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<p>The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized how we interact with technology, seamlessly integrating smart devices into our daily lives. From smart thermostats and wearable devices to industrial sensors and smart cities, IoT solutions are becoming ubiquitous. However, as the number of IoT devices grows, so does the surface area for potential cyberattacks. This article delves into the evolution of cybersecurity in the age of IoT, highlighting the challenges, advancements, and the importance of adopting robust security measures.<br></p><h2>The Rise of IoT and its Impact on Cybersecurity</h2><p>The IoT ecosystem comprises billions of interconnected devices that communicate over the internet. This connectivity allows for unprecedented levels of automation, efficiency, and data collection. However, it also introduces new vulnerabilities that cybercriminals are eager to exploit. The rise of IoT has significantly impacted the cybersecurity landscape for several reasons:</p><ol><li><p><strong>Increased Attack Surface</strong>: With each new IoT device connected to a network, the potential entry points for cyberattacks increase. These devices, ranging from smart refrigerators to industrial control systems, often lack robust security features, making them easy targets for hackers.</p></li><li><p><strong>Diverse Range of Devices</strong>: The IoT ecosystem includes a diverse range of devices with varying capabilities, operating systems, and communication protocols. This diversity makes it challenging to implement standardized security measures across all devices, leading to inconsistent security practices.</p></li><li><p><strong>Data Privacy Concerns</strong>: IoT devices collect vast amounts of data, often including sensitive personal or organizational information. Unauthorized access to this data can lead to privacy breaches, identity theft, or even corporate espionage.</p></li><li><p><strong>Legacy Systems and Compatibility Issues</strong>: Many IoT devices are integrated into legacy systems that were not designed with modern cybersecurity threats in mind. Ensuring compatibility while maintaining security is a significant challenge for IoT solution development.</p></li></ol><h2>Evolution of Cybersecurity Measures in IoT</h2><p>As the IoT landscape evolves, so too does the approach to cybersecurity. The following are some key advancements in cybersecurity measures tailored specifically for IoT environments:</p><ol><li><p><strong>Enhanced Device Authentication and Authorization</strong>: Traditional authentication methods are often inadequate for IoT devices. Advanced techniques, such as multi-factor authentication and biometric verification, are being employed to ensure that only authorized devices and users can access IoT networks.</p></li><li><p><strong>End-to-End Encryption</strong>: To protect data transmitted between IoT devices and central systems, end-to-end encryption is becoming a standard practice. This ensures that even if data is intercepted, it remains unreadable without the appropriate decryption keys.</p></li><li><p><strong>Zero Trust Architecture</strong>: The zero-trust model operates on the principle that no device or user, whether inside or outside the network, should be trusted by default. This approach requires continuous verification of each device and user trying to access network resources, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access.</p></li><li><p><strong>Machine Learning and AI for Threat Detection</strong>: Machine learning and artificial intelligence are increasingly being integrated into cybersecurity solutions to identify and respond to threats in real-time. These technologies can analyze patterns of normal device behaviour and detect anomalies that may indicate a cyberattack.</p></li><li><p><strong>Custom IoT Development Services with Built-in Security</strong>: Companies specializing in custom IoT development services are now incorporating security features directly into the design and development process. By prioritizing security from the outset, these companies ensure that their IoT solutions are resilient to potential threats.</p></li></ol><h2>The Role of Custom IoT Development Companies in Enhancing Cybersecurity</h2><p>Custom IoT development companies play a crucial role in the evolution of cybersecurity within the IoT ecosystem. By offering tailored solutions, these companies can address the specific security needs of different industries and applications. Here’s how:</p><ol><li><p><strong>IoT Solution Development with a Security-First Approach</strong>: Custom IoT development companies design and build IoT solutions with security as a foundational element. This proactive approach helps mitigate risks by integrating security measures such as secure boot processes, firmware updates, and device lifecycle management from the beginning.</p></li><li><p><strong>Hiring Skilled IoT Developers</strong>: The demand for skilled IoT developers who understand the intricacies of both IoT technology and cybersecurity is on the rise. When you hire IoT developers with a strong background in cybersecurity, you can be confident that your IoT solutions will be robust against potential threats.</p></li><li><p><strong>Ongoing Security Management and Updates</strong>: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.darkbears.com/expertise/advanced-computing/iot">Custom IoT development services</a> often include ongoing security management, monitoring, and regular updates to address new vulnerabilities. This continuous approach ensures that IoT solutions remain secure over time, even as new threats emerge.</p></li><li><p><strong>Compliance with Industry Standards</strong>: By adhering to industry standards and regulations, custom IoT development companies help businesses avoid legal and financial repercussions associated with data breaches. Ensuring compliance with standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, and others is critical in maintaining trust and protecting sensitive data.</p></li></ol><h2>Best Practices for Securing IoT Devices</h2><p>To safeguard IoT devices and networks, businesses and individuals should adopt the following best practices:</p><ol><li><p><strong>Conduct Regular Security Audits</strong>: Regularly assess the security posture of your IoT devices and networks to identify and address vulnerabilities.</p></li><li><p><strong>Implement Strong Password Policies</strong>: Ensure all IoT devices use strong, unique passwords, and consider enabling multi-factor authentication where possible.</p></li><li><p><strong>Keep Firmware and Software Updated</strong>: Regularly update device firmware and software to protect against known vulnerabilities and exploits.</p></li><li><p><strong>Segment IoT Networks</strong>: Separate IoT devices from critical business systems and sensitive data to limit the impact of a potential breach.</p></li><li><p><strong>Hire IoT Developers with Security Expertise</strong>: When developing custom IoT solutions, hire IoT developers who are well-versed in cybersecurity best practices to ensure robust protection against threats.</p></li></ol><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The evolution of cybersecurity in the age of IoT is a dynamic process that requires continuous adaptation and vigilance. As IoT devices become more prevalent, the need for robust security measures becomes even more critical. Custom IoT development companies, with their expertise in secure IoT solution development, play a vital role in safeguarding our interconnected world. By understanding the unique challenges of IoT cybersecurity and adopting best practices, businesses and individuals can protect themselves against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.</p><p>If you're looking to develop <a target="_blank" href="https://www.darkbears.com/expertise/advanced-computing/iot">secure IoT solutions</a>, consider hiring skilled IoT developers or partnering with a <a href="https://www.darkbears.com/company/contact">custom IoT development company</a> that prioritizes cybersecurity. This proactive approach will help ensure the security and reliability of your IoT deployments, allowing you to leverage the full potential of IoT technology with confidence.</p>

The Evolution of Cybersecurity in the Age of IoT

<p>In today’s digital age, businesses need to leverage the power of the internet to reach their target audiences effectively. Digital marketing encompasses all online marketing efforts, using digital channels such as search engines, social media, email, and websites to connect with current and prospective customers. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essentials of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://admin.darkbears.com/blog/post/add/Discover the comprehensive guide to digital marketing, covering SEO, content marketing, social media, PPC, email marketing, and more. Learn the latest trends and best practices to boost your online presence and drive business growth.">digital marketing,</a> its various components, and how to create a successful digital marketing strategy for your business.<br></p><h2><strong>What is Digital Marketing?</strong></h2><p>Digital marketing refers to all marketing activities that use digital devices or the internet. It’s an umbrella term that includes various online marketing strategies, such as content marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, email marketing, pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, and more. Unlike traditional marketing, digital marketing offers real-time data and insights, enabling businesses to adapt and improve their marketing strategies continuously.</p><h2><strong>Why Digital Marketing is Important</strong></h2><ol><li><strong>Increased Reach</strong>: Digital marketing allows businesses to reach a global audience at a fraction of the cost of traditional marketing methods.</li><li><strong>Targeted Marketing</strong>: With digital marketing, you can target specific demographics, geographic locations, and even customer behaviors, ensuring your marketing efforts are reaching the right people.</li><li><strong>Measurable Results</strong>: Digital marketing provides valuable metrics and analytics that help businesses measure the effectiveness of their campaigns and adjust strategies as needed.</li><li><strong>Cost-Effective</strong>: Compared to traditional advertising channels like TV, radio, and print, digital marketing offers a more affordable alternative with a potentially higher ROI.</li><li><strong>Enhanced Customer Engagement</strong>: Digital channels provide various touchpoints to engage with customers and build stronger relationships.</li></ol><h2><strong>Core Components of Digital Marketing</strong></h2><h4><strong>1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)</strong></h4><p>SEO is the process of optimizing your website and its content to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). A higher ranking increases visibility and attracts more organic traffic to your website. Key elements of SEO include:</p><ul><li><strong>Keyword Research</strong>: Identifying the right keywords and phrases that your target audience is searching for.</li><li><strong>On-Page SEO</strong>: Optimizing individual web pages to rank higher and earn more relevant traffic in search engines. This includes optimizing title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, and content.</li><li><strong>Off-Page SEO</strong>: Building backlinks from reputable websites to increase your site’s authority and trustworthiness.</li><li><strong>Technical SEO</strong>: Ensuring your website is technically sound with proper indexing, mobile optimization, fast load times, and secure connections (HTTPS).</li></ul><h4><strong>2. Content Marketing</strong></h4><p>Content marketing involves creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience. The goal is to drive profitable customer action by providing content that educates, entertains, or inspires. Common content marketing formats include:</p><ul><li><strong>Blogs</strong>: Regularly updated articles that provide information or insights on specific topics.</li><li><strong>Ebooks and Whitepapers</strong>: In-depth resources that offer more detailed information on a subject, often used to capture leads.</li><li><strong>Infographics</strong>: Visual representations of data or information, making complex topics easier to understand.</li><li><strong>Videos</strong>: Engaging visual content that can explain concepts, demonstrate products, or tell stories.</li></ul><h4><strong>3. Social Media Marketing</strong></h4><p>​<a target="_blank" href="https://www.darkbears.com/expertise/digital-marketing/ppc-social-media-ads">Social media marketing</a> uses platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok to promote your brand, products, or services. It helps in building brand awareness, engaging with customers, and driving traffic to your website. Key strategies include:</p><ul><li><strong>Creating Engaging Content</strong>: Share posts, videos, stories, and other media that resonate with your audience.</li><li><strong>Community Management</strong>: Actively engaging with followers, responding to comments, and fostering a sense of community.</li><li><strong>Social Advertising</strong>: Running paid campaigns to target specific demographics and achieve business goals like increasing website traffic or generating leads.</li></ul><h4><strong>4. Pay-Per-Click Advertising (PPC)</strong></h4><p>PPC is a digital advertising model where advertisers pay a fee each time their ad is clicked. It’s a way of buying visits to your site rather than earning them organically. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.darkbears.com/expertise/digital-marketing/ppc-social-media-ads">Google Ads and social media ads</a> are popular PPC platforms. PPC strategies include:</p><ul><li><strong>Keyword Targeting</strong>: Using relevant keywords to ensure your ads appear in search results when potential customers are searching for related products or services.</li><li><strong>Ad Copywriting</strong>: Crafting compelling ad copy that encourages clicks and conversions.</li><li><strong>Bid Management</strong>: Adjusting your bids to ensure you get the most value for your budget.</li></ul><h4><strong>5. Email Marketing</strong></h4><p>Email marketing involves sending targeted messages to a group of people via email. It’s one of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.darkbears.com/expertise/digital-marketing/email-marketing">most cost-effective ways to reach and engage your audience, nurture leads, and convert them into customers.</a> Effective email marketing tactics include:</p><ul><li><strong>Personalization</strong>: Tailoring emails to individual preferences and behaviors to increase engagement.</li><li><strong>Segmentation</strong>: Dividing your email list into smaller segments based on demographics, behavior, or other criteria to send more relevant messages.</li><li><strong>Automation</strong>: Using automated email sequences to nurture leads and guide them through the sales funnel.</li></ul><h4><strong>6. Affiliate Marketing</strong></h4><p>Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy where businesses reward affiliates (partners) for driving traffic or sales to their site through the affiliate’s marketing efforts. Affiliates can be bloggers, influencers, or other businesses.</p><ul><li><strong>Affiliate Networks</strong>: Platforms that connect businesses with potential affiliates, manage payments, and track performance.</li><li><strong>Commission Structures</strong>: Defining how affiliates will be compensated, such as a percentage of sales or a fixed fee per lead.</li></ul><h4><strong>7. Influencer Marketing</strong></h4><p>Influencer marketing leverages individuals with a significant following on social media or other online platforms to promote your products or services. This strategy builds trust and authenticity because recommendations come from trusted figures.</p><ul><li><strong>Identifying Influencers</strong>: Finding influencers whose audience aligns with your target market.</li><li><strong>Building Relationships</strong>: Developing long-term partnerships with influencers to foster genuine endorsements.</li><li><strong>Tracking ROI</strong>: Measuring the impact of influencer campaigns on brand awareness, traffic, and sales.</li></ul><h2><strong>How to Create a Digital Marketing Strategy</strong></h2><ol><li><strong>Define Your Goals</strong>: Clearly outline what you want to achieve with your digital marketing efforts. Goals could include increasing website traffic, generating leads, boosting sales, or enhancing brand awareness.</li><li><strong>Understand Your Audience</strong>: Conduct market research to understand your audience’s demographics, preferences, behaviors, and pain points. Create buyer personas to represent your ideal customers.</li><li><strong>Choose the Right Channels</strong>: Based on your audience’s preferences, select the most effective digital marketing channels to reach them. This might include SEO, social media, email marketing, PPC, or content marketing.</li><li><strong>Create a Content Plan</strong>: Develop a content strategy that aligns with your audience’s needs and your business goals. This includes planning the types of content you will create, the topics you will cover, and the frequency of publication.</li><li><strong>Implement and Optimize</strong>: Launch your digital marketing campaigns and continuously monitor their performance. Use analytics tools to track key metrics, identify areas for improvement, and optimize your strategies accordingly.</li><li><strong>Measure Success</strong>: Evaluate the success of your digital marketing efforts against your defined goals. Adjust your strategy as needed to improve results and achieve your objectives.</li></ol><h2><strong>Trends in Digital Marketing</strong></h2><ol><li><strong>Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning</strong>: AI and machine learning are transforming digital marketing by enabling more personalized and automated customer experiences.</li><li><strong>Video Marketing</strong>: The popularity of video content continues to rise, making it an essential component of any digital marketing strategy.</li><li><strong>Voice Search Optimization</strong>: With the growing use of voice assistants like Alexa and Siri, optimizing for voice search is becoming increasingly important.</li><li><strong>Data Privacy and Security</strong>: As data privacy concerns grow, marketers must prioritize transparent data practices and comply with regulations like GDPR and CCPA.</li><li><strong>Omni-Channel Marketing</strong>: Providing a seamless experience across all channels (online and offline) is crucial for engaging modern consumers.</li></ol><h3><strong>Conclusion</strong></h3><p>Digital marketing is an ever-evolving field that offers businesses endless opportunities to connect with their audiences and achieve their goals. By understanding the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.darkbears.com/services/digital-marketing">core components of digital marketing</a> and staying up-to-date with the latest trends, you can create a successful strategy that drives growth and delivers measurable results.</p>

The Ultimate Guide to Digital Marketing

<p><br></p><p>What’s the first step in setting up an online business? – Building an online storefront.<br></p><p>Today, there are innumerable website builders for DIY eCommerce website development; still, people are more inclined towards WordPress development.</p><p><em><strong>Why?</strong></em></p><p>Because 40% of the online eCommerce websites are empowered on this open-source content management system, however, a few features seem more like a necessity rather than an alternative.&nbsp;</p><p>The ability to list down products, inventory tracking, order shipment and fulfillment, payment system, and many more is a pre-requisite of a business owner, which a default WordPress installation cannot do. And that’s where WooCommerce – An eCommerce plugin for WordPress comes into play.<br></p><p>This blog post talks about a few WooCommerce alternatives that can be a better option for specific use cases. It also explains why there’s a need for such alternatives, how they’re better, and some of the downsides compared to WooCommerce.<br></p><p><strong>But before listing down the alternatives, let’s get the basics clear.<br></strong></p><h2><strong>WooCommerce -The Basics</strong></h2><h4><strong>1.</strong><strong>It’s a WordPress Plugin</strong></h4><p>For beginners, it isn’t a standalone DIY Site builder. Instead, it’s an open-source WordPress plugin. This means that WooCommerce works as a third-party integration within WordPress.</p><p><strong>It means:</strong></p><ol><li>Customer needs to acquire hosting services from a web hosting provider.</li><li>Later they install and configure WordPress CMS.</li><li>Once they build the web design using a theme, they can install and configure WooCommerce to handle the eCommerce functions.</li></ol><div class="se-component se-video-container __se__float-"><figure style="width: 100%; height: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1KahlicghaE?feature=oembed" data-percentage="100%,56.25%" data-size="100%,56.25%" data-align="" data-file-name="1KahlicghaE?feature=oembed" data-file-size="0" data-origin="100%,56.25%" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1.5em; width: 100%; height: 100%;"></iframe></figure></div><p>The above is a short promo video to give you an overview of the WooCommerce platform.<br></p><h4><strong>2.</strong><strong>It’s versatile</strong></h4><p>WooCommerce works with both physical and digital goods.</p><p>Here, you can sell products with innumerable variants and configurations. It also allows instant access to download digital items. When it comes to marketing, WooCommerce website developers can use it for the affiliate marketing model.<br></p><h4><strong>3.</strong><strong>It’s free to use: But, I’m sure you’d always prefer opting for paid ones!</strong></h4><p>To date, the basic WooCommerce plugin is free to use.</p><p>If users want to integrate additional features and flexibility, they can install plugins and other multiple add-ons that are not free. Yes, they’re PAID.</p><p>So, as the online store expands and the user base increases, it’s essential to improve the customer experience for seamless shopping. In such cases, it becomes necessary for store owners to buy those plugins, and those additional costs are worth every penny.<br></p><h2><strong>Why and who needs WooCommerce alternatives?</strong></h2><p>Since WooCommerce allows the quick launch of an online store, it is the first choice of businesses and enterprises to build a quick online store. Moreover, due to its popularity and ease of use, technically advanced people store.</p><p>Though it is highly popular, there might be some scenarios where it may not have the specific features you need for your business. WooCommerce lacks seamless integration with other third-party tools and plugins that can grow your business. Apart from this, choosing WooCommerce will let you figure out web hosting on your own. It has no backend integrated and synchronized.&nbsp;<br></p><p>Moreover, it does not come with support for payment gateway, printable invoices, and shipping solutions which makes it even harder to manage an online store. That’s where businesses often need to pick an alternative to WooCommerce to leverage better solutions.<br></p><p>This blog post focuses on WooCommerce alternatives which include both plugins for WordPress and entirely new platforms that offer variant features and options best-suited for business. So, let’s discuss a few top WooCommerce alternatives and what it offers to expand online business opportunities.<br></p><h2><strong>Which are the top WooCommerce alternatives?</strong><br></h2><h4><strong>1.<em>Shopify – An easy and simpler approach for Ecommerce Development</em></strong></h4><p>Both the e-commerce giants, WooCommerce and WordPress are open source and self-hosted platforms. It simply means that finding hosting to maintain the website is on your shoulders. Though it’s quite convenient for developers web design beginners might find it a bit difficult.</p><p>And that’s where Shopify wins the race.</p><p>Offering a comprehensive package of online store builders, Shopify has everything that a business might need – hosting, domain name, design, themes, marketing all together in the dashboard.</p><p>Let’s talk about the main thing now,</p><h5><strong><em>PRICE STRUCTURE:</em></strong></h5><ul><li>Shopify Lite&nbsp;– $9 per month.</li><li>Basic Shopify&nbsp;– $29 per month.</li><li>Shopify&nbsp;– $79 per month.</li><li>Advanced Shopify&nbsp;– $299 per month.</li><li>Shopify Plus&nbsp;– If you want to avail yourself of Shopify Plus, get in touch with our eCommerce experts and discuss how they can customize Shopify’s web development service for your business needs.</li></ul><h5><strong><em>WHAT IT DOES BETTER THAN WOOCOMMERCE?</em></strong></h5><p>Shopify eases building an online store less since it has a comprehensive range of tools in a single dashboard. With Shopify, you do not need to worry about things like security, hosting, or updates – Shopify does it all for you.<br></p><h5><strong><em>DOWNSIDES COMPARED TO WOOCOMMERCE</em></strong></h5><p>You can find a wide variety of themes for WooCommerce. It’s quite easier to scale your website with WooCommerce since it deliberated full control of your website.&nbsp;</p><p>Since Shopify uses the liquid coding language, its advanced chances are tougher.<br></p><h5><strong><em>WHO SHOULD USE IT?</em></strong></h5><p>Shopify is a good choice for absolute beginners who still want a great-looking, fully functional store.<br></p><h4><strong><em>2. Magento – A high powered fully functional eCommerce-focused CMS</em></strong></h4><p>Missing some features in WooCommerce?</p><p>In that case, an extension might overcome the problem. However, there are people who would want each and every e-commerce feature integrated into their store. Such configuration not only scales your business but also expands your selling opportunities.<br></p><p>And that’s where Magento plays its colors.<br></p><p>Magento is a solid and strong WooCommerce alternative for people who are technically advanced and looking for solutions apart from WordPress.<br></p><h5><strong><em>PRICING</em></strong></h5><ul><li>Starter plan: $2000 per month</li><li>Pro plan: $3147 per month.</li></ul><p>There’s also a free, limited open-source version available for novice developers.</p><h5><strong><em>WHAT IT DOES BETTER THAN WOOCOMMERCE</em></strong></h5><p>Magento eCommerce website development is highly beneficial for a larger business. It’s a unique content management system with every little feature an online eCommerce store might ever need and thus eliminates the need to find plugins or add-ons.</p><h5><strong><em>DOWNSIDES COMPARED TO WOOCOMMERCE.</em></strong></h5><p>When it comes to setup, Magento is not a tough nut to crack. But its designing and configuration usually demand an experienced eCommerce developer, whereas WooCommerce is relatively easy for beginners.</p><p>Honestly, the paid version of Magento Commerce is relatively heavier on budget.</p><h5><strong><em>WHO SHOULD USE IT?</em></strong></h5><p>Choosing Magento can be the best option for growing a business with advanced eCommerce needs. It’s quite rare to find a need for customization in Magento. But you’ll need an experienced developer or spare some good budget to hire the one.</p><h4><strong><em>3. MemberPress for selling membership subscriptions</em></strong></h4><p>MemberPress is a WordPress plugin with every membership feature you can ever expect. Right from subscription management, drip content to awesome pricing pages, most of your subscription operations are all set.</p><h5><strong><em>PRICING</em></strong></h5><ul><li>Basic Plan&nbsp;– $129 per year.</li><li>Plus Plan&nbsp;– $249 per year.</li><li>Pro Plan&nbsp;– $369 per year.</li></ul><h5><strong><em>WHAT IT DOES BETTER THAN WOOCOMMERCE</em></strong></h5><p>The premium support of Membership is what makes it a standout amongst the crowd. These sites are completely different as compared to regular eCommerce stores. The WooCommerce documentation is fine for quick fixes, but sometimes you need something more than that. Apart from this, WooCommerce requires an extra extension for full membership, which is not the case with MemberPress.&nbsp;<br></p><h5><strong><em>DOWNSIDES COMPARED TO WOOCOMMERCE.</em></strong></h5><p>MemberPress lacks a regular eCommerce shop for fixed-price items. Also, WooCommerce has support for more payment gateways.<br></p><h5><strong><em>WHO SHOULD USE IT?</em></strong></h5><p>Anyone who needs an entire membership or subscription suite in one place.<br></p><h4><strong>4.<em>Easy Digital Downloads for selling digital downloads</em></strong></h4><p>The name says it all. This platform will turn any WordPress site into a full-fledged digitized eCommerce store. You can purchase different add-ons for multiple extensions like software licensing, payment gateways, frontend submissions, and more. The essential plugin creates a store, manages marketing, and accepts payments.<br></p><h5><strong><em>PRICING</em></strong></h5><p>The core plugin is free, and the add-ons start at $15.20. You can also buy add-on packages starting at $108.50.<br></p><h5><strong><em>WHAT IT DOES BETTER THAN WOOCOMMERCE</em></strong></h5><p>When it comes to selling digital downloads, EDD is the best and the simplest option to be considered. Though WooCommerce supports digital sales, its configuration process is a bit confusing, and some of the free advanced features of EDD, like product bundles, need to pay extension in WooCommerce. On the other hand, EDD adds customer management, discount codes, shopping cart, and data reporting in a single go with one installation. Furthermore, if selling digital items is your goal, with EDD, your dashboard isn’t cluttered with physical product features.</p><h5><strong><em>DOWNSIDES COMPARED TO WOOCOMMERCE.</em></strong></h5><p>EDD is restricted to only virtual goods. So, if you plan to sell physical products alongside, WooCommerce is the best. The EDD Simple shipping add-on can help you with physical products, but it’s limited and does not have variables like shipping company integration, cost, reporting.</p><h5><strong><em>WHO SHOULD USE IT?</em></strong></h5><p>If you want to sell digital products like eBooks, photography, videos, and music, all works will start with EDD.</p><h3><strong>WHICH OF THESE WOOCOMMERCE ALTERNATIVES IS BEST FOR YOU?</strong></h3><p>Now the ball is in your court. WooCommerce works wonders with a majority of the eCommerce stores. However, there may be random situations when WooCommerce might not serve you better. In such a case, check out the above alternatives and select the best as per your business needs. If you’re thinking of going for a fully tailored eCommerce solution, I would suggest you&nbsp;hire the best eCommerce website development companyto get a responsive solution at a competitive price model.<br></p><p><strong><em>Have any other questions about choosing between these WooCommerce alternatives? Let us know in the comments!</em></strong></p>

WooCommerce Not Working Out? Here Are 4 the best Alternatives to Manage Your Online Store

<p><br></p><p>In the software development world, very often people hear, learn and even use terms and phrases interchangeably, not knowing exactly what they mean. Like DevOps and Agile or multi-cloud and hybrid cloud. Although knowing these terms is important, what’s more important is what they really mean. An example that we particularly find galling is that of systems programming and application programming. So, what is&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_programming" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">systems programming</a>? How is it different from application programming? And why is systems programming so hard? Let’s find out!</p><h2><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong><strong>What Systems Programming Really is</strong></strong></span></h2><p>Before diving into what systems programming is, it’s important to understand what system software is. System software&nbsp;is any software that provides a platform for applications to be built; one that can be easily modified (or uninstalled) without affecting the functioning of other software. These comprise operating system (OS) programs and services including settings, device drivers, file libraries, and other configuration items that provide services to applications.</p><p>Systems programming is the process of programming system software. One of the main requirements for systems programming is a high degree of hardware awareness. Since the core job of systems programming is to ensure high speed and performance of apps, if the most central part of your application – the system software – is slow, then the whole application that runs on it will offer sluggish performance -a deal breaker in today’s fast-paced world.</p><h2><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong><strong>How it is Different from Application Programming</strong></strong></span></h2><p>System software is the layer flanked by the hardware on one side and the application software on the other; it is the layer that controls the hardware and provides services to applications. The primary differentiating factor between systems programming and application programming is that application programming involves developing software with which the user directly interacts, whereas systems programming aims to develop software which make hardware services available to the applications.</p><p>Application programming seldom involves writing code that directly interacts with the OS; instead, it relies on features that have been built into the programming language runtimes and system libraries by systems programming. Therefore, systems programming includes developing OSes, drivers, compilers, runtime services, system libraries, file systems, database managers, networking, utilities to configure and perform maintenance, and command shells that end users use to run applications.</p><p>Today’s OSes do not allow application software to manage system resources directly; instead, they provide interfaces (APIs) for managing resources. System programs, on the other hand, can access system resources directly. They can also be written to extend the functionality of the OS and provide functions that applications can use.</p><h2><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong><strong>Why Systems Programming is Tough</strong></strong></span></h2><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Systems programming is a crucial aspect of software development, requiring hardware planning and capacity planning, software system upgrades, installation scripts, integration testing and system-wide performance tuning. It is also an incredibly challenging task:</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Unlike in application programming where advanced algorithms can be used to write beautiful code, system programming requires programmers to manage everything themselves: from memory and devices, OSes and life cycles, communications, and integration – the absence of abstraction layer in systems programming makes coding extremely difficult.</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Since systems programming generally involves programming at a lower level of abstraction, it requires programmers to have deep knowledge of hardware and platform-specific APIs in order to interface more directly with them.</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Because limited programming facilities are available, debugging is hard; programmers need to be skilled at debugging problems with system software and need to be adept with specialized debugging tools to determine where components have failed, to analyze the cause, and to apply a patch if available.</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Programmers are also required to install and manage the middleware between the OS and end-user application such as database management systems and web servers.</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Because programs need to operate in resource-constrained environments, systems programming requires adopting a low-level programming language.</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Since systems programming acts as the building block of high performing mobile or web applications, programmers have to continuously drive efforts to improve the speed and performance of the system software, which with limited programming facilities and limited resources – is tough.</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">In contrast to application programming where myriad resources are available to provide help in coding, the references and resources available for systems programming are minuscule.</span></li><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">The runtime library is usually not available; and in cases where it is, it is not very powerful and does not provide efficient error checking.</span></li></ul><h2><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong><strong>Crucial for App Success</strong></strong></span></h2><p>In a modern world where mobile and web apps are taking the world by storm, systems programming plays a crucial role in ensuring high speed and appropriate performance. By installing, customizing, and maintaining the OS and related hardware, databases, libraries, and configuration files, systems programming makes efficient use of available resources to improve app performance and allows small efficiency improvements to directly transform into app success. It’s like we said, it’s a hard job -but someone’s got to do it!</p>

Systems Programming is Hard to Do – But Somebody’s Got to Do it

<p><br></p><p>Followers of this blog know that&nbsp;<a href="https://darkbears.com/company/blog/systems-programming-is-hard-to-do-but-somebodys-got-to-do-it">programming system software is not straightforward</a>. Because modern apps run on system software, ensuring high speed and performance is a key mandate. Unlike applications programming which is comparatively easier,&nbsp;systems programming developers&nbsp;must have a thorough knowledge of the hardware including memory, OSes, and integration capabilities. It, of course, follows that testing in systems programming is equally challenging.</p><p>Due to limited resources and the hardware dependency, developers need to be extremely skilled to identify bugs, determine their root-cause, and resolve them in time.</p><h2><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong>Systems programming challenges</strong></span></h2><p>First, a refresher, and do feel free to skip ahead if you’ve read as much in our earlier blog. Although systems programming is a critical aspect of software development, it requires extreme hardware knowledge and capacity planning in addition to understanding frequent software system upgrades, installation scripts, integration testing, and system-wide performance tuning. This makes the entire process extremely challenging:</p><ul><li>Since system software is often the foundation of dynamic and complex applications which are almost invisible to the end-user, client interfaces are fairly limited.</li><li>The absence of an abstraction layer makes coding extremely challenging.</li><li>The likely presence of console-based applications or command line interfaces is extremely high</li><li>Since inter-component interfaces are rich and complex, knowledge of platform-specific APIs is critical.</li><li>System software is highly dependent on the hardware; hence deep hardware knowledge is also required.</li><li>The absence of advanced algorithms compels programmers to manage the entire development process on their own.</li></ul><p>Ok, that settled, now on to why the testing is so challenging.</p><blockquote><h2><span style="font-size: 18px">Also Read:&nbsp;</span><a href="https://darkbears.com/blog/systems-programming-hard-to-do-somebodys-got-to-do/"><span style="font-size: 18px">Systems Programming is Hard to Do – But Somebody’s Got to Do it</span></a></h2></blockquote><p><strong>Complexity of testing</strong></p><p>Testing is a crucial aspect of any product. Although<a href="https://darkbears.com/">software development</a>testing is also complex in its own way, systems programming takes testing to an entirely different level of complexity.</p><ul><li><strong>No Physical Access to Hardware:</strong>Since hardware plays an important role in systems programming, no physical access to the hardware is one of the biggest challenges that makes testing extremely complex. Testing is usually performed remotely through distant servers as testers do not have physical access to hardware.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Limited Resources:</strong>Since system software generally has limited resources over and above the application it is supposed to run, specifically limited storage space and speed – the testing tool faces a difficult trade-off of either having test data on the development platform or having test data interpreted by the test driver on the target platform.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Hardware Dependency:</strong>Because&nbsp;systems programming&nbsp;is highly dependent on hardware, testing might list out defects that are related not just to the software, but also to the hardware. In addition, although tested software may work well with one variant of the hardware, it might not with another.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Timing Constraints</strong>: Since the accuracy of system software depends, to a large extent, on the time at which the results are produced, if timing constraints of the system are not met, the chances of system failure are extremely high. Therefore, testing timing constraints is just as important as testing functional behavior.</li></ul><ul><li><strong><strong><strong><strong>Different Application Development and Execution Platforms: Since systems programming is usually done on a platform different from the one on which the application is deployed, it will not encompass necessary hardware components such as keyboards and networking. From the development platform, testing tools need to offer access to the execution platform in the most transparent but efficient way possible – such that it is hidden from the user.</strong></strong></strong></strong></li></ul><ul><li><strong>Defects are Hard to Reproduce</strong>: Since it is tough to reproduce and recreate defects in systems programming testing, the probability of occurrence of every defect has to be assumed higher than that of normal software testing. Add to that the need to collect as much information as possible to discover the foundation of the defect. This is difficult given the extremely constrained nature of troubleshooting capabilities.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Growing Variety of Execution Platforms:</strong>Since execution platforms can range from tiny 8-bit micro-controllers to large, distributed and networked systems, every platform requires a specific set of testing tools that can efficiently and accurately test for issues. Because multiple platforms could be used within the same system software, testers need access to and knowledge of a large set of testing tools that can adapt to emerging platform architectures in time.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Limited Software Updates</strong>: Since software updates in systems programming are fairly limited, manually finding bugs and rectifying them in every software version is a tough undertaking. This makes it extremely important for developers to pay close attention to the build and deployment process to ensure the minimum number of defects.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Emerging Standards:</strong>Much of system software is used in safety-critical systems across industries like nuclear, medical, and avionics, system failure is just not an option. With emerging standards around zero-failure objectives, developing safety-critical software is no longer an option, but a requisite – which puts a lot of pressure on those testing the systems software.</li></ul><h2><strong>Overcome Challenges to Ensure Success</strong></h2><p>Since systems programming lies at the very heart of high performing mobile and web applications, there is a clear and present need for developers and testers to continuously drive efforts to improve the quality of system software. With limited programming facilities and resources, this is extremely tough.</p><p>However, with the right skills and attitude, and by using the appropriate tools and enabling automation, you can ensure that defects are identified and rectified in time and that the software uses the hardware its fullest potential –and that is essential to ensure product success.</p>

The Unique Complexity of Testing in Systems Programming

<p><br></p><p>Development frameworks have come a long way. Earlier bulky and cumbersome frameworks formed the basis of robust software. These have now evolved. They aim to boost developer productivity, reduce the occurrence of bugs, and help improve the overall quality of products.</p><p>TypeScript and Kotlin are languages that are being spoken of often. In fact, they may well be among the most popular names in the development world. They are climbing up the popularity charts, as the latest&nbsp;<a href="https://insights.stackoverflow.com/survey/2019"><u>Stack Overflow Developer Survey</u></a>&nbsp;shows. Both these languages are now part of the 20 most popular technologies in the development landscape.</p><p>So, what’s behind their rise in popularity? And what role can they plan in systems programming?</p><p><strong><strong>An Introduction</strong></strong></p><p>In the ever-changing software development world, programming languages need to constantly evolve to meet the needs of businesses and users. TypeScript, with its advanced features,&nbsp;has been attractive for a while now. Being a superset of JavaScript, it provides minimal checking syntax on top of JavaScript. This allows developers to type check their code, identify bugs, and quickly improve the organization and documentation of large JavaScript code bases. It’s easy to learn and understand, easier to refactor and faster to implement. TypeScript aids developers in having the correct workflow, with reduced bugs and better-quality code. With a rich type system that includes interfaces, enums, hybrid types, generics, union/intersection types, access modifiers, and more, TypeScript is becoming more common by the day. In fact, several popular frameworks are now being written in TypeScript.</p><p>Kotlin, with its cross-platform abilities and type interfaces, is also greatly influencing the development world. Designed to interoperate fully with Java, Kotlin allows developers to choose from any Java IDE or build from the command line. With a large ecosystem of libraries for JVM, Android, and the browser, it enables developers to drastically reduce the amount of code and avoid entire classes of errors for better quality. The familiar syntax and modern capabilities across type interface, string interpolation, smart casts, default and named arguments, and extension functions make Kotlin a much-adopted programming language. And now, with Google naming Kotlin an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.zdnet.com/article/android-embraces-the-kotlin-programming-language/"><u>official language of Android</u></a>, it has the fastest-growing population of contributors.</p><p><strong><strong>A comparison</strong></strong></p><p>With Microsoft backing TypeScript, and Google supporting Kotlin, the two languages are well on the road to continued success. Here’s a comparison of two of the fastest growing frameworks in the software development industry:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><div><strong><strong>Comparison</strong></strong></div></td><td><div><strong><strong>TypeScript</strong></strong></div></td><td><div><strong><strong>Kotlin</strong></strong></div></td></tr><tr><td><div>Current version</div></td><td><div>3.4</div></td><td><div>1.3</div></td></tr><tr><td><div>Price</div></td><td><div>Open-source</div></td><td><div>Open-source</div></td></tr><tr><td><div>Backed by</div></td><td><div>Microsoft</div></td><td><div>Google</div></td></tr><tr><td><div>Updates</div></td><td><div>Every 2 months</div></td><td><div><br></div></td></tr><tr><td><div>Capabilities</div></td><td><div>Cross-platform</div></td><td><div>Cross-platform</div></td></tr><tr><td><div>Features</div></td><td>·&nbsp;Generics<p>·&nbsp;Extension functions</p><p>·&nbsp;String interpolation</p><p>·&nbsp;Multiple editors and IDEs</p><p>·&nbsp;Type interfaces</p><p>·&nbsp;Enhanced IDE support</p><p>·&nbsp;Command line console</p><p>·&nbsp;Optional static typing</p><p>·&nbsp;Strict null checks</p><p>·&nbsp;Incremental compilation</p></td><td>·&nbsp;Generics<p>·&nbsp;Extension functions</p><p>·&nbsp;String interpolation</p><p>·&nbsp;Dynamic typing</p><p>·&nbsp;Nested comments</p><p>·&nbsp;Type interfaces</p><p>·&nbsp;Android support</p><p>·&nbsp;Command line console</p><p>·&nbsp;Smart casts</p><p>·&nbsp;Null safety</p><p>·&nbsp;Primary constructors</p><p>·&nbsp;Named arguments</p></td></tr><tr><td><div>Benefits</div></td><td>·&nbsp;Easy to learn and understand<p>·&nbsp;Smaller and less complicated code base</p><p>·&nbsp;Large libraries</p><p>·&nbsp;Shorter time to develop new features</p><p>·&nbsp;Faster to implement</p><p>·&nbsp;Easier to maintain</p><p>·&nbsp;Easy to refactor and merge code</p><p>·&nbsp;Reduced bugs</p><p>·&nbsp;Better-quality code</p></td><td>·&nbsp;Easy to learn and understand<p>·&nbsp;Concise</p><p>·&nbsp;Great tooling support</p><p>·&nbsp;No runtime overhead</p><p>·&nbsp;Helps prevent common programming mistakes and bugs</p><p>·&nbsp;Better support for functional programming</p><p>·&nbsp;Reduced bugs</p><p>·&nbsp;Better-quality code</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong><strong>Application in systems programming</strong></strong></p><p>When compared to software programming,&nbsp;<u><a href="https://darkbears.com/company/blog/systems-programming-is-hard-to-do-but-somebodys-got-to-do-it">systems or embedded programming is, of course, more complex</a></u>. Deep knowledge of hardware, memory, OSes, and integration as well as the&nbsp;<u><a href="https://darkbears.com/company/blog/the-unique-complexity-of-testing-in-systems-programming">complexity of testing</a></u>&nbsp;makes systems programming a challenge. Yet, with languages like TypeScript and Kotlin that offer a very short learning curve, developers can streamline the process of systems development, and build cutting-edge embedded and systems programs.</p><p>Scalability, interoperability, ease of migration, and access to the latest tools make them both great choices for systems development:</p><ul><li>Innovative language features and support for type-safe builders help build powerful and easy-to-use abstractions.</li><li>TypeScript and Kotlin’s support for coroutines helps in building systems that are highly scalable – while requiring modest hardware specs.</li><li>Beingfully compatible with all Java-based frameworks, both TypeScript and Kotlin enable developers to stay on their familiar technology stack while reaping the benefits of a more modern language.</li><li>Support for gradual, step by step migration of large codebases allows developers to seamlessly move their code from Java to TypeScript or Kotlin.</li><li>While keeping older parts of the system in Java, developers can write new code in TypeScript or Kotlin.</li></ul><p><strong><strong>Conclusion</strong></strong></p><p>In today’s dynamic ecosystem that is constantly undergoing change, developers have got to stay on their toes and make sure every line of code Systems programmers have a variety of choices,&nbsp;<u><a href="https://darkbears.com/company/blog/why-c-continues-to-the-preferred-systems-programming-language">C is ever-popular</a></u>&nbsp;and is gaining ground. That apart, a plethora of new programming languages abound. The&nbsp;<u><a href="https://darkbears.com/company/blog/what-goes-into-choosing-the-right-systems-programming-language">choice of a systems programming language</a></u>&nbsp;is an involved and complex decision.</p><p>In that scenario, what makes TypeScript and Kotlin unique is their conciseness, versatility, scalability, and interoperability. A steady growth in the number of libraries, constant support for new features and frequent updates are causing their popularity to surge. With features that allow developers to quickly and easily handle common mistakes and issues by leveraging a host of modern tools, both TypeScript and Kotlin are good choices to build robust and innovative systems software or application software – not just by experienced professionals, but also by students and amateur developers. Have you tried either TypeScript or Kotlin yet?</p>

Some Thoughts about TypeScript, Kotlin & their Application in Systems Programming

<p><br></p><p>Some things, do in fact, last forever. The programming language C, that started decades ago – in 1972 to be precise – is one of them. Many of the world’s greatest products are built using C. Some decades ago, and many others that are being built today. According to the December 2018&nbsp;Tiobe Index, C holds the number two spot, just after Java.</p><p>This is mainly because C can be used to compile a very wide variety of computer platforms and requires programmers to make very few changes to the source code.</p><p>Despite the prevalence of other modern, higher-level languages, C continues to stand the test of time, and empower the world as the preferred&nbsp;systems programming&nbsp;language – because of low-level access to memory, and minimal run-time support.</p><h2><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong><strong>C for Systems Programming</strong></strong></span></h2><p>Systems programming, although similar to applications programming, requires developers to create programs that interact with other programs or systems, as opposed to human users.</p><p>It requires specific interactions, usually with very specific and sometimes rigid formats. And because of the presence of several non-trivial structures and architectures as well as non-traditional execution models, the need to build specific performance characteristics is crucially important for the programmer.</p><blockquote><p><strong>Read More:<a href="https://darkbears.com/company/blog/what-goes-into-choosing-the-right-systems-programming-language">What Goes into Choosing the Right Systems Programming Language</a></strong></p></blockquote><p>Although several languages are being used for systems programming, C is the still the ideal choice, due to its flexibility, efficiency, performance, and closeness to the hardware. Let’s look at some other reasons why C continues to be the preferred systems programming language:</p><ul><li><strong><strong>Easy to code:&nbsp;</strong></strong>One of the biggest reasons why C works so well for systems programming is because it is easy to code. C’s direct 1-1 interaction with machine code means there are no complicated built-in data structures like trees or tables. Since the programmer can see any code and know exactly what it does in the hardware, the entire backend is implemented by the programmer – unlike in other languages where the backend implementation is not necessarily known to the programmer.</li><li><strong><strong>Low-level language:&nbsp;</strong></strong>Another reason for using C for systems programming is its proximity to the operating system. Since most C implementations compile directly to machine code, the programmer has full power over what happens at the machine level. There is no need for an interpreter or compiler. This feature makes C an efficient language for systems programming because low-level resources, such as memory, can be accessed effortlessly.</li><li><strong><strong>Explicit memory management</strong></strong>: Another strong reason why C is so popular for systems programming is the flexibility it offers for memory management. Unlike other programming languages where a garbage collector takes care of memory allocation, C allows programmers to do low-level memory handling themselves, giving them total control over where, when, and how memory is allocated. Programmers can scale down a program and run with a small amount of memory. This is extremely beneficial in today’s digital age, where mobile devices demand that programmers keep memory requirement to a minimum.</li><li><strong>Flexible structure:&nbsp;</strong><u><a href="https://darkbears.com/company/blog/systems-programming-is-hard-to-do-but-somebodys-got-to-do-it">Systems programming is never easy</a></u>, especially while dealing with large chunks of code. However, C’s flexible structure allows programmers to break down the program into multiple blocks of code or functions for execution. So, it is easy to understand and allows free movement of data across the different functions. Programmers can manually copy data to different areas, move bits around, and process data in small amounts. Although this is a tedious process, it is a lot more efficient – both in the usage of RAM and in processing time, which is essential in systems programming.</li><li><strong><strong>No runtime dependencies</strong></strong>: As compared to other languages, C has a very small runtime. And unlike other programming languages, C has absolutely no runtime dependencies. Programs can be run on bare minimum systems like embedded systems. This means programmers can build a C program that runs directly on hardware – without expecting any kind of memory manager or input or output layer. Also, much of the standard library doesn’t require an operating system. Those that do can be implemented minimally by the programmer.</li><li><strong><strong>Compatibility</strong></strong>: C is extremely compatible. Most languages that exist today already have what it takes to interact and communicate with C. This means programmers can develop a library in C using standard calling conventions, and have the confidence that every other language can link to it, in a seamless manner. Any software developed using C#, Java, Perl, Python, or PHP can all link with C libraries without much trouble.</li><li><strong><strong>High portability:&nbsp;</strong></strong>A great aspect of C is that is it a highly portable language. It lies as close to the system as possible while simultaneously providing high-level constructs – there is at least one C compiler for almost every existing architecture. Because portability is directly proportional to how flexible the software is, systems that are developed using C are often extremely flexible. So, for programmers who are able to write portable code in C, the end result is an application that can run on every major platform.</li></ul><h2><strong><strong>The Language of the Future</strong></strong></h2><p>Considering how long C has been around, the language doesn’t seem to have an expiry date. It’s closeness to the hardware, explicit memory management feature, flexible structure, compatibility, and portability makes it the ideal choice for low-level development such as operating systems and embedded software.</p><blockquote><p><strong>Read More</strong>:&nbsp;<strong>What To Look For in Your Systems Programming Partner</strong></p></blockquote><p>The fact that C continues to top the charts, despite the presence of so many programming languages, says a lot for C’s robustness and efficiency. Even after 40 years, the world is running on C. And as far as we can see, C will continue to be the top choice for&nbsp;systems programming.</p>

Why C Continues to the Preferred Systems Programming Language

<p><br></p><p>As CIOs struggle with the challenge of keeping systems current while devising strategies to incorporate cloud, microservices, analytics, and other disruptive technologies, how is your systems architecture holding up?</p><p>Since the path to modernization begins with automating routine tasks and upgrading the technology stack, to keep up with the times, organizations are compelled to overhaul their systems architecture landscapes embrace a “cloud first” mindset. These steps, taken individually or as part of larger transformation initiatives, have become an indispensable part of trends that some see as inevitable. Standardization of systems architecture and the adoption of a flexible architecture model has become necessary to drive efficiency, reduce hardware costs, and support speed, flexibility, and scalability.</p><h2><strong>The new face of systems architecture</strong></h2><p>In most organizations, systems architecture is much older than the tech talent maintaining it. Sure, this legacy landscape might seem to be working on a day-to-day basis. But in an era of rapid innovation, where new technology is constantly fueling disruption and new opportunities, architectural immaturity is becoming a persistent challenge. In fact, it is directly linked to many common business problems. Extreme customization, architectural complexity, security loopholes, insufficient scalability, and technical debt throughout the IT environment are impacting the bottom line. With simplifying IT infrastructure becoming a top business priority, here’s how systems architecture is changing in today’s modern tech world:</p><h2><strong>The advent of cloud</strong></h2><p>The move towards the cloud provides architects with the flexibility to adjust, scale, and innovate their systems architecture, and support services that are more dynamic and adaptable. Moving traditional systems workloads from on-premises stacks to the cloud can enable organizations to leverage many more resources on-demand – at a fraction of the cost. By only using services or resources when needed, architects can develop, run, and manage applications – without the need to build and maintain costly infrastructure that the systems development processes typically require.</p><h2><strong>The power of containerization</strong></h2><p>Since containers break down rigid, monolithic, interdependent systems architecture into more manageable, largely-independent fragments, it is truly changing the face of systems architecture. Each container encompasses an entire runtime environment — namely an application along with its dependencies, libraries, and configuration files. These are all virtualized and bundled into one single package. This allows architects to keep all the required components packaged together for quick and portable deployment.</p><h2><strong>Blockchain and its impact</strong></h2><p>The use case of&nbsp;blockchain in systems programmingis exceptionally transformative. By allowing architects to store, verify, and execute code through smart contracts, blockchain is replacing the traditional processing, storage, and computing elements of the systems stack. Using blockchain, architects can build the foundation of better code with better security. Through a wide choice of enterprise-friendly programming languages, they can develop smart contracts, and leverage an infinite number of more secure coding elements as compared to conventional programming. This could soon become the norm in systems development.</p><h2><strong>The popularity of microservices</strong></h2><p>The emergence of microservices has given rise to a fundamentally different approach to&nbsp;systems architecture design. Core components are no longer interdependent and monolithic. They are loosely coupled. Now architects can make upgrades and changes – quickly and easily. Architects no longer need to spend months in regression testing and coordination. The services can be easily composed and tweaked to suit the need.</p><h2><strong>The benefits of Machine Learning</strong></h2><p>The increased interest in Machine Learning is bringing about a transformation in the systems architecture space. Today, many CIOs are assessing the capacity of current systems to meet future needs, and looking at technologies that can lower costs and increase capabilities. They are deploying Machine Learning to modernize and revitalize their core systems – not just to get more value but to make the entire architecture more agile, intuitive, and responsive.</p><p><strong>Constantly evolve</strong></p><p>The business world is becoming increasingly more reliant on technology. As the demands from systems programs increase, it is more important than ever for organizations to evolve their monolithic systems architecture to models that are highly efficient, flexible, and agile. Although the modernization journey might seem long and complex, in the end, it is necessary. In a cloud-first era, systems architecture is changing: containerization, microservices, blockchain, and machine learning are driving systems architecture forward. When implemented correctly, these technologies can move systems architecture from a traditional and rigid structure to a highly flexible and scalable instance that truly meets the demands of today and tomorrow.</p>

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Systems Programming is Hard to Do – But Somebody’s Got to Do it

The Unique Complexity of Testing in Systems Programming

Some Thoughts about TypeScript, Kotlin & their Application in Systems Programming

Why C Continues to the Preferred Systems Programming Language

How Systems Architecture is Changing

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