Software 

Characteristics:

Software characteristics are classified into 6 major components:

Functionality: It refers to the degree of performance of the software against its

intended purpose. It basically means are the required functions. The sub character of

the functionality of software are:

 Suitability,

 Accuracy,

 Interoperability,

 Compliance, and

 Security.

Reliability: A set of attribute that Bear on the capability of software to maintain its

level of performances understated conditions for a stated period of time.The sub

character of reliability are:

 Recoverability,

 Fault tolerance, and

 Maturity.

Efficiency: It refers to the ability of the software to use System Resources in the

most effective and Efficient Manner. The software should make effective use of

storage space and executive commands as per desired timing requirement. Efficiency

covers:

 In time, and

 In resources.

Usability: It refers to the extent to which the software can be used with ease. Or

the amount of effort or time required to learn how to use the software should be

less.
It covers:

 Understandability,

 Learnability, and

 Operability.

Maintainability: Refers to the ease with which the modifications can be made in a

software system to extend its functionality, improvement, performance or correct

errors. Maintainability covers:

 Testability,

 Stability,

 Changeability, and

 Analyzability.

Portability: A set of attributes that bears on the ability of the software to be

transferred from one environment to another, without or minimum changes.

Portability covers:

 Adaptability,

 Install ability, and

 Replace ability.

Robustness and integrity are also important:

Robustness: It refers to the degree to which the software can keep on functioning

in spite of being provided with invalid data.

Integrity: It refers to the degree to which Unauthorized Access to the software data

can be prevented.
Recent trends of software
Chasing trends isn’t always a bad thing. Sure, those JNCO jeans from the ’90s might look a little
out of place today, but a trend isn’t always just a fad.

For software developers, trends tend to indicate where the industry is headed. New
technologies, development methods and customer preferences can be key indicators regarding
where you should focus your development skills. Staying on top of new technology trends is a
great way to future-proof your software development skills, ensuring your abilities don’t age as
poorly as a Korn CD.

Here’s a look at seven of today’s most popular software trends:

Trend 1: Artificial Intelligence (AI)

It’s a buzzword that gets thrown around a lot, but it’s not because artificial intelligence (AI) is
being overhyped — it’s because modern technology is finally powerful enough to make AI tools
a reality. Whether it’s through deep learning, machine learning or broader artificially intelligent
applications, organizations are depending on AI to fundamentally transform their industries.

From retail to healthcare, the future of software development — and the future of technology

as we know it — lies within algorithms, big data and sophisticated AI tools to draw new and
fascinating conclusions.

Trend 2: Cross-Platform Development Tools

In the past, developing applications often meant choosing to start from a single platform, like
iOS or Android. After building the initial app for one platform, software developers could create
another version for a different platform — which required them to devote resources to porting
code between each operating system.
Modern cross-platform development tools are one of many development trends that make life
easier for developers and users. With development environments like microsoft’s, 
Xamarin or Google’s Flutter, software developers can write apps that work on nearly every
major desktop and mobile platform. And unlike the cross-platform development tools of the
past, these new software technologies can take full advantage of native APIs and user
interfaces, creating apps that behave natively without sacrificing performance.

Trend 3: Block chain

Bit coin may have kicked its own crypto currency revolution, but its underlying software —
block chain — is poised to have an even greater effect on the future of development. The
beauty of block chain is its decentralized nature: It can store any type of record in a public-
facing database that’s nearly impossible for a hacker to alter or corrupt.

Block chain is one of the latest developments in technology, and software developers are
finding new and interesting ways to implement it. Block chain-based apps known as d Apps,
short for distributed apps, are emerging as a popular option for developers looking to create
decentralized and secure open-source solutions.

Trend 4: IoT
The internet of things (IoT) has finally begun to emerge all around us. From Bluetooth trackers
to smart microwaves, internet-connected devices are no longer relegated to computers and cell
phones. As technologies like 5G begin to roll out, more devices can take advantage of better
wireless bandwidth and power efficiency, bringing to life new and exciting possibilities for the
future of IoT.

That’s because always-on, always-communicating IoT devices are making it easier for
technology to track and monitor the world around us. For IoT software developers, the ability
to write code for small energy-efficient internet-connected devices will remain a powerful skill
for the foreseeable future.
Trend 5: Continuous Delivery and Deployment
Software development cycles of the past were often lengthy, tedious processes. New features
or functions often were packaged together into one release, which meant users had to wait
until a new update was coded, tested and made available to download. Whether software
contained major improvements or minor bug fixes, this development process left much to be
desired. It also made it easier for competitors to beat companies to the punch with their own
solutions as development lagged.

Continuous delivery and continuous deployment have emerged as two of the most popular
trends in modern software development. Both approaches produce software in shorter cycles
of feature development, bug fixing and experimentation, with an aim to release software as
quickly as possible. With continuous delivery, apps are pushed into production for manual
download, whereas continuous deployment updates software through automated deployment.
But the popularity of both approaches is clear: Rather than waiting to put new features in the
hands of users, software development teams can work continuously to push out fixes and
functionality as soon as something is ready to go.

Trend 6: Progressive Web Apps

Websites offer the convenience of being accessible from any browser or device but are unable
to take advantage of platform-specific hardware to reach top performance. Conversely, native
apps can fully embrace the hardware and software capabilities of their native platform to reach
their maximum potential but are only available on the platform they were developed for.

The emergence of progressive web apps finds the sweet spot between performance and
availability by offering app-like experiences in the browser. Progressive web apps package new
web technologies into a solution that makes it easy to create powerful web-based tools that
can run on any platform. Major companies like Google and Adobe are already committed to
developing progressive apps as they herald a new era of web development technologies.

Trend 7: Low-Code Development

Historically, software development has required teams of dedicated coders and computer
science experts to bring solutions to life. Even the most intrepid entrepreneur with a great idea
for an application would need to tap into a team of software developers to build the solution.
Because software development can be an expensive and time-consuming process, the barrier
to entry has often remained high.
The software industry trend of low-code development changes that equation by making it easy
to code applications through graphical user interfaces instead of complex programming
languages.