Python skills ‘increasingly essential’ to dev teams venturing into advanced AI

Python’s status as the primary language for AI and machine learning projects, from its extensive data-handling capabilities to its flexibility and portability, is well-founded. Just how well-founded can be seen in new user data from Snowflake.

The cloud data provider reported that, year on year, use of Python grew 571% in Snowpark, Snowflake’s set of libraries which securely deploy and process non-SQL code. In other words, it will not be a surprise to see Python, Scala and...

Puppet explores the benefits of platform engineering for security

An increasing number of organisations have built platform teams to help improve the developer experience – and the latest State of DevOps Report from Puppet has looked to show how platform engineering is improving security as well.

The 13th annual State of DevOps Report – which is also being called the State of Platform Engineering Report by Puppet – polled approximately 500 respondents, drawn primarily from IT practitioners and leaders who work either as part of or...

AI in game development grows despite concerns

A growing number of game development studios are embracing AI to streamline their processes, according to a new industry report from Unity.

The report finds that 62 percent of studios now utilise AI tools at some stage of development. The top use cases include improving character animations, code writing assistance, art and level generation, narrative design, and automated playtesting:

Credit: Unity

68 percent leverage AI specifically to accelerate prototyping. World...

Java remains backbone of enterprise applications

Java is set to remain the stable backbone of enterprise applications, according to a new report from Perforce Software.

The 2024 Java Developer Productivity Report is based on a survey of 440 respondents across 72 countries. Among the key findings, 60 percent of respondents said their companies plan to add Java developers in the coming year, while 42 percent plan to increase their Java development tool budgets.

"These investments in tools and talent are testament to...

Mobile game ‘mortality rate’ hits 83% within three years

A new whitepaper titled "Good Games Don't Die" reveals that 83 percent of launched mobile games fail within three years.

The study, conducted by revenue growth engine SuperScale, polled 500 developers across the US and UK to uncover issues plaguing the $96.2 billion mobile gaming industry.

The report unveils a catch-22 where 78 percent of developers prefer building new games despite a critical 43 percent failure rate during development alone.

This trend...

Checkmarx uncovers persistent Python package threat

Checkmarx has uncovered a threat actor that has been quietly infiltrating the open-source ecosystem for nearly six months, planting malicious Python packages with a focus on deception and financial gain.

The malicious actor employed a systematic approach, disguising their packages with names closely resembling popular legitimate Python packages. These decoy packages, camouflaged to blend in, successfully garnered thousands of downloads. The malicious payload, embedded within the...

AI coding assistants: A double-edged sword for DevOps in 2024

A growing reliance on AI-powered coding assistants is reshaping how DevOps teams operate, for better or worse.

According to Forrester's 2024 cybersecurity, risk, and privacy predictions, AI coding assistants are becoming integral to boosting productivity. However, a cautionary note accompanies this technological shift, as Forrester warns of potential pitfalls that could lead to cybersecurity breaches.

Forrester predicts that the combination of inconsistent compliance and...

Wallarm highlights disturbing trends in API security threats

Wallarm has released its Q3 2023 API ThreatStats report which sheds light on the escalating threats targeting APIs and revealing vulnerabilities that have impacted industry giants such as Netflix, VMware, and SAP.

The report's revamped ‘Top 10 API Security Threats’ compilation outlines 239 vulnerabilities discovered during the quarter, with injections taking the lead.

Injections involve inserting malicious data or code into APIs, leading to unauthorised access and...

Stack Overflow: 79% of developers considering new horizons

A survey conducted by Stack Overflow has revealed that 79 percent of developers are either actively seeking new job opportunities or are open to the idea. The findings mark a significant increase from previous years, indicating a growing trend among developers to explore new career paths and challenges.

The survey, which garnered responses from over 1,000 developers worldwide, also shed light on other intriguing patterns within the industry.

One striking revelation was...

State of Java: Resilience amid licensing changes and security concerns

Azul has unveiled its first annual State of Java Survey & Report, which offers a deep exploration of the Java landscape.

The study – based on responses from over 2,000 Java users worldwide – aims to provide unparalleled insights into Java's current standing, particularly its influence on enterprises of various sizes.

Java's ubiquity and vital role

The report underscores Java's pervasive presence, with a staggering 98 percent of businesses surveyed utilising...