It is almost time to bid adieu to the year 2012. The year has been quite crucial, especially for the software development industry. There have been several breakthroughs. Some technologies have been shelved while several new technologies have emerged. Those who have been associated with a software development company you are probably aware of the numerous ups and downs that the industry has faced through the year. Talking about the technologies that trended in 2012, the list is quite long, but some technologies have left a mark like none other. These can be referred to as the trend setters of the software development arena that took the development processes to a higher plane. This post discusses the top five software development trends of 2012 that were accepted by the community with arms wide spread:

1.) Cloud Security: After the introduction of cloud technology in 2011, there weren’t many takers of the technology at the initial stages. In 2012, however, there was a sudden surge in the popularity of cloud. Several cloud operators forayed into the limelight and launched their solutions. Most IT consumers have either started using cloud or are planning to migrate to cloud in the near future. Accessing, managing and storing data in cloud has taken special precedence.

2.) Data Analytics: The need of using analytics and gathering the right form of data was not felt until very recent. With social media emerging as a strong online marketing tool, marketers are now realizing the importance of using analytics and data to target the right set of audience.

3.) HTML 5: HTML 5 represents the fifth edition of HTML that are the recognized standards established for the right publication of content on the World Wide Web. The main role of HTML 5 will be to support multimedia content on meekly powered devices such as tablets and smart phones, keeping in mind the changing preferences of the internet users. Though the technology is still under continuous development, it’s demand for low-powered internet enabled devices is increasing four fold.

4.) Agile ALM: As the need to save on both time and development cost increased in 2012, Agile ALM gained immense popularity. Developers started working in collaboration in order to deliver efficiently and quickly. The demand of web based tools such as ALM’s and IDE’s also saw a steep increase in order to support agile methodologies.

These were the trends that took the year 2012 by sweep. As the New Year 2013 begins, it’s time watch out for some more engaging software development outsourcing trends.