Predicting Trends in Software Engineering: A Future-Focused Analysis

In the world of software engineering, there’s a wealth of information available beyond traditional academic publications. This "gray literature" refers to sources like trade journals, blogs, and technical reports that provide valuable insights into current trends and practices in the field. By leveraging these sources, researchers can gain a better understanding of what practitioners know and expect from software engineers, as well as identify areas where curricula need to be updated to meet future demands.
One key challenge is that gray literature often lacks the rigorous scientific validation of academic publications, but it can still offer practical insights and summaries of real-world experiences. Practitioners themselves are often the authors of these sources, providing a unique perspective on what works and what doesn’t in software engineering.
To uncover important trends and patterns in gray literature, researchers can use various search engines and websites, such as IEEE Software magazine, which publishes both peer-reviewed and practitioner-focused content. By examining the last decade of software engineering research, Kamei et al. found that gray literature has been essential for introducing new perspectives that are scarce in traditional literature.
However, there are limitations to relying solely on gray literature, as noted by Garousi et al. Practitioners often lack time, expertise, and access to academic research, which can result in a disconnect between the two fields. Nevertheless, by understanding practitioner views and trusting their experiences, researchers can gain valuable insights into software engineering trends and practices.
In conclusion, gray literature plays a crucial role in software engineering by providing practical insights and summaries of real-world experiences. While it has limitations, leveraging these sources can help researchers understand current trends and prepare for future demands in the field. By combining gray literature with traditional academic publications, researchers can gain a more comprehensive understanding of software engineering and its evolving landscape.