Trends Report

The Democratization Of Development Is Accelerating

The Future Of Software Development Is The Future Of Work

December 21st, 2023
John Bratincevic, Principal Analyst
John Bratincevic Principal Analyst
With contributors:
Chris Gardner , Diego Lo Giudice , Fiona Mark , Caroline Bonde , Lauren Alexander , Ian McPherson

Summary

The democratization of development is accelerating. To meet the massive need for new software and better digital experiences, enterprises are using citizen developer strategies, enabled by technology like low-code development platforms that allow non-IT workers to write applications using visual tools in a governed environment. AI will accelerate this trend. While governance, change management, and the impact of scale on IT operating models will challenge citizen development in the short term, it will thrive in the long term. Software development — using abstracted tools (not code) and supported by AI — will become a normal skill of business workers, as common as using spreadsheets and email.

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