From fitness to security alarms, storage to AI, the world we live in is almost completely digitized. Everything we do needs technology to support it and, by extension, new software to run it. Software is constantly innovating and progressing to produce easier services for consumers. Here are 5 software development trends that are making life easier in the Digital Age.

1. Open Source Software Continues to Grow

AS of 2017, open source software has dominated the software trend. Defined as any software that is free to download and has an open source code that is, in most cases, freely visible to all, this software can be manipulated as a whole or in part and distribute freely.

Open source is valuable for software engineers because it is free and a great way to create new products, learn from others, and share knowledge. Many tech giants are now moving towards adopting and distributing open source. For instance, Microsoft is planning to put its SQL Server onto the Linux platform.

It’s not just for software engineers, though. A lot of people in the non-IT field are reaping the benefits of open source. For instance, before web building platforms such as WordPress, Wix, and Weebly, Adobe Dreamweaver was the best way to create a website. There were plenty of limitations, however: not every consumer had access to the software, the user interface was too complicated, and coding a website required skills only a software engineer would know.

Today, with open source software like WordPress, inexperienced users do not need guidance from an IT specialist to build an appealing website. Even if they do require help, online support is offered by these sites through email and live chat. There are also blogs with tutorials for beginners and professionals alike, along with advanced CSS and coding instructions. Furthermore, open source websites make it easier for those experienced in coding to manipulate a website template as desired.

2. Machine Learning and AI Become More than a Possibility

Touted as the next big thing in technology, machine learning and AI are now moving from basic functionality to full-fledged services. Smart home devices, in particular, have become a common reality. For instance, Google Home and Amazon Echo are two products that have made it to the market. These devices can control everything in your home from the temperature of a room to the security system. What these devices lack, however, is an interactive human experience.

AI robots can aid humans, talk, analyze situations, and solve problems on their own. AI is making progress in software development for interactive robots. The latest example is Kuri, a class of home robots that does what the Google Home does while sporting a humanoid look. Other robots in existence are Vyo, which interacts through beeps and electronic noises, and Pepper, which uses its arms to express itself.

3. Big Data Becomes more People-centric

Big data in the traditional sense consists of large amounts of raw data that companies collect to analyze and then form plans to better interact with customers. Storing, collecting, and analyzing big data take massive amounts of time and effort.

There is always a need for better software to handle each step of the process. MapReduce was developed to analyze big data using parallel processing. Parallel processing takes chunks of data and quickly analyzes those chunks. Despite this easier processing software, the data is not humanized.

With increasing competition, experts are now pushing towards humanizing big data in order to use it better. In other words, the next big leap would be software programs that can seek more empathetic and qualitative bits of data and project it in a more visualized, accessible way.

Hadoop is getting close to humanizing big data. Hadoop is an open source, top-level project with a global community of contributors. It’s written in Java, and its original deployments include some of the most well-known organizations like Yahoo, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

While Hadoop doesn’t present big data information in a visual manner yet, the open source programming feature could help develop visual and empathetic aids.

4. Smart Software, Smarter Things

It began with Apple’s iPhone. Over the years, smart devices like Amazon Echo, smartwatches, fitness trackers, and music players have come to include features that make communication, everyday living, and work more efficient. In the automotive industry, software upgrades have gone from blind spot detectors and automatic braking systems to self-driving cars.

The Jetsons era may not be too far away. Google has begun working on Waymo, a project that modifies Lexus SUVs to self-drive. They are also working on producing fully self-driving Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans and self-driving trucks. Automated trucks can be a revolution for the transport industry as transportation companies will no longer require human drivers.

5. Cloud Computing and Storage Is a Necessity

Software for massive data storage off a hard drive was introduced with Apple’s Cloud. In today’s digital world, consumers are creating more data than consuming it, and they are doing so in the form of texts, photos, videos, and audio files. The cloud system allows users to store data that can be accessed on different devices, like Google Drive. Cloud software is still evolving to take in more data. This software trend is not likely to slow down anytime soon.

Software development is likely to continue to evolve as humans increasingly rely on more technology. This is great news for future generations who will be entering the workforce in the years to come. Advances in software for fields like medicine and agriculture can transform industries and, in extension, society. Any trend in software development that helps society progress should be welcomed and supported.