Bitcoin, JavaScript

JavaScript stands tall and developers find a new source of payment in this week’s new round up.

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The software development industry often moves at a frantic pace, making it easy for even the most observant programmers and quality assurance professionals to fall behind on emerging trends. That’s why it can be advantageous to stop and take a look back at recent events and see how they may help shape the future of the field. From JavaScript holding its place among the pantheon of programming languages to Bitcoin emerging as a new payment method for software projects, the industry saw a number of noteworthy events occur recently.

JavaScript takes the top spot
One of the ongoing challenges to software development is choosing which platform, operating system and language to write code for. In the latter category, programmers have a variety of options including C++ and Python, leading to concerns that focusing solely on one over the others will limit the size of a project’s potential audience. Often, development teams opt to code for the programming language that can be leveraged for a wide variety of ventures. This is why it comes as no surprise that JavaScript held onto the top spot in RedMonk’s recent ranking of the most used programming languages. JavaScript can be used to create Web-based software that can be viewed by a large number of end users, making the lives of developers and QA management a little easier.

Paying developers in bitcoins
2013 could have easily been called “the year of Bitcoin” as the currency gained the attention of media outlets and seeped into the public consciousness. The virtual currency saw its value skyrocket last year, leading to variants and imitators such as “Coinye West, ” which seized on rapper Kanye West’s likeness to draw publicity. The use of bitcoins has spread from peer-to-peer transactions to making purchases with established and well-known organizations such as Overstock.com. According to The Wall Street Journal, developers may begin receiving the currency as a form of payment for work done on open source projects.