Top 10 Software Development Stories of 2023

Our top 10 software development stories of 2023 cover the most-read news from the sector this year, from acquisitions and new software to survey results that help gauge the key trends of this fast-paced industry. Read more about improvements in API observability, the future of open source, and AI's increasing presence in software development in the below stories.

1. GitHub Copilot vs. ChatGPT: Which Tool Is Better for Software Development?

This article compares the main advantages and drawbacks of Copilot and ChatGPT from a software developer's perspective: The former is probably a better solution for developers in need of a tool that can generate high-quality code to complete a pre-existing project; the latter would suit those just starting a project who need some high-level guidance and sample code.

Related: What Is ChatGPT? How It Works and Best Uses for Chatbots

2. GitHub Copilot vs. Amazon CodeWhisperer: What Developers Need to Know

Microsoft's Copilot and Amazon's CodeWhisperer are both tools that use AI to help accelerate software development processes and, from a functional perspective, they are similar. However, there are differences that will mean they suit different needs — read about the key distinctions here.

3.Unified Acceleration Foundation Goes Beyond oneAPI to Revolutionize Accelerated Computing

The Unified Acceleration (UXL) Foundation launched in September to build a unified API framework. The project aims to unite the industry around an open standard and open source platform for developing software for accelerators. Sean Micheal Kerner explains more here.

4. Are We Approaching the End of Open Source?

Open source has never been as popular as it is today, but it faces significant and unprecedented threats that cast its long-term future into doubt. Read about those threats, including generative AI, paywalling of source code, and the cloud, in this article.

Related:Is Generative AI the Next Big Threat to Open Source Software?

5.Postman Acquires Akita to Deliver Automated API Observability

In July, API development platform vendor Postman announced its acquisition of privately held API observability vendor Akita Software with the aim of helping organizations discover and monitor all APIs in ways they can't do easily today. Sean Micheal Kerner explains how this acquisition improves API observability.

Related:Why APIs Are the Foundation of Modern Software Development

6.Code Review Bottlenecks: Best Practices to Speed the Process

Long code-review wait times are creating bottlenecks in the software development pipeline, which affects a company's ability to deliver in a timely manner and, therefore, impacts how it innovates and stays ahead of the market. This article explores efforts to improve code-review time, including using industry benchmarks to judge performance and implementing emerging AI tools.

7.How to Use AppImage in Linux

AppImage is an open source tool for running Linux applications in a consistent way across all Linux distributions. In this tutorial video, Chris Tozzi discusses its advantages and disadvantages and explains how you can use it.

Related:What Is AppImage? Benefits, Drawbacks, and Getting Started

8. Developers Eager for Additional Training, but Cost, Time Barriers Limit Progress

Software development is a fast-paced and ever-changing industry, and regular training can help developers keep abreast of changes and new technologies. However, a CNCF survey found that cost was a barrier for 81% of people who wanted to complete cloud-native training. Read more about the survey results here.

9. Stack Overflow 2023 Developer Survey Reveals JavaScript Dominance

The Stack Overflow 2023 Developer Survey was released in June and provided a comprehensive overview of the state of key trends in software development, with responses from 90,000 respondents from developers worldwide. This article dives into the survey to bring you some surprising, and some not-so-surprising, results.

10.  What Is a Software Developer and What's the Best Way to Become One?

Software development can make for a great career, and there are many ways to get started in the industry. This article guides you through the basics of what software development is, how to obtain the relevant training, and tips for the job application process.

What software development news and trends impacted you most in 2023? Let us know in the comments!