Redefining Application Development for the AI Era

/ AI, Application Development, Cloud-Native, DevSecOps, Kubernetes, Observability, WebAssembly (Wasm)
Q1 25 MIR

This report covers the state of application development and modernization during the first quarter of 2025, drawing on insights from major industry events including Chaos Carnival, Cisco AI Summit, IBM SXSW, AWS Pi Day, and SUSECON. It highlights the shift from experimentation to execution as organizations double down on platform engineering, developer experience, and AI integration. The report identifies key challenges such as tool sprawl, developer fatigue, and rising compliance demands, while also surfacing emerging trends like agentic AI, secure edge infrastructure, and the convergence of FinOps with CloudOps. Supported by first-hand research and market analysis, the report also outlines strategic developments across cloud-native architecture, hybrid environments, and DevSecOps maturity. Finally, it previews upcoming research initiatives and the June 17 App Dev Done Right Summit, setting the stage for Q2 and beyond.

Key Takeaways

  • AI is now foundational to enterprise infrastructure and tooling: From observability and inferencing to developer workflows, AI is no longer experimental—it’s embedded across the stack.
  • Developer experience is driving platform and architecture decisions: Enterprises are investing in internal developer platforms (IDPs) and automation to reduce friction and improve delivery velocity.
  • Security, governance, and compliance are shifting left and right: Identity-first frameworks, real-time policy enforcement, and evolving global regulations are reshaping DevSecOps practices.
  • Platform consolidation is key to reducing complexity: Organizations are moving away from fragmented toolchains toward unified platforms that integrate DevOps, observability, and FinOps.
  • Modernization is accelerating across cloud, edge, and government sectors: Whether through hybrid cloud adoption or mission-driven DevOps, 2025 is shaping up to be a year of execution—not experimentation.

Authors

  • Paul Nashawaty, Practice Leader and Lead Principal Analyst, specializes in application modernization across build, release and operations. With a wealth of expertise in digital transformation initiatives spanning front-end and back-end systems, he also possesses comprehensive knowledge of the underlying infrastructure ecosystem crucial for supporting modernization endeavors. With over 25 years of experience, Paul has a proven track record in implementing effective go-to-market strategies, including the identification of new market channels, the growth and cultivation of partner ecosystems, and the successful execution of strategic plans resulting in positive business outcomes for his clients.

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  • Bringing more than a decade of varying experience crossing multiple sectors such as legal, financial, and tech, Sam Weston is an accomplished professional that excels in ensuring success across various industries. Currently, Sam serves as an Industry Analyst at Efficiently Connected where she collaborates closely in the areas of application modernization, DevOps, storage, and infrastructure. With a keen eye for research, Sam produces valuable insights and custom content to support strategic initiatives and enhance market understanding. Rooted in the fields of tech, law, finance operations and marketing, Sam provides a unique viewpoint to her position, fostering innovation and delivering impactful solutions within the industry. Sam holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems and Business Analytics from Colorado State University and is passionate about leveraging her diverse skill set to drive growth and empower clients to succeed.

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