Top 5 best InDesign alternatives

If you're looking for InDesign alternatives, you've come to the right place. Launched in 1999, Adobe InDesign quickly became the industry standard for desktop publishing (DTP), and it’s remained so ever since. However, it’s now part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, and so to access it, you need a monthly subscription, either to the app itself or the Creative Cloud suite as a whole.

1. Affinity Publisher

Launched in 2018, and emerging from public beta this June, Affinity Publisher is our top pick if you’re looking for a subscription-free alternative to InDesign. This desktop publishing software offers excellent page layout features for both printed and online media, such as live master pages, including nested master pages; image frames with intelligent scaling options; text wrapping with fine padding control; advanced guides, grids and snapping; OpenType support, drop caps, text on a path and custom table formats.

You can import and export to all both raster and vector files with Affinity Publisher, including layered PSD, PDF and EPS formats. Until recently you couldn't import InDesign files; you could only save them as PDFs and import either the whole PDF or individual pages. However, IDML import will be in v1.8, which is already available in public beta for users to try.

2. QuarkXPress

Back in the 1990s, QuarkXPress was the king on the desktop publishing block. And many designers, publishing houses and corporations who started using it before InDesign arrived have continued to do so. The software can be used to create everything from posters and flyers to brochures, catalogues, and magazines, as well as ebooks and web and mobile apps.

First launched in 1987, this reliable and feature-packed software can do almost everything that InDesign can do, plus importantly, it can import InDesign files. Available for PC or Mac, it continues to be updated on an annual basis, usually around late spring/early summer, and the latest version is Quark XPress 2019.

3. Scribus

If you’re looking for a free and open source alternative to InDesign, then we recommend checking out Scribus. This excellent tool has an interface that’s very similar to InDesign and is surprisingly feature-packed for a zero-cost tool.

First launched in 2001, Scribus has an enthusiastic developer community around it that keeps it constantly updated with new features and ensures its stability. Available for Mac, Windows and Linux, it supports most of the desktop publishing features you’d find in paid software, including support for OpenType, CMYK colours, spot colours, ICC colour management and versatile PDF creation, as well as some unexpected touches, such as vector drawing tools, emulation of colour blindness and the rendering of markup languages like LaTeX or Lilypond.

4. Swift Publisher

Swift Publisher is a budget desktop publishing app for Mac only. It comes with more than 500 templates for a range of specific projects, including bi-fold and tri-fold brochures, catalogues, business cards, social media, disc labels and covers, address labels and more.

You’ll also have access to a collection of 2D and 3D heading presets, 2,000 free clipart images, 100 image masks, and it includes some sophisticated page layout features including two-page spreads, unlimited layers, master pages, customisable grids, rich text tools, printing to RGB or CMYK, and export to PNG, TIFF, JPEG, EPS and PDF.

5. LucidPress

Lucidpress is an intuitive, web-based, drag and drop tool that allows you to create content for print and digital, including flyers, brochures, business cards, invitations, leaflets, newsletters, magazines, photobooks and more. Largely targeted at people with minimal DTP skills or experience, it comes with both free and paid-for templates to make this super-easy.

The software is also integrated with Google Docs, YouTube, Dropbox, Flickr, Facebook, Unsplash and other tools to allow you to import existing content. Once you’ve completed your designs you can publish them online, embed them in emails or webpages, push to social media, download them as print-ready files, or order directly from the Lucidpress print shop.

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The 6 best Illustrator alternatives

Adobe's software might be the industry standard, but Illustrator alternatives are available. Why is Adobe's vector graphics editor so popular? Well, Illustrator was first released in 1987 and has dominated digital art, illustration, and graphic design for several decades. There are many benefits of using the software, you can find out more via our download Illustrator post.

However, as it's part of Adobe's Creative Cloud, to use Illustrator, you'll need a monthly subscription, either to the app itself or to the Creative Cloud suite as a whole.

1. Affinity Designer

In our view, the best all-round alternative to Illustrator is Affinity Designer. First launched in 2014, this vector editor from British software company Serif has gradually grown in popularity and influence, and for good reason.

And while Illustrator still isn’t available on iPad (although it's coming soon, and it looks very cool), you can now use the full version of Affinity Designer on iPad (for £19.99), with optimized features for the Apple Pencil.

Affinity Designer can also boast a few unique features that Illustrator doesn’t have, including the ability to switch between raster and vector workspaces within the same tool, one-million plus zoom, and unlimited redos. Unencumbered by legacy code, the software generally runs a little bit faster than Illustrator, and if you have a relatively new Mac, a lot faster (which is largely why it won an Apple Design Award).

2. Sketch

If your need for a vector drawing program is primarily for digital design, then Sketch is probably your best alternative to Illustrator: as long as you’re using a Mac.

It’s not a fully comprehensive drawing program, with all the features offered by Illustrator, so you wouldn’t use it to create complex illustrations or art. But by the same token, this means it has a simpler and more user-friendly interface that makes an icon and UI design quick and easy.

First launched in 2010, Sketch has a strong focus on UI and icon design that quickly led it to become the industry’s go-to for the app and website prototyping. A Sketch license costs $99 and will give you one year of free updates. Once your license has expired you can still use the app for as long as you want, but you will need to renew if you want the latest updates.

3. CorelDRAW

First launched in 1989, CorelDRAW is a vector drawing program with a big following among artists and illustrators. For most of this time, it was Windows-only, but this Spring a Mac version was finally released too. There’s no easy way to say whether CorelDRAW or Illustrator is the 'better' tool. Both are packed with features and both have their passionate advocates.

CorelDRAW is available for a one-off fee, but the upfront cost is relatively large: £599 at the time of writing. Essentially, then, the main reason to buy Corel Draw over Illustrator seems to be if you prefer the interface and workflow. What is the objective fact is that Illustrator is the standard software for the design and illustration industry, but that said, you can easily import and export AI and PDF files to CorelDRAW. The two tools can’t easily be separated on price, either.

4. Gravit Designer

Gravit Designer is a tool that allows you to work on a diverse range of design tasks, including illustration, UI and screen design, printed artwork and logo design. You save your work onto your computer in the .gvdesign format, and you can export it as SVG, PDV, PNG or JPEG files. Gravit Designer is available either online in your browser or on your desktop as a downloadable app for Mac OS, Windows, Linux or Chrome OS.

The tool supports a number of vector and raster file formats, including AI and Sketch files. It has a lot of similar features to Illustrator, including a freehand drawing tool that smooths the paths as you draw, the ability to create custom shapes and the equivalent of the Pen tool.

5. Inkscape

Inkscape is a free and open-source vector editor using Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) as the native format. As well as Windows and Mac, it will also run on Linux. The main downside lies in its performance: it can be quite slow and laggy at times.

It’s lightweight, so will run on quite low-powered computers, but it’s surprisingly capable for a free tool, with a lot of useful features including layers, object grouping, drawing, shape, calligraphy, pencil and pen tools, path simplification with variable threshold, bitmap tracing and Boolean operations. Inkscape natively supports opening or importing a range of formats, including SVG, PDF, EPS, AI (Adobe Illustrator) and CDR (CorelDraw).

6. Vectr

Overall, Vectr is super-simple, which can be viewed as a positive or a negative. In other words, it’s never going to replace the feature-rich capabilities of Illustrator, Affinity Designer or Corel Draw, but that also means a very low learning curve (there are very good tutorials featured within the app itself).

Vectr is a totally free, browser-based tool that offers a quick and easy way to get started with vector editing via an intuitive interface. Because it’s based on the web browser, anyone with an internet connection can use it, and that makes it quite straightforward for multiple people to collaborate on a design, too. Each image has a bespoke URL you can share with others, and you can export your finished work as an SVG, PNG or JPEG file.

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5 Dangers of using pirated Software

Software piracy can also come in a variety of other forms that you may not think are bad. Software piracy is defined as an act of illegally copying or distributing software without being the rightful owner or having legal rights.

Depending on your business, software help to enhance its efficiency. However, with the abundantly available software, there is also a lot of software piracy on the internet.

With the growing technological advancements, there are so many useful programs and software available online for businesses. So forget about debating whether you consider a certain act as piracy or not. Simply purchase the legitimate software.

1. Software Piracy is Illegal

Just to spruce up your knowledge, in case you are unaware, software piracy is a felony. This means that if you are found guilty, hefty fines can be imposed on you or you could even face jail time. This is because one can consider software piracy as cybercrime and theft as it results in abuse and misuse of property that you don’t own.

In fact, many firms have been raided and taken down simply for pirating and using unlicensed software. For such corporations, it not only fines, but the consequences can even mean up to five years of jail time for senior management.

2. Potential Malware Attacks

In actuality, individuals that visit piracy sites or download unlicensed software are almost 50% more likely to suffer from malware attacks on their devices or networks. So if you are selfish enough to not be bothered by fines or jail time, malware attacks should scare you. Because this means that you are losing the very same thing you have been working on. Using pirated and unlicensed software puts you at greater risk of malware attacks.

Some of the common risks you are exposed to when using unlicensed software include credit card and banking info theft, identity theft, ransomware, ad fraud, and even risk the quality of your work being compromised. This gives these same shady people easy access to your devices and even networks. This design, for example, makes ransoming very easy to execute. Better back up your data, or better yet do not pirate software!

3. Losses To Legitimate Software Developers And Companies

Yes, the online world is virtual and may appear to be superficial. However, legitimate software companies and developers do depend on the sales of these software. So pirating and the use of unlicensed software does actually equate to you physically robbing a store. This does bring about losses to these companies and directly affects the individuals that work for it.

It’s like a chain reaction – you and a million other pirate software, the company suffers significant losses in sales, and has to retrench some of its employees. Turns out it the same company that your sister works for and she is one of those retrenched. Yet, incapacitating them financially can get them out of business or even limit their resources to allow for more protective software designs. So this, in fact, turns out to be both our loss. 

4. No Updates for Your Software

Because you have unlicensed and pirated software installed on your devices, this means that you will not be able to do the constant updating of the software. Once the software is newly introduced, over time it becomes susceptible to bugs and other malware attacks. This is because crackers use their time to try to navigate and penetrate the system.

Hence, because a pirate program is cracked by illegitimate individuals after certain updates, the software fails to download the legitimate updates for the actual software developer, thus, leaving your devices and networks vulnerable.

5. Pirated Software May Be Malfunctioned

Because they are acquired illegally, you may not know who developed the software and even where they came from. Thus, if the software malfunctions, you will not be able to know this.

Because the pirated software s cracked and slightly alter to be available for free online, this process affects its performance, making it different from the actual software. This means that pirated and unlicensed software is more likely to crash, lose files, and even corrupt files.

Therefore, as much as legitimate software appears to be expensive, it is always wise to go for them. This ensures that even your work and the durability of your devices are not compromised. The touch screen compatible Microsoft 10 or cloud-based Office 365 for example, cannot be accessed with pirated software – so you will be missing out.

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Digital Transformation in Banking

Banks and financial institutions have been using digital channels quiet for a while. This allows them to reach and engage new customers, reduce costs and improve their overall performance and services. The financial sector, in particular banks, understands that well and seems to be ready to play the big digital game.

The importance of digitalization in finance

Technology and online services continue to penetrate our lives, and the financial industry is no in any way immune to this trend. Whether it’s ApplePay, PayPal or banking applications, digital transformation is here to stay. Clients are getting used to the simplicity of the almost instantaneous digital service and providers are motivated to react fast.

Currently, more than 50% of finance organizations are redeveloping their approach. So it is no wonder at all, that the amount of the financial organizations that will develop a mature strategy in the next 2-3 years will double. According to the Hackett’s Group Digital Transformation Performance Study, it takes digital leaders about 2.5 years to change their strategy.

The 2019 Key Issues Study shows that at this time those resources are only available to 24% of financial organizations. So it is no surprise, that according to the study, IT budgets for the transformation will rise in the next year. To name a few things: higher standardization, automated processes, improved performance, and customer experience.

Advantages of digitalization in business: banking sector

According to the new report from Accenture, retail and commercial banks have invested globally over $1 trillion in the past 3 years to transform their IT services. Digitalization is different for every industry, but it seems to be crucial for the banking industry because it is one of the most data-driven fields. As Gartner estimates, as many as 80% of traditional banks will go out of business by 2030.

Therefore, the challenge to make this information easily accessible and at the same time provide meaningful insights is so much bigger. But digital transformation can also contribute to the engaging and fulfilling customer and employee experience.

That is why it is time to start educating the new generation of workforce and recruit new talent. Going digital has really affected the workforce. Yes, automation can result in staff reductions, but it can also increase the demand for data scientists.

The industry already uses mobile apps, IoT, card readers, and sensors that made real-time financing a reality. All of that will make a possible further business transformation, adding technologies like AI and blockchain to the common instruments of the industry. But the next step is at least as much important. According to Boston Consulting Group, even a few key improvements can have a great impact on the overall performance and can potentially increase revenues up to 20%, while reducing costs by as much as 25%.

Digitalization of banking: Where do we stand now?

Banks all over the world spend billions of dollars each year to enhance their digital performance. More and more banks are starting to realize that their online presence is as important as their branches or ATMs, sometimes even more so.

Forrester’s report also found that 81% of banks understand that digital transformation needs to happen soon or their future success can be greatly compromised. But, despite the digital transformation trend being in the focus for years, less than 10% of banks really went through with it to achieve sustainable results.

According to Forrester, one of the most important trends in the industry is online banking, 73% of U.S. adults use this service at least once a month. More clients than ever rely on multiple channels. Around 20% of consumers visit a bank, use online service and banking apps each month.

Challenges of digitalization in banks

The banking industry is also subject to high-security risks due to personal information and transaction records, while the necessity to meet the compliance requirements makes it even harder to implement any changes.

According to the 2018 Retail Banking Trends and Predictions report, 69 percent of banks are unable to innovate due to this problem. So this undeniably is the key factor that is standing in the way of successful digital transformation for every bank. The most difficult problem to overcome on the road to digitalization in banking is legacy systems and systems integration challenges.

Digital transformation is not a project with a deadline, but an ongoing journey of change. Hopefully in the near future banks will be able to overcome the challenges, shape new business models with the help of IT, and get one step closer into the new robust digital tomorrow.

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Top 5 productivity tools in 2020

At the dawn of a new year, it's an important question to ask, and if you're honest with yourself, the answer will very probably be yes. Are there one or two productivity tools that can help you get the routine and boring parts of your job done more quickly, and allow you more time to spend on the creative, imaginative and fun sides?

In this post, we round up some of the best productivity tools for creatives and explain what they do, who they're aimed at, and how they can help you in your creative work. We recently found some of the best web design tools to help you work smarter in 2020.

1. Trello

Trello has been widely adopted across the graphic and web design professions, so your collaborators stand a good chance of being familiar with it already. Best of all, Trello is free for most purposes, and you’d only need to graduate to the paid-for versions for large-scale enterprise use.

Trello is basically a to-do list that you share with others and update in real-time, so everyone on your team knows what’s going on at any given moment. Based on a system of cards, which are essentially like virtual Post-it notes, the system is very flexible and easy to adapt to however your project is structured.

It lacks some of the advanced features of a fully-featured project management tool, such as time management and reporting. But that said, its beauty lies in its simplicity and we’re not sure we’d want its interface to become too overcomplicated.

2. Adobe Creative Cloud

The Adobe Creative Cloud is a subscription service providing a full suite of desktop apps, mobile apps, and services from Adobe. The best known of these are Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Photoshop Lightroom and Premiere Pro, but there are plenty more you may not have heard of, such as notably Prelude, Flash Builder and Story Plus.

While there are some decent alternatives to Photoshop and other Adobe apps these days, there’s quite simply nothing to rival the Creative Cloud ecosystem, and as the industry standard, it’s a no-brainer for most professional graphic and web designers, not to mention photographers, digital artists and illustrators, and increasingly, 3D artists and animators.

Your subscription also gets you access to typefaces via TypeKit; cloud storage for your projects; Adobe Portfolio, a tool for building your portfolio; and stock images, videos, and templates with Adobe Stock.

3. Apple Pencil

Are you struggling with an old-school stylus that suffers from a lot of lag? In short, it's the best experience we've had drawing on the IPad and the closest to using a real pencil on real paper. It looks pretty darned stylish too. Then you'll likely get a huge productivity boost by investing in a newer model, and if you're an iPad user, we'd highly recommend the Apple Pencil for its accuracy, speed, and precision.

4. Surface Pro 7

The Surface Pro 7 is a tablet that’s powerful enough to run full Windows 10 programs while remaining sleek and light. It also doubles up as a laptop with the separately sold keyboard. While this device is still no match for the performance of a powerful Windows desktop, it does offer a superbly flexible way to stay up to date on the move, for anyone who needs to run full Windows 10 tools like Photoshop and Illustrator, rather than lower-powered Android or iOS alternatives.

Using Intel’s latest 10th generation processors, the Pro 7 is a step up from previous models in terms of performance, and the more expensive model does a great job at handling graphic-intensive tasks, such as video rendering.

5. Procreate

Closely replicating the feel of physical drawing in a digital format, it supports a range of styluses, including the Apple Pencil, along with hundreds of high-quality brushes and a suite of innovative features. In short, everything you need to create sketches, paintings, illustrations, and animations while you're out and about.

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Top best graphic design jobs in 2020

If you're looking for a brand new challenge in a different discipline, head over to our design jobs board, which has lots of active job listings from awesome employers just waiting for you to apply.

You might want to stay close to home or have an adventure elsewhere. Either way, we've got the hottest new job opportunities in the UK, USA and worldwide for you to explore.

Is it time you found a new graphic design job? If so, you'll want to find out what exciting opportunities are around. We will keep adding the newest graphic design jobs as soon as they become live, so if you don't find your perfect new career straight away, keep checking back to make sure you don't miss out.

Graphic design jobs: US

Motion Graphic Designer

• Location: New York, NY
• Salary: DOE

In this role, you'll design and create playful, colorful and inviting animated elements/assets, carrying them from concept to completion. A Motion Graphic Designer with excellent creative and technical skills is wanted for a three-month contract with a premier beauty brand.

Art Director – Games

• Location: Atlanta, Georgia
• Salary: DOE

You will execute and produce game art yourself, in this hands-on role. If gaming is your passion and you both love and consumes anime, don't miss this opportunity. An experienced Art Director who won't just direct, conceptualize or share opinions on their games is needed by Lionheart Games.

Senior Art Director

• Location: New York, NY
• Salary: DOE

You should have 5-8 years of relevant experience and a minimum of 3 years agency experience for this full time, contract position within a New York Agency. A Senior Art Director is required for this role within the spirits industry.

Junior Art Director

• Location: New York, NY
• Salary: DOE

The company is a baby care startup on a mission to make parents' lives easier by providing them with the best performing products. The ideal candidate will lead and manage the creative vision for Coterie. An experienced Junior Art Director is needed by Coterie. This position will report directly to the VP of Marketing and will be based out of its headquarters in NoHo.

You should also be an independent, action-oriented thought leader who works well in unstructured, fast-paced environments. This job will suit an original thinker with a passion for developing evocative and disruptive creativity.

Junior Graphic Designer

• Location: Greater Los Angeles Area, CA
• Salary: DOE

As a Junior Designer, you will work very closely with production and creative leads to develop engaging motion, still and multimedia content that inspires and delights audiences across platforms. This agency seeks a Junior Graphic Designer to join its team. This is one of the largest privately held agencies on the West Coast and it offers a holistic approach for brands in search of creative solutions to their marketing challenges.

Graphic Designer (Sports)

• Location: Pittsburgh, PA
• Salary: Competitive plus perks

The ideal candidate is capable of creating digital designs and graphics to tell the story of YinzCam's mobile fan experience through both print and digital channels.

If you have an eye and a talent for graphic design for sports and want to work in a career that involves sports and digital design on a daily basis, this entry-level designer position might be for you. Recent college graduates with a love of sports and design are encouraged to apply.

Graphic design jobs: UK

Head of Art

• Location: London, UK
• Salary: £55,000 - £60,000

As the Head of Art, you will oversee all creative content output across the account, from conception and ideation, through to creation and delivery. One of the most exciting creative content agencies in London wants a Head of Art to work on the most recognizable technology brand on the planet.

Graphic Designer

• Location: The Lanes, Brighton
• Salary: £10 per hour

A high level of graphic design skills is essential with the ability to work with customers discussing and interpreting the design brief quickly & efficiently. A Graphic Designer is required for a busy Brighton design and print company.

Art Director

• Location: Leeds, UK
• Salary: DOE

If you have knowledge of current game art production pipelines and workflows, plus experience working in game development as a senior member of an Art Department, this is a fantastic opportunity and an exciting role. An Art Director is needed at a northern-based, highly acclaimed company that makes mobile and console games whilst specializing in VR/AR.

Freelance Creative Director

• Location: Shoreditch, East London
• Salary: £250 per day

Your job will be to curate the client’s social media presence, ensuring every touchpoint of the brand is consistent and in-line with visual identity as outlined in brand strategy.

The OK COOL studio is turning UP. It's inflow state; winning dream clients on an international level. The team is tight. The vision is to move away from the fixed team model and continue sourcing and partnering with the hottest young freelance social media creatives in the world.

Creative Artworker

• Location: Folkestone, Kent
• Salary: Up to £26,000

You’ll be developing brand identities and campaigns using all types of media, from web graphics to print campaigns. This is a great opportunity to expand your skills as part of a growing, dynamic team. As a Creative Artworker at this agency, you’ll need 2-3 years’ agency experience in online and offline art-working and design.

This includes repositioning internal messaging to creating new experiences, exciting pan-European communications, destination branding and the curation of memorable live events. This agency has a reputation for high-end creative delivery.

Creative Video and Motion Designer

• Location: Cardiff, Wales
• Salary: £18,000 - £22,000

The ideal candidate should be passionate and self-motivated, with excellent video editing capabilities along with a strong motion design skillset. A creative video editor, with proficiency as a motion designer, is required. You'll be working in a fast-paced, demanding, but relaxed environment within the health, fitness and lifestyle market.

Junior Art Director

• Location: London, UK
• Salary: Up to £35,000

A rare and exciting opportunity to help shape and grow an agency's creative output from the very early stages – you will set the tone, not follow. A talented Junior Art Director is needed by an exciting new agency, to join its burgeoning creative department.

Creative Graphic Designer

• Location: London, UK
• Salary: £35,000 plus pension and healthcare

An experienced and versatile Creative Graphic Designer is required. They will also have a creative eye to enable them to produce beautiful content, but also a knack for data visualization and infographic creation. The ideal candidate will have previous B2B SaaS brand experience on either the client or agency side.

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7 Stages of software development cycle

The software development process is lengthy and needs step-by-step techniques following. So let us engage in detailed consideration of every stage of the software development process to once and for all understand this important IT fundamental.

The development of app, website, or software is a complex process, and a wrong step in any stage of software development will cause the inevitable outcomes both for the quality of product and the entire business. It involves hard work, dedication, and expertise in software development.

1. Software Design

The software design is the major aspect of the software development services cycle. The design should be creative and clear. It involves overall product design along with data structure and database design. Software designing uses many different strategies.

2. Planning

The developers should understand the clients’ requirements, namely, what exactly they want and what issues can occur in the development process. It is the phase of brainstorming when specialists gather requirements and analyze all the aspects of a future software product. 

We care about the graphic interface of each product we work with. This is why QArea is recognized as a top Software Development Company on DesignRush. This stage involves communication between stakeholders, project team, and users.

3. Implementation and Integration

During this software stage, the project team checks whether the software product runs on various systems. Normally software contains a great number of programs, which require careful implementation and step-by-step integration of the software product.

4. Software Testing

Before the launch, a product needs verification which includes software testing and debugging done by testers. When the testing department ensures that software is error-free, it goes to the next stage. 

Quality Analysts test software using various test cases. After completing of coding, the software is sent to the testing department. The work of testers plays the crucial role for the quality of software and its performance.

5. Feasibility analysis

The team divides the workflow into small tasks, so that developers, testers, designers, and project managers can evaluate their tasks. At this step, the project team defines the entire project in detail and checks the project’s feasibility. They define whether it’s feasible in terms such as cost, time, functioning, reliability, etc.

6. Installation and Maintenance

Finally, the software is handed over to the clients to be installed on their devices. After the installation, if the client needs any modification, the product is to come under the maintenance process.

7. Programming

SDLC can be shaped depending on the project requirements. Agile methodologies and Scrum offer a bigger amount of flexibility and cross-functional teams. Feel free to contact us for more details! This is the critical phase of SDLC. A lot of brains work for coding and deliver the desired software.

The featured stages of software development procedure are followed by the majority of IT companies in order to provide high-quality services in the development of all sorts of software. Usually, a company assigns a team of programmers for a particular project. The tasks are subdivided into sub-phases called Task Allocation, so every coder has their own task.

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Python vs Golang: Which language is best for AI Programming

Recently we have examined Golang web programming capabilities comparing it to other languages. Python and Golang are the most popular programming languages for AI. As a company that has worked with both—we know it can be difficult to choose the right one.

You may check our discoveries as for Golang vs Node JS, Go vs Ruby, and of course, Golang vs Python comparison. Now, it’s time to see which language, Go or Python, is better specifically for AI programming.

What Python brings to AI programming

You can hardly consider any programming language perfect, but certainly, Python has its strengths in the context of AI. Here are the most significant ones.

Language accessibility

Besides, this language is widespread. Recently it’s been ranked by the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers as the top programming language of 2018. Python is an accessible programming language, and it keeps gaining more ground. For businesses, accessibility means a vast market of Python experts.

Well established community

According to GitHub annual statistics, last year the global Python community sent over 1 million pull requests. The community and the ecosystem around Python are vibrant and active. The community contributes much into creating new libraries, updating documentation, and extending toolset.

The extensive set of libraries

Not to mention Tensorflow, the most popular open-source library used for many of Google’s machine learning applications. Python libraries help engineers build new algorithms (LightGBM), do model prediction (Eli5) and datasets processing (Keras), work with complex data (Scikit-Learn), and more.

Python’s downsides

However, while Python is sometimes referred to as the best programming language for AI, it has its disadvantages.

Too many versions of Python available

One more challenge that adds developer's confusion is packaging systems. Packaging systems in different versions are broken down in different ways which are hard to manage and document. In turn, different packaging systems may require installing multiple environments.

Even the most dedicated Python programmers find this point painful. The transition between versions and disconnection between Python 2 and Python 3 are just several issues.

Bad for large-scale engineering

When it comes to work involving a few hundred programmers, Python clearly losing to Golang scalability. It’s also challenging to use Python if you require a very ordered and disciplined way to do programming. The same is true when you are going to deploy very complex AI systems.

Codebase may be difficult to maintain

Python offers many libraries, supports multiple systems, and third-party integrations. But, such variety often plays against Python.

From many projections, developers state that Python is not easy to maintain. How so? Python lacks several language features like static type system. Plus, libraries related to different versions of Python often conflict with each other. Such conflicts cause problems with configuring a specific cluster or even leads to a general stop of working code. Also, its syntax is confusing and goes against assumptions that other programming languages make.

Lack of performance and multicore processing

Another challenge with Python is its performance, specifically CPU and GPU processing. There are ways to get around this challenge, but they are mostly tweaks. What works for specific use cases often just can’t be applied for most common uses.

Golang advantages for AI programming

Does Golang have what it takes to beat Python? Let’s take a look at Golang advantages.
Libraries written in Go comfortable for Go developers

Programming a purely Go solution means having fewer pieces from different languages. Golang developers don’t need to call out to libraries written in other languages. But the main advantage of having these libraries in Go isn’t deployment, but developer comfort.

Covering vast AI purposes

Go libraries cover the need for data handling (GoLearn), binary classification problems (Hector), and passing data (Goml). The number of libraries Golang offers is small (but consistently growing) and addresses a wide range of purposes. Also, Golang has Theano, a library similar to Python’s TensorFlow. Theano provides Go developers with pieces of algorithms that can be reused.

Good at scale and computations

Unlike Python, Golang scales and performs well within large-scale projects. To compare, Go copes with complex math problems up to 20-50 times faster than Python. Another reason to use Golang for AI programming is its speed, especially when it comes to the speed of math computations.

Minimalism and good code readability

For instance, when there’s a need for recursive algorithms, which can run slower due to the absence of tail-call optimization.

Most of Go’s algorithms stick to a minimalist approach. This allows developers to create very readable code after algorithm implementation. Yet, this minimalist approach can also be a weak point.

Golang downsides for AI programming

Talking about weak points, we suggest looking at these two.

Golang toolkit extension in progress

Basically, it’s in the process of extension along with the Golang community itself. So far, Golang developers have performed about 285k pull requests globally, according to GitHub. Of course, Go has its libraries for AI and is capable of covering the most essential purposes, yet the toolkit is not as extensive.

Need for deep AI expertise

For instance, default multithreading is helpful for Golang web development. Some Golang advantages for web development can play against it regarding AI programming. However, using multithreading for AI purposes requires seasoned Go developers with deep expertise in data science.

Final thoughts

Clean codebase, reused algorithms, and good scalability makes Golang a great technology for AI. As Golang company, we truly believe its growing community will contribute much to overall AI programming.

Python keeps striking the list of the most demanded languages for AI programming. However, Golang is expanding its territory gradually. So far, Go has served great for web apps. Now it also has good potential for AI programming.

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Pros and Cons of Software Outsourcing

When saving outsourcing software development costs meets the risk of entrusting an outsider with your business, you feel like you’re wading through muddy waters. 

Resorting to the services of software outsourcing can seem like a great idea. And it usually is, provided you’re aware of the advantages of outsourcing in general.

But if you’re informed about the process, then you’re prepared for it. Whether you are the owner of a business, a responsible top manager or a dedicated employee — you want the business to thrive.

Pros of Software Outsourcing

1. Saving time

Which makes your business processes easier to handle. One of the main advantages of hiring an outsourcing company is that, unlike most of the in-house teams, it usually meets deadlines.

2. Cutting costs

Software development outsourcing is not necessarily cheap, but it is usually cheaper than buying your own equipment, hiring additional staff, and getting an office for them to work in. Fulfilling your business goals and reducing financial input at the same time sounds like a dream come true.

3. Getting a fresh perspective

The ability to get a fresh pair of eyes is always a great idea — and what about a dozen pairs of fresh eyes? Letting someone from the outside overview your business may expose you to unexpected messages, innovation, and talent.

4. Reevaluating the in-house staff

Even if the nature of the project in no way correlates with the nature of your in-house employees’ work, the fact that you seek help from the outside usually boosts your staff’s morale. It makes them work better and giving them the time to dedicate their effort to the things that matter most.

5. Targetting what matters

Once you try outsourcing, you may decide to downsize your business or reconfigure it, for instance. Or you can dedicate yourself entirely to the future, namely, to developing strategic core tasks. Letting someone else carry the “burden” of developing your software means you can focus on other things — content, marketing, distribution, service, etc.

Cons of Software Outsourcing

1. Issues of communication

Outsourcing lets you hire the developer from any country on the planet. It sounds exciting, and does have lots of benefits of outsourcing, but, if handled incorrectly, can bring along mixed messages, cross-cultural misunderstandings, deadline shifts, and other circumstances you’d rather avoid.

2. Issues of adaptation

This interaction involves a lot of new, unknown things for both of you. You have to realize that the moment the outsourcing developer starts working on your project, there will be a period of adjustment. Be realistic and get yourself ready for the adaptation phase – then there won’t be a reason to panic. There may even be a time when you’d think that going outsourcing was a bad idea and the project is in danger.

3. Issues of risk

The fact that your control options are in a way limited, and you are never quite sure about the result, may seem like the software outsourcing may put your business in jeopardy. The core values and principles, the strategy, the database — there is a lot of information you share with the outsourcing developer. However, finding an ISO certified outsourcing team can alleviate nearly all of these concerns.

Avoiding Risks

The key here is to find a qualified and customer-obsessed outsourcing company. Although the “cons” of software outsourcing may seem like a dealbreaker, there are real ways to avoid the risks and pitfalls.

1. Choose from many – pick a few

What you’re looking for, obviously, are the companies with good reviews, with cases and projects similar to yours. Make a list of companies you liked or companies that at least look like trustworthy and experienced.

Take a look at company ratings like Clutch.co, SoftwareWorld, and the Better Business Bureau. Start spreading the news among everybody you know in IT. Get as many recommendations as possible.

2. Target the one you like

Whatever the outsourcing developer you choose, you should get all the information about it you can find. If possible – get to know about its current agenda. Also, get feedback from its previous clients. Check its portfolio – usually, it’s all presented on the company’s site.

• Get to know the cultural aspects that predetermine your future cooperation: though nowadays it seems like there are no borders left in the business world, there are still some sensitive spots you should be aware of.
• If possible, meet the representatives of the company in person, at least once.
• Make sure the company is financially stable – one way to judge that is to watch how the company promotes itself.
• Make sure that the company has a good reputation on the market – take some reviews from people you really trust.

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Top 5 technological breakthroughs 2020

Looking back at the passing year, we wanted to highlight some of the emerging innovations we think will lead to an exponential increase in the velocity of change and bring humanity the most value in the near future. From previously unimaginable wireless connection speeds to metamaterial miracles in the world of optics, this is our list of the top five technological breakthroughs of 2020.

The technologies scientists could only theorize about a decade ago are finally coming to fruition, bringing new possibilities for today and setting new ambitions for tomorrow.

1. A step forward in wireless connection (5G)

The United States and the European Union have already freed up vast amounts of bandwidth in the underused high-band spectrum for 5G. The industry’s response to the ever-increasing needs of businesses and consumers was the introduction of 5G internet. 5G stands for “the fifth generation of cellular network technology.”

The speed of such networks mostly depends on the spectrum you can use for it. It is expected that the new technology will be able to provide a wireless connection at the speed of up to 2 Gbit/s. In the digital world of today, the colossal demand for high-speed internet connection with quicker response times, better accessibility, and cheaper data plans are driving the technology forward.

2. Improvements in natural language processing

The new advancements in capturing semantic relationships between words are making AI assistants better at understanding humans. OpenAI developed a technique that enables artificial intelligence to learn using unlabeled data, saving scientists time, money, and effort they would otherwise spend on categorizing and tagging it manually. To improve the capabilities of these easily confused AI-powered helpers and broaden the range of directives they can recognize, computer scientists around the world are working on improving natural language processing.

Google Assistant was upgraded with Google Duplex, a system that got disturbingly close to simulating human voice and behavior. The system can literally call and schedule salon appointments or make restaurant reservations for you, in addition to being able to protect you from spammers and telemarketers. There is still a long way to go from AI assistants executing simple commands to humans being able to discuss their favorite topics with them.

AI assistants, such as the renowned Alexa from Amazon and Apple’s Siri, have made our everyday lives a little bit easier over the last couple of years. However, even though they are capable of recognizing and executing simple commands like setting alarms and playing music in our living room, it doesn’t mean they couldn’t bring even more simplicity to our daily routines.

3. Robots get even more dexterous

One of the most famous and successful projects in dexterity robotics is Boston Dynamics. Each time those guys release new footage of their machines—like the recent one, where Atlas shows some next-level robot gymnastics—seriously makes us wonder what kind of cinematic dystopian robot-controlled future we will end up in. From assembly machines on automotive factories to medical or social robots, today these machines handle rather poorly in the physical world.

The latest developments in robotics, however, enabled machines to finally get a grasp of how to manipulate objects and interact with environments on their own through virtual trial and error, a machine learning paradigm known as reinforcement learning. Even the amazing precision of assembly-line robots is challenged when they are faced with the slightest deviations from their logic and routines.

4. ECG-enabled wearables improve quality of life

Today there are numerous smartwatches, fitness trackers, and various other wearable devices that enable people to continuously monitor their vitals and gather statistics. While these wearables may not provide the utmost precision of professional medical devices, they can definitely help you minimize potential health risks and give you the incentive to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Over the passing year, these innovations, as well as new regulations on their use, have given a significant boost to preventative care, real-time alerting, and overall people engagement in taking care of their health. The company was the first to receive FDA clearance for a medical-device accessory. Their wearable can detect atrial fibrillation, which is the most common cause of blood clots and stroke.

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The latest developments in the Internet of Things are making it significantly easier for people to take better care of their health. These contemporary smartwatches and fitness trackers gather and analyze electrocardiogram sensor data in real-time to diagnose any abnormalities that could cause lethal outcomes.

5. Metalenses enable new optical techniques

Metalenses will have a huge impact on the technological world in the coming years as they open the way to new designs and optical techniques that offer new capabilities and a wide range of uses. However, the recent advances in physics enabled the development of lighter, less complex alternatives that can be used to make the production of microchips and such devices as smartphone cameras a lot less complicated and way cheaper.

Metalens is one of the most amazing recent scientific and fabrication breakthroughs in the world of microdevices. VR, AR, and other cross-reality systems, which today feature unwieldy, exhausting headsets and other awkward devices, can use the metalens technology to produce significantly less hefty, high-performing hardware.

Chip manufacturing can really benefit from using metalenses to carve specific patterns onto the surface of a silicon slab, which decreases the risk of defects and makes production more efficient. The technology will enable doctors to find previously unnoticed details way easier.

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