10 types of software development

Simply speaking, web development is the process of building web apps and websites. This type of software development is usually client-centric – the client is responsible for providing a business case and requirements. The term ‘web development’ is a kind of umbrella term encompassing a few subcategories.

Front-end development is the part of software development (and web development) that is most available to the end user. It is immediately visible to the users as it consists of graphical elements. Front-end development is often referred to as User Interface development – front-end developers’ job is to create the UI that people see and interact with. They design and create the interface users see and interact with when using a website or app.

Summing up, front-end development involves building UIs and managing client-side behavior. The critical technologies and programming languages used in front-end development are JavaScript, CSS, and HTML

In contrast to the front end, the back end is part of the product that users cannot see. It’s the entire infrastructure that powers the website, application, or program. Back-end development focuses on functionality, integration of systems, and core logic. It’s the type of development that happens backstage. Back-end development comprises server-side behavior, which correlates to servers, databases, application programming interfaces, and other internal structures.

Back-end developers build the infrastructure that other developers need to build their software – they handle the business logic that forms the foundation of any app. The most popular back-end programming languages are Python, Ruby, and Java.

As already mentioned, front-end and back-end development work together to deliver the best of both worlds. On the other hand, full-stack development defines the combination of both client-side and server-side development.

Full-stack developers know the ins and outs of front-end and back-end development which is really helpful when you want to hire someone who will make more comprehensive software development overall. Full-stack developers are familiar with many technologies and have knowledge of operating systems. They work on all aspects of the product.

Database development means arranging and analyzing data in a raw format. It’s usually putting together and running data operations inside a company’s system. This requires a significant amount of effort and expertise.

Database developers are responsible for building databases, modifying and designing existing or new programs, and ensuring that they satisfy the users’ requirements. Databases are used in various ways by individuals and firms with considerable experience. They store vast numbers of records efficiently and make it easy to discover information. Today, a company’s database is very often a critical aspect of IT.

API development (application programming interfaces development) is the gateway that connects computer systems to one another. API can be used to connect data analysis tools, social media profiles, and other services. Such technology is extremely efficient – you don’t have to have several different applications doing separate tasks. API helps automate the workflow so everything can be completed in minutes. API development is then the art of building something extensible.

API developers build programs like puzzle pieces for different embedded systems. The systems allow third-party developers access to the tools and features of the API reference. So, summing up, API serves as a liaison between software.

Mobile developers build applications that run natively on mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets, and some types of smartwatches. It is possible to work on both iOS and Android (cross–platform development) or one of these platforms only. Mobile development specifies the building of software that runs on mobile services.

App development is at the crux of every software project. It’s the creation of any program to perform a task towards business objectives. Mobile app development focuses on designing and creating mobile apps for smartphones and other mobile devices. It has become increasingly popular in recent years. Mobile applications are highly profitable and relatively easy and inexpensive to produce when compared to traditional software development methods. They are simple for users to install and can be up and running within minutes.

Data science is one of the types of software development at the intersection of programming and data analysis. It’s used for a wide range of purposes, but originally, data science was designed to help companies analyze their existing data so they can discover if there are any trends or insights that might have been overlooked over the years. So, data science means analyzing any sizable amount of data to determine trends and patterns of behavior.

Data scientists write programs with the specific purpose of analyzing data. It can be for detecting fraud in banking companies, advertising, as well as conducting image analyses.

It’s one of the types of software development that has been growing rapidly in the last few years. For sure, it will remain integral to society in years to come. Video games are computer programs that provide visual feedback to the user, interactive software for PCs, consoles, and mobile devices. Whatever the device, video games have been a booming industry since their inception.

Depending on the game’s complexity, the development process can take months to several years to build. The most popular technologies used by video game developers are Unity and C#.

Desktop development means building applications that run on desktop operating systems. It can be one of the following operating systems: Mac, Linux, or Windows. This type of software development was crucial in the early days of programming; however, it has been less popular since mobile applications came in. The most popular examples of desktop applications include Microsoft Office, Activity Monitor on macOS, and Windows File Explorer.

Accessing and using a desktop app is a really simple process – you need to download the software from an official website and launch it on your computer. Desktop apps store user data locally so that you can easily access numerous functionalities without having a network connection.

Cloud computing encompasses services, programs, and applications that run over the cloud. They can be accessed remotely, no matter where you are. You just need an Internet connection and appropriate login credentials. Cloud computing software development includes many types of software, from software tools like GitHub to cloud storage applications like Google Drive. It encompasses delivering on-demand resources without dealing with physical infrastructure or internal systems.

When it comes to developer duties, cloud computing usually means creating cloud platforms. Cloud computing developers build apps and facilitate cloud deployment and migration, as well as manage cloud services and provide maintenance to users.

DevOps engineering focuses on delivering software smoothly and efficiently through a customer-centric approach. It involves development, deployment, testing, QA, and more. The main idea behind DevOps engineering is to ensure the delivery of high-quality software and enhance the software development process.

At the same time, DevOps is a new way of working, a cultural shift that has relevant implications for teams and the organizations they work for. In the DevOps model, software development and operations teams are no longer “siloed”. The two teams work together across the entire application lifecycle – from software development and testing to deployment and operations. DevOps Engineers’ capabilities should include programming, proficiency in DevOps and Agile principles, scripting, ability to collaborate, QA testing, integration, and more.

When you build computer systems that exist within a larger mechanical device, it is called embedded systems development. Embedded systems development is widely used in all industries – contemporary vehicles, smartphones, manufacturing machines, etc. The systems are specifically tailored to internal hardware needs. They are usually designed to work with different processors, microcontrollers, and similar components to perform specific tasks or functions.

Embedded software runs in low-resource environments with little available memory or storage capacity. It’s usually scalable and configurable to be used across different devices without issue.

As the pace of software development speeds up, there are more and more cyberattacks and hackers exploiting software to find and use flaws in your code. Securing your apps is then nothing but crucial, and fortunately, you can take measures to secure them.

Security engineering and security software development mean building secure programs integrated with certain procedures. It’s an examination of software apps to identify and fix any potential security concerns. Finally, security software development is safeguarding the entire organization nowadays.

Software tools development means building computer programs for creating, debugging, and maintaining code. It’s one of the most basic types of software development. Software tools can be used to create new programs or manage complex projects and similar tasks.

The number of software developers worldwide is expected to reach nearly 29 million by 2024. The number is growing, and now, when you know these 10 types of software development, you can understand software development better. Before starting any project, it is crucial to gather such information and business procedures. Then, you can move to hiring developers with proper technologies and programming languages for your business venture and software development processes. Need qualified software developers to support your project? Let us know!