Cloud development platforms, mobile application development and the increasing acceptance of dynamic languages for Web development were among the top 10 stories in the world of software programming. With each passing year, software tools have become more sophisticated. While developers have more languages and tools to choose from than ever before.
1. Cloud development platforms bloom
Google App Engine, Microsoft Windows Azure, Amazon, Salesforce.com and others have entered into the cloud space in force. What must developers do to program to the cloud?
2. Microsoft gets serious about software modeling
Microsoft releases its “Oslo” modeling strategy, joins …

Mere days after Wikipedia put up its new and improved plea for donations, the company has already met its goal of raising $6 million. The campaign, headed up by Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, asked users to dig deep into their pockets and couch cushions to help the Wikimedia Foundation keep the site running. Now that the organization has met its goal, Wales has posted an update saying that the lights will be kept on through the remainder of the fiscal year (until June 30, 2009).
 
In the letter, Wales says that …