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Community Enterprise Developers

Meet the Enterprise Developers – Interview Series #1:  Investment Sector 

Enterprise Developers - Who are they 1

The term Enterprise Developer has been showing up quite frequently over the past few years in Developer Nation and other programming communities. In our experience, this term can have slightly varied meanings, but it often relates to the Developers working in big teams/organisations, supporting enterprise-grade software development. 

To shape a more accurate definition and learn more about Enterprise Developers’ roles, responsibilities, and challenges, we decided to ask them directly. Hence, starting this new series of blog Interviews at Developer Nation, talking with Enterprise Developers, giving our community more clarity about their work and how it differs from a startup environment.

The first interviewee in this series has requested us to keep their identity anonymous; hence respecting their privacy, we will call them Dev A.

Ayan: Can you briefly describe your job as an Enterprise Software Developer

Dev A: I work as a Software Developer at an investment firm, my work revolves around writing tools and data pipelines that help traders/operations and also data pipelines that run during and pre/post trading.

Dev A has briefly described their work as building tools and data pipelines that help investors trade on the platform. 

A data pipeline is a function that processes raw data from various data sources and then posts it to a data warehouse for further analysis.

Ayan: What are some of the challenges and benefits of working at a large company compared to a startup?

Dev A: Challenges – a lot of existing infra to go through and gain understanding on. Slow review and deployment process, lot of stakeholders.

Benefits – Learn about processes, scalable solutions, how large infra is maintained. You get a hang of good practices.

Processes make it easier for developers to work and support each other in a big team setup. However, these processes can also sometimes  become bottlenecks when new features of patches in the code need to be shipped to the production. As Dev A mentioned, the review and deployment process is slow, and many stakeholders are there whose reviews are needed. On the good side, these processes ensure the quality of the code having it being reviewed by multiple parties. Especially in financial organisations a bug showing an incorrect balance can be a disaster for the product. 

Ayan: If you could change one thing about how your organization operates, what would it be?

Dev A:  n/a

I asked Dev A if there’s anything they would want to change about the way their organization operates. Apparently there isn’t anything that is rare but good to know. 

Ayan: How is AI impacting your day-to-day life? Is there a policy regarding the use of AI tools in your company?

Dev A: Not allowed to enter proprietary information in LLMs. Consider anything entered into ChatGPT is as good as posting it on social media.

AI helps generate quick commands for generic things – e.g bash commands, generate snippets, etc. Stack overflow replacement in a crude way.

From the response, Dev A’s org seems to have a strict policy when it comes to using Large Language Models like ChatGPT with any proprietary information. However, Dev A has been using it to support their development work, like generating Bash commands or code snippets to automate aspects of their job, using it as a Stack Overflow replacement – Very Interesting. 

Ayan: How much of your work depends on specific tools, frameworks, programming languages, or cloud providers?

Dev A : Many libraries are inbuilt and maintained in-house, but many are used from outside as well. e.g redis, github etc.

This one is a classic. To be easily maintainable a big software project is usually organised into libraries, which are easier to maintain and reuse in different projects. As Dev A mentioned, many libraries are built and maintained within the org itself. However, like any other software product, they also depend on other work in open source and outside to support the product development. 

That was all from this interview, but keep an eye out for more. If you know anyone we should invite for this kind of interview session, please feel free to write me at ayan.pahwa@slashdata.co

Ayan

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Community

Language Communities; Who leads the way?

Language Communities

The choice of programming language matters deeply to developers because they want to keep their skills up-to-date and marketable. Languages are a beloved subject of debate and the kernels of some of the strongest developer communities. They matter to toolmakers, too, because they want to make sure they provide the most useful SDKs.

size of programming language communities in 2023

It can be challenging to accurately assess how widely a programming language is used. The indices available from sources like Tiobe, Redmonk, Github’s State of the Octoverse, and Stack Overflow’s annual survey are great but offer mostly relative comparisons between languages, providing no sense for the absolute size of each community. These may also be biased geographically or skewed toward certain fields of software development or open-source developers.  ​

The estimates presented here look at software developers using each programming language globally and across all kinds of programmers. They are based on two pieces of data. First is SlashData’s  independent estimate of the global number of software developers, which was published for the first time in 2017. According to it, as of Q1 2023, there are 35.6 million active software developers worldwide. Second is the large-scale, low-bias Developer Nation Global survey which reaches tens of thousands of developers every six months. In these surveys, devleopers are  consistently asked about their use of programming languages across 13 areas of development. This gives a rich and reliable source of information about who uses each language and in which context. 

JavaScript remains the most widely used language. 

For the 12th survey in a row, JavaScript continues to take the top spot for programming languages, with 20M active developers worldwide. Notably, JavaScript is still experiencing growth, with a further 2.6M developers joining the community in the last 12 months. JavaScript’s lead is unlikely to be challenged in the near future, as its community has almost 3M more developers than the next closest languages. Moreover, JavaScript’s popularity extends across all software sectors, with at least 20% of developers using it in their projects. 

“Close to eight million developers joined the Java community in the last two years.”

In 2020, Python unseated Java as the second most popular programming language, but in Q1 2023, Java returned to just matching Python, with both languages now counting just over 17M developers. Java is one of the most important general-purpose languages, and although it is over two decades old, it has seen incredible growth over the last two years, gaining close to 8M users. This corresponds to the highest growth in absolute terms across all languages. Java’s growth is not only supported by traditional sectors such as cloud and mobile but also by its rising adoption among AR/VR developers, in part due to Android’s popularity as an AR/VR platform. 

Despite Java catching up, Python keeps adding new developers. However, in the last 12 months, only 1.3M developers joined the Python community, compared to the massive 5.6M developers who joined between Q1 2021 and Q1 2022. A major driver of Python’s growth was the rise of data science and machine learning, where 70% of developers involved were using Python in Q1 2022. However, this has decreased to 60% in Q1 2023, with other languages, such as Rust, Java, and Mathematica, receiving small increases and likely reducing Python’s growth. ​

The group of major, well-established languages is completed with C/C++ (13.3M), C# (11.2M), and PHP (8.8M). PHP has seen the second-slowest growth rate over the last 12 months, growing just 11% and adding 0.9M developers to its community. PHP is a common choice for backend and web developers but has seen decreasing popularity. 

PHP was used by almost 30% of all developers in Q3 2020 but by 25% of all developers in Q1 2023. This decrease in popularity is particularly apparent amongst web developers, for whom it has gone from the second most popular language in Q3 2021 (34%) to the fourth most popular language (25%) in Q1 2023, behind JavaScript, Python, and Java. Despite PHP 8 addressing many of the concerns developers had expressed about PHP, perceptions of it being insecure or outdated may persist.​

C and C++ are core languages in embedded and IoT projects, for both on-device and application-level coding, but also in desktop development, a sector that accounts for almost 45% of all developers. On the other hand, C# has maintained its position as one of the most popular languages for games and desktop applications. Overall, C/C++ added 2.3M net new developers in the last year, while C# added 1.4M over the same period. 

ranking of programming languages

Kotlin’s growth is beginning to slow

In previous editions of this report, Kotlin and Rust were identified as two of the fastest-growing language communities. If Kotlin’s growth continues, it will soon overtake PHP and join the ranks of the most popular languages. Kotlin’s growth has been largely attributed to Google’s decision in 2019 to make it the preferred language for Android development. It is currently used by 19% of mobile developers and is the third most popular language in the space. However, Kotlin may be showing signs of slowing its exceptional growth. Kotlin now has a community of more than 5.3M developers and has added more than 2.5M developers in the last two years. However, in the last year, there has only been an increase of 0.5M developers. Kotlin’s explosive growth may have resulted from a high demand for developers with Kotlin experience to fill a market need that may be approaching a level of market saturation. Despite Google’s preference for Kotlin, the inertia of Java means that it is still the most popular language for mobile development and still experiences immense growth.

“Rust has more than tripled the size of its community in the past two years”

Rust has more than tripled the size of its community over the past two years and currently has 3.7M users, of which 0.6M joined in the last six months alone. Rust has overtaken Objective C in the last six months and is the 11th most popular language in our survey. Rust has seen increased adoption in IoT, games, and desktop development, where it is desired for its potential to build fast and scalable applications. Rust was designed to handle high levels of concurrency and parallelism. Thus it can handle increasing amounts of work or data without sacrificing performance. Furthermore, Rust has built a loyal community of developers who care about memory safety and security.

Swift currently counts 5.1M developers, adding more than 1.6M net new developers over the past year. This growth continues to stem from Apple making Swift the default programming language across the Apple ecosystem, which has the effect of phasing out the use of Objective C. Despite this, Objective C has also shown strong growth, adding 1.0M developers in the last year alone, resulting in a community of 3.4M developers. This is primarily through its use among IoT developers, who are increasingly turning to it for their on-device code, as well as a growing number of AR/VR developers. Nonetheless, Objective C has fallen behind Rust, whose more modern approach may be more appealing to developers.​

Go and Ruby represent two of the smaller language communities that are important in backend development, but Go has seen substantially more growth over the last two years. Go’s developer community has more than doubled in the last two years, adding 2.3M new developers to its population, which stands at 4.7M developers. Similarly, Ruby has added 1.0M users to its community of 3.0M developers, showing impressive growth but trailing further behind Go. 

“Lua has added almost 1M developers to its community in the past year”

In the past six months, Lua has overtaken Dart to become the 14th most popular programming language. Lua has shown massive growth over the past year, going from 1.4M developers in Q1 2022 to 2.3M in Q3 2023. Lua is an alternative scripting solution for low-level languages, such as C and C++, and has seen more developers in IoT, games, and AR/VR picking it up. This could mark the beginning of Lua’s momentum and see it become increasingly popular, especially as the IoT and AR/VR spaces continue to grow. Dart has seen steady but slow growth over the past two years, predominantly due to the Flutter framework in mobile development filling a useful niche. However, with 13% of mobile developers currently working in Dart, a decrease from 15% in Q1 2022 may see Dart’s growth remain low, and its place within mobile development remain a minority language.

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Community

Where does Security sit in Early-Stage Software Development: the Shift Left Approach

Security in Early-Stage Software

The average cost of a security breach in a hybrid cloud environment is estimated at a staggering $3.6 million making it critical for organisations to make software security one of the most important priorities.

Cisco’s most recent report, based on the findings from two SlashData global surveys that targeted enterprise developers, uncovers developers’ exposure to API security exploits, their outlook on security, and how they use automation tools to detect and remediate threats. Here is a detailed preview of the report:

  1. Enterprise developers focus on prioritising security from the early stages of development

There is a significant rise in security threats; in fact, 58% of enterprise developers have had to tackle at least one API exploit in the past year alone. And to make matters worse, nearly half of them have experienced multiple API exploits during that time.

As modern applications increasingly rely on microservices, securing the APIs that connect these services becomes even more crucial. It is also true that juggling multiple APIs can make staying on top of security challenging. That’s why it’s essential to prioritise security from the very beginning of development to avoid wasting time and effort on reworking code and dealing with exploits later on.

Obviously, breaches should be ideally prevented. But if they do occur, organisations must be set up to act swiftly. According to the report, ,only one-third of enterprise developers can resolve API exploits within one day of a breach.

Security in Early-Stage Software

By treating security as a top priority from the start of the development lifecycle, organisations can increase preparedness and avoid costly mistakes down the road.

2. What is the right time to address security concerns?

Shift-left security is all about strategically placing security at the forefront. The cost savings from addressing security concerns early in the development process can be significant compared to dealing with security issues during deployment or after a security breach. In fact, according to the data, many organisations are already putting significant effort into identifying security vulnerabilities during the early stages of development, and as a result, have implemented additional security measures.

How do enterprise developers address security?

Security in Early-Stage Software

3. Relying on automations can account for faster, and frictionless operations

During the surveys, developers were asked whether they use automated approaches to security, such as scanning tools or automated fixes. 

The most likely group of developers to adopt automated security approaches are key decision-makers and team leads who influence, manage, or set the strategy for their teams’ purchase initiatives (90%). 

This probably indicates that many developers still don’t use automation tools for security. However, it’s important for developers to use the best tools when it comes to the production of secure code.

Security in Early-Stage Software

While more than half of enterprise developers are already shifting left, less experienced developers are still behind. Automation appears to be core to the shift-left approach, with two-thirds of developers using automated security tools. 

Nevertheless, automation is not favoured by developers who wish to acquire more experience. This highlights a need for balancing the need for learning with the importance of using the best security tools available.The organisations that are set up to go that way are very likely to reap the fruit of shift-left security.  

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Community

The Benefits and Challenges of adopting Java Microservices Architecture

Java Microservices

Java microservice architecture is a groundbreaking approach to software development that is revolutionizing the industry. In addition, as per recent survey, nearly 70% of businesses are now using or planning to use microservice architecture in their development processes. Additionally, this method also divides large monolithic programs into smaller, independent services, each serving a distinct purpose. And when it comes to implementing microservices, Java is a popular choice for many developers.

Furthermore, one of the biggest advantages of Java Microservices Architecture is its ability to improve scalability and flexibility. In fact, a recent study found that companies using microservices architecture were able to increase their release frequency by up to 60%. This not only allows for a faster and more efficient development cycle, but also provides businesses with a competitive edge in their respective industries. 

However, it’s not just about the benefits of Java Microservices but also about the challenges you may face. From managing complex interactions between services to ensuring data consistency and reliability, there are many factors to consider when implementing microservices-based systems. 

And to know everything about Java Microservices architecture you must read this blog. 

WHAT IS JAVA MICROSERVICES?

Java Microservices is an architectural approach to building software applications that involves breaking large, monolithic applications into smaller, independent services. Developers use these services to perform specific functions and communicate with each other over a network using lightweight protocols such as HTTP or message queues. 

The design of Java Microservices facilitates the development, testing, deployment, and scaling of individual components of the application by making them highly modular and loosely coupled. In addition, developers develop and deploy each microservice independently, enabling faster release cycles and making it easier to maintain the applications over time. 

Additionally, Java is a popular language for developing microservices due to its object-oriented programming model, rich set of libraries, and strong support for concurrency and parallelism. Java microservices can be developed using a framework such as Spring Boot, which provides a lightweight and opinionated approach to building microservices. 

In a nutshell, Java microservices offer a flexible and scalable architecture that can help developers to develop and maintain complex applications with greater agility and efficiency. 

THE ARCHITECTURE OF JAVA MICROSERVICE

The architecture of Java Microservice is a combination of different architectural patterns, which you may see below;

  • Microservices Architecture

The main principle of microservice architecture is to create a set of independent, small, and self-contained services that work together to deliver the application’s functionality. Each service is in charge of a particular business capability, and services often communicate with one another via lightweight protocols like HTTP or SMS. Services in a microservice architecture must dynamically discover one another.

  • Service Registry and Discovery

In a microservice  architecture, services need to discover each other dynamically. A service registry is a centralized database that keeps track of all the services that are available in the system, along with their network locations. The discovery process involves querying the registry for available services. 

  • API Gateway 

An API gateway is a server that needs to discover each other dynamically. It serves as a single entry point for clients. It also provides a unified interface to access multiple microservices. The API gateway handles the routing and composition of requests, as well as security, rate limiting, and other cross-cutting concerns. 

  • Circuit Breaker

A design pattern known as a circuit breaker prevents a network or service failure from spreading to other services.  It acts as a safety net, detecting failures and temporarily blocking requests to  the affected service. This enables the system to function normally while the problem is being fixed

  • Event-Driven Architecture

Services communicate with one another in an event-driven architecture by publishing and subscribing to events. This allows for asynchronous communication, and services can be loosely coupled, which increases the system’s scalability and resilience. 

  • Containerization 

It is simpler to deploy and manage microservices by containerizing an application and its dependencies into a lightweight, portable container that offers a consistent runtime environment.

  • orchestration

Automation of container deployment, scaling, and management is accomplished through orchestration. Kubernetes is a popular orchestration tool that provides features such as discovery, load balancing, and automatic scaling. 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ADOPTING JAVA MICROSERVICES

  1. Scalability 

Microservices enhance scalability by designing small, self-contained services that can scale up or down as needed. . By avoiding the need to scale the entire program, this makes it simpler to manage changes in demand.

  1. Flexibility

Offers flexibility to develop, deploy, and scale microservices independently, allowing teams to work in parallel and bring new features to market quickly.

  1. Resilience

Because microservices are self-contained, failures in one service don’t necessarily bring down the entire system. This makes it easier to isolate problems and recover more quickly from failures.

  1. Modularity 

Improves modularity by organizing microservices around business capabilities, making it easier to modify specific parts of the system without affecting other parts.

  1. Agility 

Microservices make it simpler to adapt to changes in the market or customer needs by enabling quicker development and deployment cycles.

  1. Technology diversity

Microservices architecture enables the use of a variety of programming languages and frameworks, allowing teams to choose the best tools for each individual service.

  1. DevOps enablement

With microservices architecture, DevOps practices can be applied more effectively, making it easier to automate deployments, testing, and monitoring.


WHAT CHALLENGES YOU MAY FACE BY ADOPTING JAVA MICROSERVICES

  1. Service boundaries

Defining the boundaries of services can be challenging, as it requires breaking down monolithic systems into smaller, autonomous services that can operate independently.

  1. Data consistency

Maintaining data consistency across multiple services can be complex, as each service has its own database, and changes made in one service may not be immediately reflected in other services.

  1. Communication and coordination

Effective communication and coordination between microservices is essential to ensure that each service functions seamlessly with others. This requires implementing effective messaging protocols and ensuring that each service can work with different data formats.

  1. Deployment complexity

Deploying and managing multiple microservices can be challenging, as each service must be deployed separately and managed independently. This can require significant expertise and resources.

  1. Testing complexity

Testing microservices can be complex, as each service must be tested in isolation and as part of the larger system. This requires developing effective testing strategies and tools.

  1. Security 

Because each service could have unique security needs and weaknesses, securing microservices can be difficult. This requires implementing robust security protocols and ensuring that each service is properly secured.

JAVA MICROSERVICE FRAMEWORKS 

  • Spring Boot
  • Micronaut
  • Quarkus 
  • Vert.x

CONCLUSION

As you have read how Java microservice architecture consists of many benefits which is enough to adopt it. Java Development Services can benefit greatly from Java Microservices Architecture. Although it has challenges, you may get rid of them by following proper planning. Additionally, As the famous software engineer Martin Fowler once said, “Microservices, or more precisely the microservice architecture, is an approach to developing a single application as a suite of small services, each running in its own process and communicating with lightweight mechanisms.” Therefore, using this strategy, businesses may divide their large, complex apps into smaller, easier-to-manage parts that can be created and deployed separately.

Author Bio: Nitin Patil is a seasoned Sr. SEO Executive at Bigscal, a leading software development company. With over 7+ years of experience in the digital marketing industry, Nitin specializes in driving organic growth for businesses through search engine optimization strategies.

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Community

Monetizing Gaming: Exploring the Role of Digital Money in the Gaming Industry

the Role of Digital Money in the Gaming Industry

The gaming industry is seeing a big shift with the rise of digital technology. With digital money, game developers are finding new ways to earn money. This also allows them to offer better gaming experiences.

The effect of digital money is not exclusive to games. Given time, digital money can change the world. It is soon expected to change the global economy and society. From cryptocurrency to mobile payment systems, digital money is creating new avenues for finance, commerce, and social interaction. 

This article will tackle how digital money will alter gaming, and what it means for players and developers.

In-game Purchases

In-game purchases are a goldmine for developers in today’s video game industry. The controversy surrounding these microtransactions is a discussion for another day. But one thing is for certain: they are here to stay.

Offering virtual goods and services in exchange for digital currency has become a reliable way to generate revenue. Developers encourage players to purchase their digital currency with real money by making the process of earning it in-game, time-consuming and difficult.

The result? They have a steady stream of revenue to fund development and maintenance. 

Aside from providing developers with a financial boost, in-game purchases also give players plenty of customization options. Cosmetic items for their avatars and worlds are often the top sellers in various games’ digital shops. 

Moreover, in-game purchases give players the opportunity to explore new content and experiences. This extends the lifespan of the game, giving long-time players more to chew on. 

The prevalence of in-game purchases is beneficial to both game developers and players. But it is not without downsides. The allure of purchases can lead to risks such as overspending and addiction. This is especially true for virtual goods that involve chance, making them akin to gambling.

It is important for developers to maintain transparency in their purchase systems. Players, on the other hand, must be aware of their spending habits to avoid falling prey to fraudulent schemes.

Virtual Goods and Currencies

In digital economies within the gaming industry, goods and currencies play vital roles, especially in virtual reality games. Unlike traditional economies, these digital economies are intricate and operate differently. Players either earn or purchase virtual currency and subsequently use it to buy virtual goods. 

These goods typically enhance gameplay or provide cosmetic upgrades, such as new gear, weapons, or outfits. They can also be traded or sold for virtual currency among players.

The operation of virtual currency in these digital economies resembles that of real currency. Players can obtain virtual currency by engaging in gameplay. Most commonly, developers allow players to purchase virtual currency using real money. 

The value of virtual currency can fluctuate based on supply and demand. It can also be exchanged for virtual goods. In some cases, virtual currency can even be converted into real currency. Consequently, it establishes a connection between the digital and real-world economies.

The use of virtual goods and currencies within gaming has spawned a new ecosystem. It is attracting the attention of entities outside of the gaming industry. Companies have explored ways to incorporate virtual currency into non-gaming settings, such as social networks and e-commerce. 

With the potential of digital money extending beyond gaming, many experts speculate that it will soon revolutionize the world of finance and commerce.

Blockchain Technology in Gaming

Blockchain technology has gained popularity in gaming due to its decentralized nature. This allows secure and transparent recording of transactions and virtual assets. Game developers can use blockchain to ensure asset uniqueness and prevent duplication or manipulation. 

The benefits of blockchain in gaming include the following:

  • Ownership: Blockchain enables players to fully own and control their virtual assets. These assets can be transferred across games and platforms to increase interoperability.
  • Security: Blockchain ensures high security by using an unalterable public ledger to record all transactions. This helps prevent hacking or tampering.
  • Transparency: Blockchain provides transaction transparency. It allows players to view their transaction history and asset provenance.
  • In-game economies: Developers can create in-game economies with virtual currencies. Players can use these currencies to earn real-world value for their virtual assets through trading.
  • Increased revenue: Blockchain allows new revenue streams through the sale of unique virtual assets or in-game economies. This can lead to increased profitability for developers.

Benefits and Challenges 

Digital money in gaming offers benefits for game developers and players. It creates new revenue opportunities for developers and enhances the user experience for players. However, potential risks like fraud and addiction are associated with the use of digital money.

Regulatory and legal challenges must be considered. Governments may restrict the use of digital money in gaming or require game developers to obtain licenses. The practice can also raise concerns about money laundering and fraud. When ignored, these issues may result in legal action against the developers.

Moreover, the lack of clear legal frameworks for digital money in gaming can create uncertainty and risk for both developers and players.

Summing Up

Digital money is changing the gaming industry by offering revenue generation and improved user experiences. However, its impact extends beyond gaming and could revolutionize the global economy and society. 

As digital money evolves, staying informed about its benefits and challenges will be crucial. Game developers and players must learn to adapt and thrive in this rapidly changing landscape.

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Community

8 Java Programming Tricks; Unlocking developer-led growth and How to Build a Fast and Lightweight API

Welcome to yet another resource-packed newsletter by Developer Nation. In this one find Java tricks you should know about, build lightweight APIs with NodeJS and learn the difference between Agile-VS-Scrum, the terms often used interchangeably in modern Software Product Lifecycle.

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💡 8 Java Programming Tricks Every Java Developer Should Know

In this article, we’ll explore eight Java programming tricks every Java developer should know, including how java developers for hire can help you implement them in your projects.

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For storing, transmitting, and receiving digital assets, cryptocurrency wallets are crucial tools. Custodial and non-custodial wallets are the two major varieties that are available

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🛠️ How to Build a Fast and Lightweight API with Node.js and SQLite

In this article, we’ll show you how to create a Node.js API that uses an SQLite database to store product information.

🧪React Native run-android: How to Test Various Device Types

One of the key benefits of React Native is its ability to test apps on various device types, including emulators, simulators, and physical devices.

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Community

State of Developer Wellness report: 83% of developers report feeling burnout at least occasionally

Developer Wellness

Listening to developers feedback in recent years, it became clear that our community members face anxiety, burnout and are trying to find ways to improve their overall health and wellbeing. 

We wanted to learn more about their experiences and with this week being Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK (15th – 21st May) it seems fitting to announce the launch of our State of Developer Wellness report. The report provides insights from our Developer Nation community including workplace experiences, burnout, mental wellbeing, happiness and lifestyles.

We hope that report will raise awareness around the importance of work well-being for developers and creators, and encourage more discussions within developer communities.

Our State of Developer Wellness Survey reached 870 respondents from 91 countries around the world. 

The report covers:

Distribution of Developers based on their Workplace Setup 

Remote work, how it affects their mental wellbeing, do developers feel their employers care about their wellbeing

Developer burnout

How often developers have felt burnout in the last three months, how they decompress and relieve stress, are they successfully managing their workplace stress?

Developer Happiness and Health Lifestyles

We encourage everyone to read the report and share it with your colleagues and peers. Let’s build on a culture of wellness that promotes the mental, physical and emotional wellbeing of the developer industry! 

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Community Tips

8 Java Programming Tricks Every Java Developer Should Know

8 Java Programming Tricks

Java is one of the most popular programming languages in the programming world, used by millions of developers to build complex software systems and applications. As a Java developer, it’s essential to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques to remain competitive and produce high-quality code. In this article, we’ll explore eight Java programming tricks every Java developer should know, including how java developers for hire can help you implement them in your projects.

  • Use Lambda Expressions

Lambda expressions are a powerful feature introduced in Java 8 that allow you to write functional-style code with less boilerplate. With lambda expressions, you can define a method as a parameter to another method, reducing the amount of code you need to write. For example, instead of writing:

List<String> names = new ArrayList<>();
for (Person person : people) {
    names.add(person.getName());
}

You can use a lambda expression like this:

List<String> names = people.stream()
.map(Person::getName)
.collect(Collectors.toList());

This code is more concise and easier to read, making your code more maintainable.

  • Use Optional Instead of Nulls

Nulls can cause many problems in Java code, including NullPointerExceptions, which can be difficult to debug. Instead of using nulls, use the Optional class, which allows you to represent an object that may or may not be present. Optional provides a safer and more elegant way to handle nulls in your code.

  • Use Streams for Collection Operations
    Streams provide a concise and powerful way to perform operations on collections in Java. With streams, you can perform operations like filtering, mapping, and reducing without the need for complex loops or temporary collections. Streams can significantly simplify your code and make it easier to read and maintain.
  • Use String.format for String Concatenation
    String concatenation can be a performance bottleneck in Java code, especially when concatenating large strings. Instead of using the + operator, use the String.format method to concatenate strings. String.format creates a formatted string that you can customize with placeholders and arguments, making your code more readable and efficient. 
public class StrFormat  
{  
    /* Driver Code */  
    public static void main(String args[])  
    {  
        String s1 = new String("Hello");    //String 1  
        String s2 = new String(" World");    //String 2  
        String s = String.format("%s%s",s1,s2);   //String 3 to store the result  
            System.out.println(s.toString());  //Displays result  
    }  
}
  • Use Immutable Objects

Immutable objects are objects whose state cannot be changed after creation. Immutable objects are thread-safe and can simplify your code by eliminating the need for locks or synchronization. Use immutable objects whenever possible to improve the performance and reliability of your code.

String name = "baeldung";
String newName = name.replace("dung", "----");
assertEquals("baeldung", name);
assertEquals("bael----", newName);
  • Use Interface Default Methods

Default methods were introduced in Java 8 and allow you to add methods to an interface without breaking existing implementations. Default methods provide a powerful way to extend existing interfaces and create more flexible and maintainable code.

import java.time.*; 
public interface TimeClient {
    void setTime(int hour, int minute, int second);
    void setDate(int day, int month, int year);
    void setDateAndTime(int day, int month, int year,
                               int hour, int minute, int second);
    LocalDateTime getLocalDateTime();
}
  • Use Reflection Sparingly

Reflection is a powerful but dangerous feature in Java that allows you to inspect and modify the behaviour of a program at runtime. Reflection can be slow and error-prone, and should only be used when necessary. If possible, use other features of Java, such as interfaces, to achieve your goals.

import java.lang.reflect.*;

 
   public class DumpMethods {
      public static void main(String args[])
      {
         try {
            Class c = Class.forName(args[0]);
            Method m[] = c.getDeclaredMethods();
            for (int i = 0; i < m.length; i++)
            System.out.println(m[i].toString());
         }
         catch (Throwable e) {
            System.err.println(e);
         }
      }
   }
  • Use Enumerations Instead of Constants

Enumerations are a more powerful and flexible way to represent constants in Java. Enumerations allow you to group related constants and define their behaviour, making your code more expressive and maintainable. Use enumerations whenever possible to avoid the problems associated with traditional constants.

public class Main {
  enum Level {
    LOW,
    MEDIUM,
    HIGH
  }

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    Level myVar = Level.MEDIUM; 
    System.out.println(myVar);
  }
}
  • Use Try-With-Resources for Resource Management
    Try-With-Resources is a feature introduced in Java 7 that allows you to automatically close resources such as files, sockets, and database connections after they are no longer needed. Try-With-Resources can simplify your code and ensure that resources are always properly closed, reducing the risk of resource leaks and other problems.
  • Use Javadoc to Document Your Code
    Javadoc is a powerful tool for documenting your Java code. With Javadoc, you can create professional-looking documentation for your code that can be easily shared with other developers. Javadoc can also help you understand your own code better and identify potential problems and bugs.
  • Use Dependency Injection for Loose Coupling
    Dependency Injection is a design pattern that promotes loose coupling between components of a system. With Dependency Injection, you can inject dependencies into a class instead of creating them inside the class, reducing the complexity and dependencies of your code. Dependency Injection can also make your code more flexible and easier to test, making it a valuable technique for Java developers to learn.

Use Unit Testing for Quality Assurance

Unit Testing is a crucial technique for ensuring the quality and correctness of your Java code. With Unit Testing, you can test individual units of code in isolation, identifying and fixing problems before they become larger issues. Unit Testing can also improve the maintainability of your code by ensuring that changes and updates don’t introduce unexpected side effects or bugs. As a Java developer, it’s essential to understand and practise Unit Testing to produce high-quality, reliable code.

Conclusion

Java developers for hire can help you implement these programming tricks in your projects. The tricks we mentioned can improve the quality and efficiency of your code, and help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques in Java programming. But if you need to do it asap, Java developers for hire can help you implement these programming tricks in your projects.

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Why Custodial Wallets Remain Popular Among Some Crypto Users

Custodial Wallets

For storing, transmitting, and receiving digital assets, cryptocurrency wallets are crucial tools. Custodial and non-custodial wallets are the two major varieties that are available. A third party, like an exchange, manages custodial wallets, whereas non-custodial wallets allow users complete control over their assets. Although non-custodial wallets have become more common, some bitcoin users still choose custody-based wallets. We examine the benefits of custodial wallets for some cryptocurrency investors in this article.

Convenience and simplicity of use
Custodial wallets are still widely used for a number of reasons, including their practicality and simplicity. Cryptocurrency exchanges frequently provide custody wallets, making it simple for customers to maintain their digital assets in addition to their trading. When contrasting custodial wallets vs non-custodial wallets the former frequently offers an easier user experience since users are relieved of the responsibility of storing their backup phrases and private keys, which can be burdensome and confusing for certain users. Instead, individuals may easily access their assets by logging into their account anytime they need to.

Giving up control of one’s digital assets to a third-party provider is the price one pays for this convenience. On the other hand, non-custodial wallets provide users more privacy and control over their assets, but they also require them to take responsibility for managing their own private keys and security protocols. In the end, whether a user chooses a custodial or non-custodial wallet will depend on their desire for convenience against control.

Insurance and security
Users with non-custodial wallets have greater control over their digital assets, but there is also more danger and responsibility involved. A user could never again be able to access their assets, for example, if they lose their private key. Furthermore, if malware infects a user’s computer or gadget, their digital assets could be taken. Custody wallets, on the other hand, provide extra security measures like two-factor verification and advanced encryption techniques. Customers can feel more secure knowing that the vast majority of reliable custodial wallet suppliers also offer insurance against asset loss or theft.

Assistance and client services
Custodial wallets also have the advantage of the support and customer service provided by the wallet provider. If a user encounters any issues with their wallet, the provider’s support team is frequently able to assist them. This might be quite beneficial for inexperienced bitcoin users who may have questions or concerns about their wallet. Additionally, custodial wallet providers usually hire a larger team of engineers and security experts that are dedicated to ensuring the dependability and security of their platform. Updates and solutions for any possible issues could be provided more quickly as a consequence.

Integration with trading platforms and exchanges
Custody wallets also offer easy communication with bitcoin exchanges and trading systems. Due to the fact that custodial wallets are frequently supplied by exchanges, users may easily move money between their wallet and their trading account. This may prove to be of great assistance to active traders who need to move their assets quickly and successfully. Users may get a more complete view of their trading habits with the use of advanced trading capabilities and statistics that can be included in custody wallets.

Adherence to regulations
Last but not least, businesses and institutional investors typically choose custodial wallets since they adhere to standards. Since they are typically registered with regulatory entities, suppliers of custody wallets must adhere to strict security and reporting standards. This may be of particular significance to businesses that may be the target of regulatory audits or compliance inspections. Additionally, custodial wallets can offer more accountability and transparency, which makes them a more desirable option for institutional investors.

Opportunities to earn interest

Another reason for the ongoing popularity of custody wallets is the chance to make money that they provide. By creating an interest-bearing account with some providers of custody-based wallets, users may earn a return on their digital assets. Custodial wallets can provide interest rates that are far higher than those of traditional savings accounts, making them an attractive option for anybody looking to enhance their bitcoin holdings. In addition, some providers of custodial wallets provide staking services, which let users be compensated for participating in the network’s consensus mechanism. This might prove to be quite advantageous for those who hold certain cryptocurrencies that offer stacking bonuses.

Reduced fees

Custodial wallets may also be less expensive than non-custodial ones. Customers usually benefit from lower transaction fees when transferring assets between their wallet and their exchange account since custodial wallets are commonly provided by cryptocurrency exchanges. Additionally, suppliers of custodial wallets could charge less for certain services like trading or cash withdrawals. This can be especially useful for users who wish to lower their transaction costs and boost their earnings.

Conclusion
In conclusion, some cryptocurrency users continue to choose custodial wallets because of how convenient and simple they are to use. By handling the protection and storage of digital files, they provide a more user-friendly experience, but at the expense of ceding control to a third-party supplier. Non-custodial wallets provide users more freedom and privacy, but they also force them to take care of their own security precautions. Ultimately, the user’s interests and preferences will determine whether they choose a custodial or non-custodial wallet.

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Protecting APIs by Merging Tools and Security Best Practices

protecting APIs

Rapid uptake in adoption by industries ranging from banking to retail to autonomous vehicles of customer- and partner-facing and internal application programming interfaces (APIs) to drive internet traffic has resulted in an equally rapid growth in endpoint attacks – more than 11 billion over just 18 months according to a report from edge computing security leader Akamai. It makes sense that they are more vulnerable to threats from malicious actors, given API endpoints’ similarity to internet-facing web servers, and their role as pipelines between divergent platforms.

For DevSecOps teams, protecting APIs is a top priority; they are vital to mobile, SaaS, and web applications and paramount to a healthy software development lifecycle. API security is also a natural extension of DevSecOps’ push to break down silos between development, security, and operations and move toward automation and design that integrates security as a shared responsibility. 

Thus, it is time to view API security not as an external bottleneck, but as a part of a stable long-term strategy. This can be achieved by altering company attitudes and investing in API tools that facilitate testing, enforce governance standards, and automate recurring security tasks.

Adopt an API-as-a-Product Strategy

A primary reason digital transformation efforts have failed for many brands is because they do not see APIs adding value. As such, they’ve lost track of the potential return on investment (ROI) APIs can deliver. When APIs are not viewed as assets or value-generating, they aren’t subject to the appropriate level of protection or security performance oversight. In fact, Akamai’s report highlighted the fact that many enterprises relegate API security checks to the end of the lifecycle and rely on traditional network security solutions which aren’t designed to protect against the attacks to which APIs are subject.

This is starting to change, however, as API-as-a-Product strategies gain traction within the developer community. There is a notable shift away from delivering project features based on budgets and deadlines to holistically examining APIs as products and assessing their capabilities. Further, as the concept of monetizing APIs gains prominence, their protection becomes a higher priority at the outset, with organizations more inclined to adopt a human-centered design approach. 

What this means is moving API regression tests to the forefront rather than treating them as an afterthought. It means adopting a design-first approach – wherein everyone on the team speaks the same language and every tool is able to leverage the same design – from the outset with the help of an API management platform. This will also help ensure that APIs are built on established authentication and authorization mechanisms such OAuth 2.0, which is the industry-standard protocol for authorization, and OpenID Connect.

API testing tools are critical for protecting something upon which most services in use daily rely. These tools let developers see if an API is reacting adequately to unexpected inputs or possible security attacks. They show immediately if an application is running with optimized functionality, reliability, and security.

Whether it is running user authentication, parameter tampering, unhandled HTTP, or fuzz testing, it is imperative to test an API contract to ensure that services can communicate and that the data they share is consistent with a specified set of rules or standards. Further, there are many solutions in the API testing market, including cross-cloud API testing software, software that supports asynchronous testing and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) integrations, and end-to-end testing – as well as solutions that support various formats eliminating the need for developers to learn new languages. 

Continuous testing is essential across the DevSecOps pipeline, as is robust test coverage based on API contracts that have been designed and approved. Plus, by chaining together complex API transactions and workflows, cases can be tested on-demand using continuous delivery or CI/CD to reduce downtime. 

Security in 360-degree Lifecycle Management

While API security considerations have typically been an afterthought to ever-increasing business demands, the reality is that no enterprise can afford for software security checks to be the last stage of an API lifecycle. Rather, security must be part of a 360-degree API lifecycle management strategy. It should be incorporated into every level, from planning and design to developing, testing, and release management – all the way out to deprecation.

Developers must also have oversight throughout the entire API lifecycle – which is where an API management platform comes into play. A dedicated platform can provide workflow visualizers that show an API’s complete lifecycle in a single view with issue alerts, which helps accelerate production using CI/CD in the DevSecOps pipeline to build trusted artifacts and more rapid iterations, thereby guaranteeing a security-first mindset. 

API tools also allow perimeter scans, which enable the discovery and inventory of APIs and allow for easy breakdowns for DevSecOps teams to work with. The best platforms will leverage a command line interface (CLI) – a unified tool for managing and controlling multiple services from the command line or with automation through scripts – to make APIs more easily discoverable. The team can easily determine where and how many APIs are deployed; a level of visibility that is mandatory for enterprises. 

Tools for Success

In short, an API team is only as successful as the set of tools at its disposal.

API security best practices are no mystery to seasoned security professionals – and they start with establishing solid API security policies through an API management platform. 

Finally, a collaborative approach to API governance – in line with the DevSecOps mission to eliminate siloes – is imperative for any organization’s security. 

About APIWizAPIwiz is a low-code, API automation platform allowing developers to build and release reliable APIs quickly. With APIwiz, API teams have complete control, visibility, and predictability over their entire API program, allowing organizations to stay open and connected.