Software Architecture in the Foreseeable Future

In this article, you will not find anything fantastic and incredible, rather, I went through the already existing technologies and trends of today that will influence our future. I will be glad to receive constructive criticism, comments, and additions :)

Microservices and Containerization

Microservices and containerization are already having a strong impact on software architecture, and their role will become even more significant in the future. Microservices allow you to break a large application into small, independent components that can be developed, deployed, and scaled separately from each other. Containerization helps package these microservices into isolated environments that can be run on any platform.

Imagine a company that runs an online store. Instead of having one huge application that is difficult to maintain, they have broken it down into microservices. There is a microservice for managing products, a microservice for processing orders, a microservice for handling payments, and so on. Each of these microservices can be independently updated and scaled. This allows the company to implement new features and fix bugs faster without affecting the entire system.

Containerization helps these microservices be lightweight and portable. Developers can work with containers on their local machines and then deploy them to the cloud without any changes.

Now imagine the future. Developers create applications consisting of many small components that interact with each other through standardized interfaces. If one part of the system needs to be upgraded or replaced, this can be done without stopping the entire application.

For example, imagine a smart city where all services — from traffic management to utilities — operate on microservices. These microservices can quickly adapt to changes, and containerization ensures their reliable operation on any devices and platforms.

Microservices and containerization represent a step towards greater distribution and decentralization. They allow for the creation of systems that flexibly respond to changes and scale as needed.

Internet of Things (IoT) and Edge Computing

Imagine walking through your favorite neighborhood in a smart city. You live in a cozy home equipped with numerous IoT devices that make your life easier and more comfortable.

In the morning, when you wake up, the smart alarm clock on your nightstand analyzes your sleep habits and chooses the optimal time to wake you up so that you feel rested. The curtains automatically open, letting in the first rays of the sun, and the coffee machine has already prepared a fragrant espresso for you.

You leave the house and see that the street lights are gradually turning off as the light sensors have noticed that morning has come. The air is clean and fresh because the air quality monitoring system detected an increase in pollution levels and activated special filters in parks and recreational areas.

On your way to work, you pass by a store, and smart displays show you personalized offers. In the store, you use contactless payment through your smartphone, and smart cards automatically add discounts and bonuses for you.

In the evening, you return home and see that smart devices have already prepared the house for your arrival. The lighting is set to a comfortable level, and the heating system has warmed the room to the optimal temperature. The smart refrigerator noticed that you are running out of milk and has already added it to the shopping list.

And if something goes wrong, for example, a water leak or an electrical problem occurs, IoT systems will instantly notify you and call plumbers or electricians to fix the problem. And, of course, your virtual assistant is always ready to help with any questions, whether it's planning your day or reminding you of important things.

This is how your day turned out in a smart city with IoT and edge computing technologies. Not bad, right? In some movie, it seems, one of the episodes of "Black Mirror" described an approximate picture... what happened there then, it seems, was similar to horror. Well, if everything is perfect... there is something to think about. Whatever we think, technology is still developing rapidly and there is no button to rewind and start all over again. You can't step into the same river twice.

Okay, let's step back from the lyrics.

IoT and edge computing play a key role not only in today's, but also in the future software architecture. On the one hand, IoT is a network of devices that can interact with each other and with a central server, exchanging data and managing various processes. Edge computing, on the other hand, allows data to be processed on devices located at the edge of the network, reducing the load on central servers and improving overall performance.

In the context of future software architecture, these technologies can lead to significant changes. Firstly, they can improve the scalability and fault tolerance of systems. Secondly, they can speed up system response times. Thirdly, they can improve security.

In general, IoT and edge computing open up new opportunities for creating more efficient and reliable systems. They can become the basis for the development of such areas as smart and 15-minute cities, medical devices, production automation, and so on.

Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence have already begun to radically change software architecture, and their role will only grow in the future.

In the future, software architecture will increasingly focus on the integration of AI and ML. This will lead to the creation of smarter and more autonomous systems, opening up new opportunities for developers and users. Software will become more powerful and user-friendly than it is now.

For example, health monitoring systems are already used in smart bracelets and watches, tracking pulse, activity level, and sleep. But in the future, more accurate and multifunctional devices may appear that will predict diseases before symptoms appear. Telemedicine is also developing at a rapid pace. In the future, AI will not only help with diagnosis but also support the continuous treatment process, adapting to changes in the patient's condition in real-time.

Privacy by Design and Security by Design

Privacy by Design and Security by Design are related but different concepts. The first focuses on protecting users' personal information at all stages of system development, including minimizing data collection, anonymizing data, and controlling access. The second concept covers ensuring the security of the system as a whole, including protection against cyberattacks, viruses, and unauthorized access, as well as ensuring the reliability and resilience of the system.

The prospects for these two concepts in future software architecture are quite significant and may change the approach to software development.

Privacy by Design will become more important as users and regulators demand more attention to the protection of personal data. In the future, we can expect applications and systems to be initially designed to minimize data collection and ensure their anonymization and encryption. For example, blockchain technologies can be used to ensure the authenticity and security of transactions, as well as the integration of tools for user-side data management.

Security by design will also play a key role, especially in the face of growing cyber threats. In the future, software architecture will include built-in protection mechanisms such as automatic threat detection and response, encryption at all levels, and the integration of artificial intelligence to predict and prevent attacks. This could lead to the creation of self-healing systems that can adapt to changing threats and automatically restore their functionality after attacks.

Imagine a future where you use a smart app to manage your home. In this app, data privacy and security are built in at every stage. When you register in the app, it requests only the minimally necessary information and immediately encrypts it. All data that the app collects about your habits and preferences is stored anonymously and transmitted only in encrypted form. You have full control over your data and can delete it or change privacy settings at any time. The app automatically detects any suspicious activity and immediately notifies you. For example, if someone tries to access your devices, the system automatically blocks the attempt and sends you a notification. Thus, the combination of data privacy and security by design gives you peace of mind and protection, allowing you to enjoy the conveniences of a smart home without worrying about your data and devices.

Zero Trust

The Zero Trust concept assumes that no device, user, or service is trusted by default, whether inside or outside the corporate network. This is significantly different from the traditional approach, where any activity within the perimeter was considered safe. Now every access attempt is verified, and this greatly increases the level of security.

Imagine a company that has implemented Zero Trust. All employees connect to the network through a corporate VPN. When logging in, their identities are verified by multi-factor authentication (e.g., password + code on a smartphone). After successful authentication, the system analyzes where the connection is coming from: if it is an unexpected location (e.g., a country from which the employee does not usually work), the system may request additional confirmations.

Now imagine an employee trying to access an important file. The system not only checks their access rights but also monitors the context – time, location, and device used. If something seems suspicious, access is blocked until additional verification is performed.

Another example is a smart city where the Zero Trust concept is applied. For example, a traffic management system. Every device, whether it is a traffic light, surveillance camera, or road sensor, is checked before it gets access to the network. Suppose someone tries to connect a new device – it must go through the authentication and verification process. Only after that can it interact with other devices and the network.

Serverless Computing

Serverless computing allows you to run code without having to manage servers. You simply write a function, upload it to a cloud service, and that's it. The cloud takes care of running your code, scaling, and availability. This frees you from many routine tasks.

Many startups and companies are already using serverless computing. For example, a food delivery app. Developers write functions to process orders, send notifications, and handle payments. When a user places an order, all this runs in the cloud. No servers to administer and update – just code that runs instantly. As a result, the startup grows and scales quickly.

In the future, serverless computing may become the standard for many applications. This not only simplifies development but also makes systems more flexible and scalable. Developers do not need to worry about setting up and managing servers; they can focus on writing code.

DevOps

DevOps combines software development and operations. This concept has already significantly changed the industry by speeding up development processes and improving software quality. But in the future, the role of DevOps will become even more significant.

Currently, CI/CD is widely used in DevOps, where code is automatically tested and deployed in various environments. In the future, more advanced automation may be used, where AI and machine learning help predict potential problems before they occur.

Today, many companies use tools like Jenkins or GitLab CI to automate the deployment process. In the future, they may be enhanced with AI to automatically optimize code, improve its security, and performance.

In the future, DevOps may also integrate with the concept of IaC, where all infrastructure (servers, databases, networks) is described as code and managed as a software product. This will speed up the deployment of new environments and increase system reliability. For example, if you need to create a new test server, it will be enough to run a script, and the cloud platform will automatically deploy it with the necessary settings.

Agile

Instead of working on huge projects for months or even years, Agile suggests breaking the work into short cycles, called sprints. Each sprint lasts from one to four weeks, and at the end of it, the team gets a working product or functionality that can be shown to the user and receive feedback.

For example, you and your team are working on creating a new mobile application. Instead of planning everything a year in advance, you decide to work in Agile. You start by defining a minimum viable product (MVP) — a version of the application with basic features that need to be created first. Then you break this work into short sprints.

Each sprint begins with planning, where you decide which tasks will be completed during this period. At the end of the sprint, you demonstrate the results and get feedback from users. Based on this feedback, you can adjust your plans and priorities for the next sprint. This allows you to be more flexible.

In the future, AI may actively assist in sprint planning by analyzing data and predicting potential risks and challenges. This will allow teams to focus on creative tasks and product improvement, rather than routine.

Low-code/no-code platforms

Imagine you want to create your own application or automate some process, but you don't have deep programming knowledge. This is the strength of low-code and no-code platforms — they allow people with minimal technical skills to create their own applications, automate processes, and solve business problems. These platforms provide intuitive interfaces where you can literally "assemble" your application using visual elements and simple settings.

Currently, many companies are already using low-code platforms to create internal applications.In the future, software development will become more democratic. More and more people will be able to create and adapt technology to their needs without having deep programming knowledge. This will open up new opportunities for innovation, as everyone will be able to bring their ideas to life.

Philosophically, this is similar to a movement towards greater equality in the technological world, where everyone can become a creator. Imagine you have an idea for a startup, and you don't need to find a team of developers — you create the MVP of your product yourself and start testing it on the market. This reduces barriers to entry.

Quantum Computing

We now have powerful classical computers that help solve many problems. But when it comes to really complex calculations, such as modeling molecules to create new drugs, classical computers start to choke on complex calculations.

Today, quantum computing is still in its infancy, but there are already impressive examples of its application. In 2022, the Russian Quantum Center announced the development of a new quantum computer, which can significantly improve the performance of computational processes and solve problems that were inaccessible to classical computers. And before that, in 2019, Google announced quantum supremacy, when their quantum computer was able to solve a problem that would have taken a classical supercomputer thousands of years. These are still isolated cases, and widespread application is still far away, but the potential is enormous.

Now imagine the future ten years from now. Quantum computers have become more accessible and powerful. You are working on a project to model complex molecular structures to create new drugs. Your quantum computer is able to calculate all possible molecular configurations in minutes, instead of months as it used to be. Thanks to this, you quickly find optimal compositions, and the process of developing new drugs becomes much faster and cheaper.

Quantum computing opens doors for us to a world where complex problems are solved instantly. It's like we have access to a new dimension of computing power that allows us to do the impossible.

With the speed at which technology is developing, especially with the help of artificial intelligence, we can really see real results much sooner than we expect.

Blockchain Technologies

In the context of future software architecture, blockchain technologies have enormous potential.

Today, blockchain is actively used in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. These are decentralized systems where transactions are verified by a network of nodes and recorded in the blockchain, ensuring a high degree of security and transparency, as each transaction is recorded in a public ledger that is difficult to forge.

Now imagine a future where blockchain is used not only for cryptocurrencies but also for many other applications. For example, in medicine. In the future, we may see electronic medical record systems built on blockchain. They will allow patients to fully control their medical data and share it with doctors, being confident that the information is protected and not subject to forgery.

Or take an example from supply chains. With blockchain, it will be possible to track every batch of goods from production to the end consumer. This will ensure transparency and trust, allowing each link in the chain to see where the goods come from, their quality, and authenticity. Imagine you are buying organic products and can verify that they really came from the farm claimed by the seller.

On the one hand, blockchain is a step towards decentralization and democratization of data. It removes the need to trust central authorities and allows people to interact directly with each other, being confident in the security and authenticity of the data. Potentially, this could lead to the creation of a new type of economy based on trust and transparency.

Blockchain also opens up new opportunities for creating autonomous systems and smart contracts that are automatically executed when certain conditions are met. This will change the approach to business and legal agreements, making them more automated and less prone to human errors or manipulations.

On the other hand, blockchain, as a technology, offers a greater degree of decentralization, and this may naturally raise concerns among central authorities. They may see this as a threat to their control and regulation. However, even central authorities are beginning to see the potential of blockchain and its advantages. For example, governments can use blockchain to ensure transparency and accountability in their own systems, such as voting and managing government contracts. This can increase citizens' trust.

There is also a compromise path where blockchain technologies are integrated with existing structures. This can be a partially decentralized model where certain aspects of the system remain under the control of central authorities, but the main processes become more transparent and accessible.

Imagine a future where, for example, the banking system uses blockchain to process transactions. Yes, banks remain, but the transactions themselves become faster and more secure thanks to the decentralized nature of blockchain. Or, for example, a healthcare system where patients' medical data is stored on the blockchain, accessible only with the patient's consent, but managed by certified institutions.

Conclusion

Technologies often develop faster than we can comprehend and integrate them into our lives. Therefore, even if something already exists, we can expect that in the near future these systems will become even more advanced and efficient.