IoT software engineering: The new wave of IoT development

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical objects like cars, appliances, and other household items implanted with technology to gather and share data. The latest IoT app development trend is called IoT software engineering, and it is driven by the need to create software for IoT gadgets.

IoT software engineering is a brand-new discipline in software engineering that focuses on creating software for IoT gadgets. IoT software engineering encompasses software development for IoT device hardware, firmware, and apps. The IoT software development devices is the main objective of the emerging discipline of IoT software engineering.

Many analysts predict that IoT will grow and expand. It will alter how humans interact with the physical environment. According to McKinsey, by 2025, IoT will generate nearly $11 trillion in economic value every year.

The necessity to link systems and devices that weren’t intended to be connected is what’s driving the latest wave of IoT app development. As a result, there is a profusion of IoT applications and use cases that are changing the way we live and work.

However, developing IoT apps is not an easy task. It demands a new software engineering method that considers the unique challenges of IoT development.

In this post, we’ll take a look at the new wave of IoT software engineering and discuss the issues and opportunities it presents.

IoT app Development

The Internet of Things is undoubtedly altering how we live and work. The potential for new applications and services is practically infinite because of the capacity to link billions of devices to the internet and one another.

The IoT is not well suited for traditional IoT software development tools and techniques. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a distributed system made up of several linked and controlled objects. These devices require software that can manage a lot of data and interact with a range of hardware and operating systems.

An IoT platform is among the most crucial resources for developing IoT software. An IoT platform is a software platform that offers a collection of tools and services for developing, deploying, and managing IoT applications.

• A wide range of IoT applications may be developed using IoT platforms. These applications might be as basic as those that just gather data from sensors or as complicated as those that operate appliances and gadgets.

• IoT platforms may be used to create programs that communicate with users. These programs can provide the Internet of Things (IoT) a user interface, let the user manage IoT devices, and tell the user of the IoT’s status.

The new wave of IoT software engineering

There are a number of factors driving this new wave of IoT development:

The requirement to link systems and equipment not intended to be coupled with IoT use cases and applications is increasing as a result, changing how we live and work.

The increasing availability of data: Data availability is expanding due to the proliferation of sensors and the increased usage of data analytics, leading to a plethora of data being utilized to produce new insights and better decision-making.

The need for real-time insights:  Real-time insights are required to improve decision-making, which is being driven by the growing usage of data analytics.

The rise of artificial intelligence: The requirement for IoT systems to be able to learn and change over time is being driven by the growing usage of artificial intelligence.

The increasing use of edge computing: The growing usage of edge computing necessitates the ability of IoT devices to process data locally and in real time.

The need for security: A better level of security is required to safeguard data and devices due to the growing use of IoT systems.

The need for standards: Standards are required in order to guarantee interoperability and lessen the risk of vendor lock-in as a result of the growing use of IoT systems.

Top IoT development platforms

Although there are several IoT development platforms on the market, not all of them are equally effective. These are the top IoT app development platforms, in our opinion.

1. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a comprehensive, user-friendly, and reasonably priced cloud computing platform that provides a variety of services for developing and deploying IoT applications. Scalability, multi-layered security, and AI integration are advantages of using AWS IoT. Additionally, this development platform provides analytics, connection, and device software services.

2. Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is a robust and all-encompassing cloud computing platform that provides a wide range of services for developing and deploying IoT applications.  It offers storage, computation, analytics, and machine learning services—everything you need to get started with the Internet of Things. You may develop IoT apps using a variety of IoT hardware and services that AWS provides.

3. Microsoft Azure is a complete, user-friendly, and reasonably priced cloud computing platform that provides a variety of services for developing and deploying IoT applications. Microsoft’s Azure IoT development platform includes data collecting, processing, and visualization features. Without making significant modifications, developers may extend the Internet of Things application and improve compatibility across more devices.

4. IBM Watson IoT Watson IoT is a powerful and comprehensive IoT platform that offers a wide range of services for building and deploying IoT applications. It offers quick and secure implementation, online data analysis, and critical risk visualization.

5. ThingWorx  A platform called ThingWorx enables businesses and developers to design and deploy IoT applications easily. ThingWorx offers a full suite of networking, data management, and application development tools. Both on-premises and cloud installations are options for it. A range of IoT apps and services are available on its marketplace.

Top IoT development languages

Object-oriented programming language is one of the most popular choices for IoT developers. Some of them are mentioned below:

C++:

C++ is considered one of the most standard programming languages for backend development. It is widely used for its execution speed and standard template libraries (STL). IoT applications are performance-critical and rely on speed and efficient memory management; hence, C++ fits perfectly in building these IoT apps. It has the best object-oriented programming capability for low-level memory management. Small devices benefit greatly from C++ since it uses less energy and offers more flexibility.

Java:

IoT application developers prefer Java as it is highly suitable for connected devices. It is flexible for computers of different sizes and offers ubiquitous connectivity power. Java is more efficient at exchanging and retrieving information. The best part about Java is that it helps write and debug device codes before transferring them to any chip. This merit of Java helps in reducing errors and enhances the IoT app’s performance.

Python:

Since 2018, Python is dominating the overall classification of IoT programming languages. It is often used for developing software for devices or backend. Python makes the development process easier for small devices with enough memory and computing power. Python has a simple and clear syntax. Plus, it is easy to learn, which makes it a preferred choice for developers. 

Swift:

Swift is taking over the Objective C programming language as it has been specifically designed to create IoT apps for iOS devices. One can easily master Swift as it is simple and easy to code. It has a Homekit platform that supports integrating the data feeds from a network of compatible devices.

Top IoT Operating Systems

IoT is considered the future and is adopted by many small, medium and big giants. An IoT operating system is designed to fulfill specific demands of IoT devices and applications. It is essential for security, storage, networking, remote device administration, connectivity, and other essential IoT system needs.

Take a look at some of the most widely used operating systems:

ContikiOS:

The ContikiOS is an open-source OS based on a layered architecture used specifically for IoT devices. It focuses on the nuances of networked and memory-constrained systems. Using ContikiOS, you can replace and modify codes during run time. Even though it runs on a small number of kilobytes, it can adjust an entire OS. 

MicroPython:

MicroPython is an open-source operating system written in Objective C and compatible with Python 3. MicroPython allows developers to quickly learn the basics and then enables them to implement them in real projects. It also provides rapid feedback as one can interactively enter commands and get a response using the REPL(Read-Eval-Print Loop).

LiteOS:

LiteOS is a lightweight, open-source operating system developed by Huawei. As a lightweight OS, it consumes less space and reduces the load of the OS on the device. It focuses on enhancing the user experience by simplifying IoT device development and connectivity.

The Internet of Things (IoT) system architecture 

It refers to the hardware and software components that comprise an IoT system’s structure.

An Internet of Things (IoT) system’s hardware consists of internet-connected devices, sensors, and actuators. Applications, middleware, and the operating system all fall under the category of software components.

In order for the devices to process the data, the sensors and actuators translate the environmental data into digital information. When communicating with other system elements, the gadgets do so over the internet.

The operating system controls the system’s hardware and software resources. The middleware gives the programs a platform on which to execute. Applications offer consumers information and services using data from sensors and actuators.

Future of IoT development

Even though the future of IoT software development is unknown, it is cloaked with possibilities. Given the size and interconnection of the Internet of Things, it is hard to forecast how it will develop in the future accurately. Nevertheless, a number of factors imply that the popularity and significance of the IoT will continue to rise in the years to come.

First, connected devices are becoming more and more popular. The number of devices linked to the internet is currently more than the planet’s population, and this trend is only projected to grow. As more and more devices are connected, there will be greater opportunities for cutting-edge IoT applications.

The second element is the decrease in the price of hardware components like sensors. As a result, testing the IoT is becoming more and more accessible to both enterprises and people.

The growing accessibility of data is the third factor. The amount of data being produced increases as more gadgets are connected to the internet. IoT applications may be made more accurate and effective by using machine learning algorithms that are trained on this data.

These all point to a future where the Internet of Things will experience rapid expansion. Before the IoT can realize its full potential, however, there are a number of issues that must be resolved.

There is no question that the popularity and utilization of the Internet of Things will increase over time. The ongoing creation of cutting-edge IoT tools and programs that improve the quality and efficiency of our lives will be the main driver of this expansion.

Despite any challenges, the Internet of Things has a promising future. Furthermore, as the cost of IoT technology falls, it will become more accessible to both enterprises and consumers. We should expect to see many more incredible and life-changing applications that make our world a better place as the Internet of Things continues to expand.

Conclusion

The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the fascinating modern breakthroughs. It will influence every one of our lives and transform how we engage with the outside world. The demand for IoT-oriented software engineering will increase as IoT-based ecosystems expand. The rising prevalence of connected devices, lowering hardware costs, and more data availability all indicate that the Internet of Things will continue to rise in popularity and relevance.