14 technologies that won’t become obsolete before 2014: foundations of software development

The impact of recent changes in the world economy changed the situation in world of software. Now the majority of developers are focused on short-term work. But it doesn’t mean that they are careless about their prospects. Self-education and experience are still the only way to success. That is why it’s so important to be constantly analyzing existing technologies and methodologies trying to keep step with changeable IT- world, not wasting valuable time for unnecessary knowledge and superseded information.

So we will try to forecast the most essential skills for developers that won’t become obsolete in the next five-six years. In this and the next posts we will list 14 the most relevant technologies for software developers.

#1-3: Java, PHP, .NET

It’s highly unlikely that three foundations of software development, Java, PHP, .NET, will be in less demand in the near future. Developers need to know at least one of these programming languages and development platforms: Java, .NET (VB.NET or C #), or PHP. Nevertheless only one programming language syntax is not enough. Usually projects cover a wide range of different functions, so developers need to know the frameworks and libraries associated with the necessary functionality in more details.

to be continued…

Abnormal programming: LISP-like programming is our new art

Lisp (or LISP – LISt Processing Language) is a family of programming languages with a distinctive, parenthesized syntax. It has very old history (was specified in 1958 year, only Fortran is older). Nevertheless programmers use it even nowadays!

Of course, Lisp has undergone a great changes since its appearance, it originated some dialects (today the most popular of them are Common Lisp and Scheme).

The Lisp-code is written as s-expressions (parenthesized lists), the operator’s name or function goes first, and then we use arguments. But it’s better to see it all in practice. Especially in this unrealistic performance that was possible with the help of LISP and OpenGL (enjoy the internet-video).

Be patient and you will see something impressive, it will start somewhere after the 5th minute. This real work of art was created by the winner of international awards, programmer Ivan Lyambdin:

Day of the Triffords from Andrew Sorensen on Vimeo.

How do you like the video? As you see LISP-like programming can be used not only for software development, but also for creation of real beauty.