Things that have changed in software’s history
The software industry is not the same as it was in the 1980s. Here are some things that have changed since then.
Technology
- Foundational hardware has improved, e.g. screens, processors, storage speeds, input sensors. This changes the software that can be made.
- Foundational software has improved, e.g. libraries, programming languages, operating systems. This changes the software that can be made.
Commercial value
- The market size for software has increased: more people buy more software.
- It’s easier to make money from software, so more people make it.
- More people rely on software to earn money. They expect software to be a safe career, and might avoid risk when they make software.
- There are many more customer types. From hobbyists to large businesses. Different customer types can expect different types of software.
Use
- Software is used for more important purposes. Software changes to suit those more important purposes.
- Software is used more often by each person. Software tends to get simpler or plainer the more often it is used.
- Tastes change as current styles become saturated and people look for something novel.
Creation
- More people use software, so more people want to make software. This promotes easier ways to make software.
- Large/standard platforms have appeared. More software runs within these platforms. This promotes consistency.
- The companies that make software are larger. Larger companies often need simpler/more consistent ways to make software.
- People look for more efficiencies when they make software. This promotes approaches that will be more efficient, e.g. design systems.