WWDC14? Let the Games Begin!

Apple website

Today, Apple made several very big announcements to its dedicated and loyal developer community.  They were not disappointed.

For one, there is Swift, a trimmed down, full feature replacement for XCode, the object oriented language that has been dutifully creating software and apps for a generation.  Combined with Metal, the programming instruction layer that "talks" to the brain of the device (the A7 computer chip), Swift gives developers the power to increase the speed of graphics generation by a factor of 10!

Huh?

What that means is those amazing 3-D graphics in game console games will soon be appearing on iPads, freeing the gamer from his or her home-based screens and boxes.

Another innovation is Playgrounds, the ability to see the result of your coding while you work.  All of these enhancements mean faster development time and fewer coding errors, and, of course, greater speed to market.

But Apple didn't stop there.

Developers also have the ability to integrate their apps with those of other developers, all within the security built into the environment, which now includes iCloud.

Yes, that means all your photos, files, everything can be stored in your Apple iCloud storage.

On the marketing end of things, developers will now be able to add videos to the App Store entry for their apps, and they can bundle apps together, offering users the option to download all with one click.

So, what does all this mean for us?

More, more, more.

The changes that began with smartphones and lurched forward with tablets continue, untethering us from the desk, and moving everything we do to the device in our hands, including turning on the lights in that home we visit occasionally to sleep.

But there is more happening here than going more mobile.  New careers are being created, or should I say, another industry may be about to break wide open.  That industry is the very audience at WWDC14, the developers.

Technology continues to propel us into a world where more can be accomplished with less, including less expertise and experience.

By simplifying the code, adding more tools and developer kits, and making it all available for free, Apple may be saying, "Let the games begin."

Anyone with an idea and some creativity could get started now.  They could learn the new tools, and catch up in an arena that up until now was packed with experts.

Of course, most won't do that.  Most will use the new apps and features that are designed by others and they will be very happy consumers.

But I, for one, think App Developers will soon find themselves facing competition from amateurs, just the way graphic artists, photographers, film producers and musicians have over the last 10 years.

Let the games begin.