Computer science pioneer Niklaus Wirth dies aged 89

In a sombre start to the new year, the world of computer science mourns the loss of Niklaus Wirth—a stalwart figure known for his influential contributions to programming languages, methodology, software engineering, and hardware design.

Born on 15 February 1934 in Switzerland, Wirth was a luminary in the field and celebrated for his development of several groundbreaking programming languages including ALGOL W, Pascal, and Modula-2. Wirth died aged 89 on 1 January...

4 January 2024 | Languages

Gemini Pro: Google empowers developers with advanced AI capabilities

Google has announced the availability of its AI model Gemini Pro for developers and enterprises to craft solutions for their specific needs. This move is accompanied by a commitment to ongoing refinement based on user feedback.

Gemini comes in three distinctive sizes: Ultra, Pro, and Nano. The Nano version has already been integrated into Android – starting with the Pixel 8 Pro – while a specially tuned iteration of Gemini Pro is embedded in Bard.

Empowering...

15 December 2023 | API

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...

16 November 2023 | Developer

SAP empowers developers with generative AI capabilities

During its TechEd event, SAP made a series of announcements aimed at empowering developers with generative AI capabilities.

Juergen Mueller, CTO and member of the Executive Board of SAP, stressed the importance of adapting to the evolving technology and business environment.

"Today’s dynamic landscape demands every developer to be an AI developer," Mueller affirmed. "The innovations we’re launching at SAP TechEd provide developers with the resources they need to...

2 November 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

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...

27 October 2023 | Developer

Lightning AI becomes a PyTorch Foundation premier member

The PyTorch Foundation, a neutral hub facilitating collaboration within the deep learning community, has announced that Lightning AI has become a premier member.

Lightning AI is the driving force behind PyTorch Lightning, an open-source framework and platform empowering companies to construct and deploy cutting-edge AI products employing the latest generative AI models.

Luca Antiga, CTO of Lightning AI, expressed the importance of this collaboration:

“By...

18 October 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

Python Developers Survey: Python 2 clings on for certain use cases

A new survey from the Python Software Foundation has found that while Python 3 remains dominant both for work and play, usage of Python 2 crept up from the previous year.

The study, in association with JetBrains which polled more than 23,000 Python developers, found 93% of respondents had already implemented Python 3, based on responses from the end of 2022. Yet this was down on the 95% cited from the previous year.

To find a reason why, there are a few small clues based...

5 October 2023 | Languages

GitHub launches Innovation Graph for interactive development insights

GitHub has unveiled its Innovation Graph, an open data and insights platform for measuring and understanding the global impact of developers.

The ambitious initiative aims to address a longstanding challenge faced by policymakers and researchers: the lack of reliable and comprehensive data on trends in software development.

Understanding the Innovation Graph

The Innovation Graph is a repository of longitudinal metrics that track software development across economies...

22 September 2023 | Developer

GitHub opens Copilot Chat to all developers

GitHub has announced that Copilot Chat is now available to all developers, ushering in a new era of AI-powered software development.

Copilot Chat was launched for ‘Business’ users in July. The AI assistant is capable of assisting developers in their preferred natural language and promises to reduce repetitive tasks.

Developers can use the assistant to explore new languages or frameworks, troubleshoot bugs, and/or seek answers to coding questions, all while remaining...

21 September 2023 | Artificial Intelligence

Ruby on Rails creator deplores ‘open-source hooliganism’

Ruby on Rails creator David Heinemeier Hansson has expressed his concerns about what he called "open-source hooliganism."

Hansson recounted a recent incident involving the TypeScript community and their reaction to a decision made by the team behind Turbo.

Hansson began by acknowledging the passion that many developers have for their preferred programming languages and tools. He noted that the enthusiasm displayed by these individuals is a testament to their dedication...

8 September 2023 | Developer