It's been ten years since the inception of ADHD Interactive. We've evolved, perhaps pivoting a few times along the way. Yet, our transformations pale compared to the seismic shifts in web development over the past decade. We've observed a complete overhaul in how consumers create and engage with digital content, seeing the rise and fall of entirely new solutions in real time. Heightened cyber threats have hastened the product lifecycle, and the clamor for rapid feature implementation unprecedentedly drives upgrades. Our commitment remains steadfast: to guide you through these changes and offer top-tier tech support by staying ahead of the curve. Still, there's joy in reflecting on the journey thus far.
How has web development changed over the last 10 years? When I googled this question, I stumbled upon a Quora forum thread with the same title from 2014—the very year ADHD Interactive came into existence.
What was happening then? Some websites still relied on Adobe Flash despite the declining relevance of browser plugins. JavaScript was gaining prominence and remains a potent force today. Mobile design, then termed responsive design, was an emerging trend, not something obvious, while UX design was sporadically mentioned and yet to be a popular career path. Concepts like cloud computing, machine learning, and generative AI existed but were cautiously explored, mainly within R&D circles.
Today, I could enter the same query into any AI-powered writing assistant at my fingertips, and it would generate a completely new story about the last decade for us.
THE TEST OF TIME IN WEB DEVELOPMENT
When we began our journey as a digital agency, our web development team comprised just three specialists. At that time, we focused on creating numerous straightforward WordPress websites, many of which have remarkably endured over the years.
While WordPress remains the leading CMS, the CMS landscape itself has evolved significantly. In the past decade alone, we've witnessed the emergence of new, user-friendly platforms like Webflow, reshaping the market for small businesses and hobbyists alike.
The term DXP emerged sometime in the mid-2010s to describe versatile platforms catering to content management, integrated marketing activities, and advanced analytics for mid-market and enterprises. It's within this realm that our partners Kentico and Umbraco reside, evolving towards headless, composable, low-code, AI-infused platforms in the latter half of the previous decade.
WordPress has been and likely will continue to be in demand for the foreseeable future. However, we chose a different path. With team members already associated with Kentico, a lesser-known CMS at the time but gaining traction in the local markets, we opted to focus our efforts there. Some of us have been involved with Kentico since its version 4.
Over time, the number of Kentico-related projects grew, leading us to specialize in specific technological niches. We began taking on increasingly complex, long-term projects, prioritizing them over quick gigs. This decision facilitated our growth within the .NET ecosystem, a journey deserving of its own dedicated chapter.
THE EVOLUTION OF .NET
The story of the .NET framework is one of a once relatively low-level technology ascending to become a dominant force in software development, driven by adaptability and innovative thinking.
It originated from the fusion of the powerful yet often complex C programming language, with roots dating back to the 1970s, and the user-friendly appeal of Microsoft's Visual Basic. Initially geared towards Windows applications, it evolved alongside us. Gradually, support for web development was integrated, culminating in its transition to open source in 2015. A year later, .NET Core emerged—an advanced, cross-platform-compatible iteration of the framework, heralding a transformative shift in the landscape.
Traditional .NET and .NET Core soon merged in .NET 5, putting this technology on the development path with which the systems closest to us—Kentico and Umbraco—are associated today. Presently, we operate on .NET 8 already.
SHORTER LIFECYCLES, MORE UPGRADES
If you track the lifecycle of .NET and various other technologies, you'll observe a trend: newer versions are coming out more frequently nowadays, accompanied by shorter expiration dates.
With the expanding internet user base comes an uptick in threats. No technology remains impervious indefinitely. Each day unveils new methods to circumvent security measures, underscoring the need for software developers to elevate their game continually. The advent and widespread accessibility of generative AI will only amplify this acceleration.
Furthermore, consumers of digital tools exhibit an increasing appetite for novel features and anticipate their swift development. Given this demand, there's likely no reverting to the old rhythm of upgrades.
LIFE AND DEATH OF XAMARIN, PWA
Reflecting on our major digital projects over the past decade truly highlights the rapid evolution of technology. Take, for instance, our mobile application development for a prominent pharmaceutical company back in 2017, leveraging Xamarin. Fast forward to today, and Xamarin's gone, the application code had to be rewritten using a completely different technology.
There was a moment in the last few years when PWA (progressive web app) - a term also coined during our company's existence - was supposed to replace the development of mobile applications completely. Today, with one decision by Apple to disable the installation of PWAs, tech media has declared this solution dead.
Back in 2014, we encountered resistance from some clients when advocating for website redesigns to ensure compatibility with mobile devices. Today, prioritizing a "mobile-first" approach in design is non-negotiable because these small screens in our pockets have quickly become the main medium through which we consume content, make purchases and order services. Times, they are a-changin’, indeed.
WHAT THE FUTURE HAS IN STORE FOR WEB DEVELOPERS
We are in the full AI craze, yet this beautiful tech is most visibly used by global brands to generate eerie-looking images and videos with fake influencers. Despite Mark Zuckerberg's endeavors, the realization of the metaverse and virtual reality remains largely far on the horizon. Revolutionary inventions like Google Glass, once hailed as transformative for digital content consumption, have fizzled out, with Apple's Vision Pro struggling to reignite interest.
This tells us that we kind of know what the future of web development will look like, but we actually don't. The only thing we are sure of is that, as a devoted tech partner, we promise to remain on top of things for the next ten years and beyond.
In search for a tech partner? .NET specialists or Kentico, Umbraco Certified Experts with 10+ years of experience? You're in the right place.
