies have different strengths and weaknesses, and each requires specific skills and mindsets. Choose the wrong one, and your project, like so many others before it, might fail. Work with a developer with detailed knowledge of each type, and your chances of building a product that supports your tech goals increase accordingly. Also with all methods it can be really helpful to build a POC first. To learn more about POC's check out this article about how POC's can help mitigate risk.

Here’s a look at the most frequently used type of software development. Depending on your project, you might require just one, but many projects often rely on a hybrid approach.

Types of Software Development

Choosing the proper software development methodology is critical to enhancing project control, setting predictable delivery dates, and meeting product goals. Which one you select is typically determined by team size, goals, and other factors.

Front-end and Back-end Development

The “front end” is the client-side of a product, and it plays a significant role in nearly every type of software development. Front-end developer tasks include fixing bugs and ensuring the user interface runs on multiple browsers. Back-end development comprises server-side behavior and refers to all the machinations that go on “backstage,” including product features end-users don’t see. Back-end development drives software development as a whole, ensuring strong software performance, security, and scalability.

Full Stack Development

Back-end and front-end developers collaborate to deliver a product that users love and won’t “fall apart” in the process. A full-stack development process makes for more comprehensive software development overall and can reduce hiring costs.

API Development

API or Application Programming Interface development lets developers extend software beyond traditional boundaries. APIs are critical pieces of the development puzzle, as they provide a platform for the software to interact with other software. For instance, without API integration, you wouldn’t be able to share the latest crisis on social media, check the current weather, or instantly open up a map when you search for an address. Needless to say, APIs are an essential asset in every type of software development from here on.

Embedded Systems Development

Photography buffs probably don’t think of their digital cameras as an example of software development, but they are. Developers build embedded systems into digital cameras that allow them to extend dedicated functionalities like storing photos. Cars, manufacturing machinery, traffic control systems, and medical imaging equipment all have embedded software-based functions. As the Internet of Things (IoT) soars in popularity and use, embedded systems development is keeping pace, creating code to control various devices that aren’t your traditional computer.

Database Development

It takes a lot of experience and effort to design and develop a company’s data operations. Database development is a sophisticated process of developing and analyzing objectives and requirements in the form of raw data. It makes it possible to handle large chunks of data more effectively and makes it easy to find information quickly.

Cloud Computing

Developers use languages like Java, JS (Node JS), Python, and more to create cloud storage applications similar to DropBox, OneDrive, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Cloud development is the process of developing web solutions or apps that can be run over the cloud, making them easily accessible from nearly any location, provided a user has an internet connection.

IoT Software Engineering

Internet of Things software development is the methodical development of IoT infrastructure using a combination of software and hardware solutions and deals with data collected via processes and sensors. It’s commonly used in applications for smart cities and power grids, construction, and telehealth services.

IoT devices allow enterprises to automate business operations, including daily activities, with the integration of mobile phones, smartwatches, laptops, and sensors making effective communication possible.

AI and Machine Learning in Software Development

The primary difference between machine learning and AI in software development is that AI enables systems to replicate human behavior and machine learning allows a machine to learn human behavior and make improvements.

Both help software development by automating processes, reducing the time and costs involved, and achieving 100% accuracy. Their effect on the software development process is four-fold:

  1. Project planning. Accuracy of the project planning stage is improved, ensuring technical effectiveness and economic efficiency.
  2. Problem analysis. Work is completed faster and with greater accuracy.
  3. Project management. AI calculates the budget, implication of changes to scope and timeline, and performs risk modeling.
  4. Quality analysis. AI enables developers to code better and identify and fix bugs, while machine-learning algorithms improve testing.

DevOps Application Development

DevOps development focuses on the quick, efficient, and customer-centric delivery of software. It combines development and operations to increase the security of software development and delivery compared to more traditional processes. Encompassing automation, collaboration, iterative improvement, and rapid feedback, DevOps’ more nimble lifecycle gives businesses a competitive advantage.

Want to learn more about the different types of software development available for your next project? Get in touch with us today to schedule a meeting.