Article by Ayman Alheraki on January 11 2026 10:35 AM
A Journey Since the 1980s: Challenges and Aspirations As a software developer working with programming languages since 1986, I have always aspired to a development environment that provides everything needed to create comprehensive and advanced programs without spending endless time searching for complementary tools or relying on expensive libraries. The dream has always been to have a programming language equipped with all the tools necessary to build complete applications, including designing sophisticated user interfaces, managing databases, generating print reports, interacting with external devices like scanners and barcode readers, and supporting advanced graphics.
However, in the 1980s, programming languages were limited to basic functionalities. Developers had to build the required tools themselves or rely on external companies providing specialized libraries, which were often costly.
The Era of Rapid Application Development (RAD) Over time, programming witnessed significant advancements with the emergence of RAD (Rapid Application Development) environments like Visual Studio by Microsoft and RAD Studio by Borland. These environments offered a partial solution by integrating some tools that made it easier for developers to handle databases and design user interfaces. Nevertheless, they still fell short of being fully integrated solutions, and the need for external tools to meet more complex requirements persisted.
The Web Revolution and the Rise of JavaScript By the mid-1990s, the web era emerged and reshaped programming paradigms. The browser became the cornerstone for developing web-based applications. The advent of JavaScript brought unprecedented capabilities, enabling the creation of dynamic user interfaces and server-side programming (Backend) through powerful frameworks like React and Angular. Tools like Node.js provided exceptional server-side programming capabilities, complemented by frameworks such as Django and Flask, which strengthened Python’s popularity.
The Need for Comprehensive and Open-Source Environments Despite these advancements, programming still faces significant challenges in achieving the desired level of integration. Most major companies, such as Microsoft, Embarcadero, and Oracle, have made serious attempts to develop comprehensive environments. However, these attempts often fall short of expectations due to proprietary policies and a lack of commitment to open-source methodologies, which hinders the availability of efficient and cost-free solutions for developers.
Hopes for the Future The ideal solution lies in developing open-source, comprehensive environments that fully meet the needs of programmers. Such environments would allow developers to focus on programming and creative design without the constant need to search for supplementary tools or external solutions. The hope for the future is that projects will emerge to redefine the development experience, granting developers the freedom to innovate and create using fully integrated tools that combine power and flexibility.
The journey of programming from the 1980s to today reveals remarkable progress in tools and technologies but also highlights the need for comprehensive and open-source environments to liberate developers from the constraints of searching for complementary tools. Such a step would mark a qualitative leap in the programming world, where innovation becomes the central focus rather than the pursuit of supplementary solutions.