Articles about Software Development

Microsoft has announced that it has plans to “truly open sourcing” WinUI, the user interface framework that is embedded in Windows. Although no specific timeframe has been mentioned, the company is “actively working toward it”.

Pointing out that making the WinUI repository open source is not just a “flip-the-switch moment” but a “deliberate process”, Microsoft lead software engineer Beth Pan says that the process is a complicated one. This is part of the reason for not being willing to commit to a specific end date for any particular milestone.

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There is another update available for Microsoft’s delightful PowerToys utility collection. Hot on the heels of the recent release that saw the addition of a new tool, comes PowerToys v0.90.1.

Coming so soon after version 0.90.0, it shows the pace at which those developing PowerToys are working and in this instance it sees important improvements to the brand-new Command Palette module. There is a lot that could be learned by the Windows 11 development team from the speed at which issues have been fixed in PowerToys.

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British software developer and international public speaker on software development, Martin Fowler once famously said: “Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand.” His book on Refactoring has been a best seller for decades and is a guide on how to transform code safely and rapidly, helping developers build better code. Exactly these same principles should apply when looking to develop an API-first approach to software engineering.

But first, what do we mean when we talk about an API-first approach? This is a software development method that prioritizes the design of APIs before writing any other code, instead of treating them as an afterthought. This is different from the traditional approach, where the application code is written first, and the API is added later.

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Citing an “unexpected change”, Microsoft has issued a warning to software developers to update their .NET Install links.

Microsoft is describing the situation as “critical”, and it comes after the bankruptcy of Edgio, a company responsible for hosting some .NET-related Content Delivery Network (CDN) instances. Developers are being told to take immediate action in order to avoid problems.

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The Linux kernel is at the heart of countless operating systems, powering everything from smartphones to servers. At the center of its development for decades has been Linus Torvalds, a name synonymous with the project itself. But what would happen to the Linux kernel if Linus Torvalds were to suddenly pass away?

First, it’s crucial to recognize that while Torvalds is the most prominent figure in Linux development, the kernel itself is the product of a vast, global community of developers and maintainers. Over the years, Torvalds has overseen the direction and quality of the kernel, ensuring the code adheres to stringent standards and that the development process runs smoothly. However, he is not the only contributor by any stretch. Thousands of developers worldwide contribute code, bug fixes, and improvements to the project.

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With the increased popularity of artificial intelligence technology, many human workers have expressed concern that AI models will replace them or make their positions obsolete. This is particularly the case with occupations like coding and software design, where artificial intelligence has the opportunity to automate several essential processes. Although AI is a powerful tool that has the potential to revolutionize the coding process, the role of human workers is still invaluable, as this technology is still in its infancy.

Software development teams are among the ranks of workers most profoundly affected by the AI revolution. Some of the ways in which software development teams have begun to use artificial intelligence include:

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There can be few computer enthusiasts of a certain age who do not remember with some fondness Winamp -- one of the first popular MP3 applications, and one famed for “whippin’ the llama’s ass”.

Having been open sourced earlier in the year, the source code for the iconic software has now been published to GitHub. The team behind the player is looking for help from developers to, “improve and modernize the player to meet current user needs”.

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The rate of change in both technology and economic conditions can make it hard for CIOs to both innovate and satisfy the needs of the business.

We spoke to Ioan Iacob, founder and CEO of financial application specialist FlowX, to discuss the challenges of developing apps in the enterprise and how they can be addressed.

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Modern software development teams are under so much pressure to deliver fast. Unfortunately, speed can mean security gets overlooked during development. Fixing these issues later in the development cycle, or worse, after the software has been released, can be time-consuming, expensive and damaging to a company’s reputation. That’s where early detection of software vulnerabilities comes in. By finding and fixing these issues early organizations can save time, reduce costs and protect their users from security breaches.

In this post, we’ll look at why early detection is key, how it impacts development timelines and budgets and how security in the early stages of software development is the key to both secure and efficient software delivery.

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Working much like Microsoft's Smart App Control tool that is part of Windows, Apple has Gatekeeper for macOS. It is a security feature which is designed to ensure that only trusted software runs on a user's Mac.

In the upcoming macOS Sequoia, Gatekeeper is being updated to help boost security. While this runtime protection change may be welcomed by many, the approach Apple has taken is also likely to irritate some users as it makes it more awkward to run unsigned software.

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Alongside yesterday's raft of operating system announcements, Apple also unveiled a suite of new tools and features for developers to help them create more powerful and efficient apps.

With Xcode 16, developers can save time in their development process and get more done thanks to features like Swift Assist and predictive code completion. New and expanded APIs also give developers the tools to advance their apps and introduce new features.

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VMware’s Fusion and Workstation products have been go-to solutions for millions, allowing users to create local virtual environments on Windows, Linux, and Mac computers. These tools are essential for installing other operating systems, learning about technology, and developing and testing software. Now, there’s exciting news for the VMware community.

As VMware integrates Fusion and Workstation into Broadcom, they are making a HUGE change: Fusion Pro and Workstation Pro are now free for personal use. Yes, you read that right – free! This is a game-changer for tech enthusiasts and developers who want to run virtual machines on their personal devices without breaking the bank. You can download these from the new portal at support.broadcom.com.

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In a surprising turn of events, the popular IRC client HexChat has announced its final release, 2.16.2, marking the end of an era for the open-source project. The release, which was made public on February 9, 2024, includes a handful of minor fixes and features that have been in the works over the past two years.

The decision to cease development comes from the project's lead, who revealed that HexChat has been largely unmaintained for several years. Despite the lack of active maintenance, the client continued to be a favorite among many in the IRC community. However, with no one stepping up to take over the reins, the time has come to say goodbye.

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The highly anticipated third beta version of Deepin V23 has finally been released. This pre-release variant of the Chinese-made Linux distribution is much more than just an incremental update; it introduces a comprehensive upgrade with over 1,400 package enhancements pre-installed and an additional 250+ system updates.

Deepin V23 Beta 3 isn't just about fixing bugs and enhancing performance. It shows the developers' commitment to providing a beautiful and user-friendly operating system. The release comes packed with new features and improvements that cater to a wide range of user needs. From system and installation enhancements such as added explanatory text on the Grub page, support for multiple screen resolutions, and driver support for i386 devices, to significant updates in system repositories with 4000+ software package updates, the upgrade is substantial.

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In a recent announcement by developer Clement Lefebvre (aka Clem), Linux Mint has released an "Edge" ISO image for its 21.3 “Virginia” version. This update targets users with newer hardware that may not be compatible with the 5.15 LTS kernel included in the standard Linux Mint 21.x series. The Edge ISO addresses this issue by instead featuring the newer kernel 6.5.

This release aims to enhance the compatibility of Linux Mint with the latest hardware, potentially broadening its user base. For those interested in learning more about the Edge ISO and its features, further information is available on the Linux Mint User Guide.

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