Technology is changing rapidly, particularly when it comes to open source technology. New developments such as OpenStack, Progressive Web Apps, the cognitive cloud and the Internet of Things are accelerating the speed of development in open source software. Specialists in open source technologies are in demand, and the number of roles for such candidates is increasing rapidly.

Given the increase in demand we have seen for open source technology experts over the past few months, here are 3 trends we believe you will see in 2018.

1. OpenStack Will Become the Clear Winner for Cloud Computing

OpenStack is a cloud operating system that offers administrators the ability to control large computational, storage, and networking resources through a user-friendly dashboard.

More businesses are using the OpenStack platform to build and manage cloud computing systems because it is flexible, fast and supports mission-critical applications with lower costs compared to alternatives. That said, OpenStack's complex structure and dependency on extensive networking resources, has (historically) inhibited its adoption by a wider range of organisations. It requires a skilled team of OpenStack specialists to implement and maintain.

This year we believe OpenStack will release innovations that reduce its complexity and increase its adoption. The large software companies have already backed it and its membership is growing quickly.

2. Progressive Web Apps Will Become Mainstream

If you haven’t heard of Progressive Web Apps (PWA), you probably will soon.  PWA’s are an aggregation of technologies, design concepts, and web APIs. Together they offer an app-like experience in your mobile browser.  So rather than downloading an app that sits on your device, you are able to visit a web page and enjoy an app-like user interface.

Not only are PWA’s accessible on browsers, they are indexable on search engines.  They also automatically display the latest real-time information and are delivered in an ultra-safe HTTPS model.

PWAs are geared towards the needs of today's mobile users, who value convenience and personal engagement over everything else. This technology is no doubt going to become mainstream this year, and programmers with PWA experience will be in demand.

3. Cognitive Computing Technologies Will Move to the Cloud

Cognitive computing is the simulation of human thought processes in a computerized model. It involves self-learning systems that use data mining, pattern recognition and natural language processing to mimic the way the human brain works. The goal of cognitive computing is to create automated systems that are capable of solving problems without human assistance. For example, you may have heard of the gamification apps that are now being used in the financial sector, offering investors critical investment insights and reducing the complexity of their investment models. 

Such cognitive cloud technologies are now moving to the cloud, making them even more powerful. IBM Watson is the most well-known example of the cognitive cloud in action. OpenCog, another open source platform that has taken off recently, allows developers and data scientists to more easily develop artificial intelligence apps and programs.

About Oliver Parks

Oliver Parks offers search-based recruitment solutions to the technology sector, specialising in the ERP, CRM, CMS, ECM, BI and Open Source Technology spaces. The firm’s multilingual consultants operate in narrowly-defined niche market segments, enabling them to gain extensive knowledge of the people and companies operating in each technology.  Oliver Parks has a proven track-record with more than 100,000 candidates worldwide and more than 300 clients globally.  For more information, please email: info@oliverparks.com