Lots of industries are looking a little pessimistic right now. With the increase in oil and natural gas prices, the ongoing war, the rise in interest rates, and the inevitable burst of the real estate bubble, there are genuine reasons to be worried. But in the software industry, and especially for QA, you'd better go out and buy some shades!
There are several reasons to be optimistic about QA right now, in spite of all those factors. And even in spite of the fear of outsourcing!
First, consider this: Windows Vista is coming in late 2006. (Although to be honest, I think we should look for it in early 2007.) When Windows Vista is released, word is that it will have (count 'em) 7 different versions. SEVEN! Think of how many times and ways new software will have to be tested!
In addition to that, Vista's requirements are so high that a lot of new hardware will be required to run it... new drives, bigger and faster memory, new video cards, new motherboards! It will not run on most systems that are currently in place!
Another factor: the new Daylight Savings Time hours. In 2007, the dates for DST will change. Think of all need to be tested and changed! CD and DVD players, watches, electronic appliances, software packages will ALL have to be checked for incompatibility! Granted, this is not going to be Y2K all over again, but I am positive that more QA staff and programmers will be needed to deal with that little change in the law.
Hyperthreading is yet another reason to be optimistic. The coming generations of machines are going to be dual core and multiprocessor computers. Yet most current software will utilize only one core. That's terribly inefficient! Software will have to be rewritten in order to take better advantage of the newer systems and to allow software to run faster. Who's going to write those changes? Who will have to test those changes? You got it!
So, in conclusion, 2007 will be a BANNER YEAR for the software industry! Who knows... we may even get good raises out of the deal!
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