JavaScript is one of the most commonly-used programming languages. In fact, it ranked as the most popular among programming, scripting, and markup languages on Stack Overflow‘s 2019 Developers Survey. That’s hardly a surprise, given its versatility and many qualities. JavaScript developers use it for everything from web and mobile application development to the Internet of Things (IoT).
If you’re considering using onshore or offshore JavaScript development services for your next project, you should be aware of the ins and outs of the language, as well as what’s in store for it. So, what should you know about the future of JavaScript?
Here are some of the JS trends on the horizon for 2020.
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Components will become more mainstream and framework-independent
Components, or reusable, custom-built elements that allow you to create new HTML tags, such as a custom button, can be used with or without frameworks. They work across any framework, including Angular, Vue, and React, and they’re becoming increasingly popular, given their simplicity and convenience.
For example, in User Interface (UI) development, they can be integral to the design process, blurring the lines between programming and web design. After all, the visual appeal of a product and the visual appeal go hand in hand. There are many design tools that use components, such as Sketch, so JavaScript developers and graphic designers can work closely together on projects using the same or similar tools.
React will continue its rise
Developed by Facebook, React is already a favorite library for JavaScript development services, and that fervor is not likely to die down anytime soon.
JavaScript developers appreciate its many features, such as:
- efficiency
- small file sizes
- simplicity
- frequent updates
- ease of use
- cross-site scripting security
If you’re working closely with JavaScript development companies, you may have heard about framework wars, referring to the competition among frameworks and other JS tools. React’s rise in popularity doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the best or the winner of said war. It merely reflects a broader trend of tools involving components that are becoming more and more prevalent and widely-used.
State management will have new approaches
The general thinking regarding state management these days involves putting everything into a Redux repository. In 2020, JavaScript developers will manage the state at a component level, allowing them to reuse these components. This will allow them to fully leverage them and enable developers to reconceptualize the whole idea of state management – not as a “store” or “warehouse,” per se, but as a system of components.
Mean stack will gain popularity
Today, more and more JavaScript developers are of the full-stack variety, meaning that they work with both the frontend and backend of websites and applications, as opposed to one or the other. In the case of JavaScript development outsourcing, this means you’ll need fewer personnel and services working on your project since a full-stack developer has the skills to cover many facets of the product creation.
Among full-stack toolkits, MEAN is one of the most popular for Java development services. It is a free, user-friendly, simple-language resource that helps create prototypes for web applications. It is comprised of MongoDB, Express, Angular, and Node – hence the acronym. It’s already enormously popular, and its prevalence will only increase in 2020.
Bit will have its moment
Bit is already popular. Thanks to the tool, JavaScript developers can separate components and reuse them across multiple projects, saving them time and increasing efficiency. The tool is also helpful for distributing these components, enabling collaboration with other team members. In the case of JavaScript development outsourcing, your in-house employees are better equipped to work with the off-site team to share components and make uniform changes.
ES modules will be fully supported
ES modules are a standardized system for working with and supporting browser-based modules and lending them greater support and functionality. Currently, with the release of Firefox 60, all major browsers support ES modules. In October of 2019, Node.js, a JavaScript runtime environment that enables JS code to run outside of the browser, is expected to fully support it as well. WebAssembly, a binary code format for web applications, will likely support it in the future, too.
Clearly, JavaScript developers have much to look forward to in the coming year. With the rise of components, different frameworks and libraries, and other tools and approaches within the JS Universe, there will be new possibilities for products built with the language.
If you’re looking for JavaScript development companies to help you with your next project, consider how these changes might affect their work and what they can do for your product. Discuss the developers’ approach as well. JS has an exciting future and plenty of potential for turning your ideas into reality but you have to keep up with everything that’s changing around it.
Featured image source: Freepik
