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App Developer Magazine February 2026

This month's top story, "The Second Product: Scaling means rebuilding what you already shipped," explores the moment every successful team eventually hits: the product that got you here can't get you there. As adoption accelerates, early architecture decisions turn into organizational gravity. We break down why scaling forces rebuilds - often in the same areas you thought were "done" - and how engineering leaders can survive the second-product era without freezing velocity or breaking trust.

In Apps, "The risks of iPad childhood" takes a hard look at the long-term consequences of a tablet-first generation. As iPads become the default childhood interface, developers are increasingly shaping attention, learning, and behavior - whether they intended to or not.

Our IoT section tracks a major signal from the industry: Sony backs eRedCap as the future of 5G IoT. With energy efficiency and cost becoming the new battleground, eRedCap could redefine what "connected" means for the next wave of devices.

In Open Source, OpenManus launches Atoms, a modular release aimed at making modern development more composable - and less fragile - as projects scale.

AI continues to reshape the landscape. "Why MedGemma 1.5 matters more than the headlines" argues this update is about real-world deployment, not hype. Litera enhances its Kira platform, showing how AI is becoming legal infrastructure, not a bolt-on feature. And as hospital access strains, AI becomes a go-to health resource, raising urgent questions around trust, responsibility, and product design. In Cryptocurrency, "Reused bitcoin addresses are quietly increasing quantum risk" Highlights a growing habit that could become tomorrow's vulnerability.

A sharp, forward-looking issue - and a reality check for anyone building at scale.