IoT Demands These 10 New Development Requirements

by Chris Preimesberger

Although the IoT will have numerous business-to-business applications, it will be most notable for the exponential growth in connected consumer devices and appliances. Consequently, IoT software must be designed with an eye toward simple, intuitive interfaces that can be used by the general population.

The IoT assumes connectivity, and although the acronym suggests open Internet access, many things will access proprietary networks. For optimal and secure connectivity, software must be developed with an eye toward protocols, standards and load requirements, particularly with wireless access.

In the IoT, a lot of device functionality will come from firmware that has to work within unique hardware specifications. Modeling with the hardware in mind is a must to ensure that applications properly support devices.

The IoT will bring regulatory issues into areas never seen before. The requirements phase will have to address auditability and traceability. Spiraling back with product specialists within the business area, as well as peer reviews, can help ensure compliance and success.

Security concerns are not new to software developers; however, the IoT brings an explosion of endpoints. Understanding how to contain functionality and to design in the context of secure networks is a must.

The IoT prefers small APIs that do one thing well, exposing limited features. Given that the IoT will be populated with tens of billions of connected devices, it is critical that software be developed with API evolution in mind.

The IoT is thought by some to be a many-to-one phenomenon, with the Internet viewed as a place of singular connectivity. However, machine-to-machine connectivity is also part of the IoT, so new-gen software will have to address wireless interoperability.

In the IoT, software testing must account for unique hardware and networking requirements, as well as use-case scenarios that are device-specific. Examples include mobile or sensor-based technologies that function in highly regulated or extreme weather environments and appliances with fluctuating temperatures.

In the IoT, software functionality helps define the competitive value of “things.” Many IoT coding projects are small scale, with faster product turnaround. Defect tracking systems can build more mature code and improve fix rates, while efficient versioning and documentation help support ramped-up product cycles.

Whether you use the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) or another methodology, the rapid growth in the IoT demands that development processes scale and repeat in a manner never seen before.