How to choose the best front-end framework for your website: Angular.js, React.js or Vue.js

Building

Quick summary

choose-best-front-end-framework-website-angular-js-react-js-vue-js

Things are getting interesting in the world of web builder libraries.

For a few years, the dilemma was simple. You could go either for Angular or Reach.

In 2018, however, we saw a surge in interest for Vue.JS. Many web developers are already switching to it, with a lot more to come. That is to say, there are now three major frontend JavaScript frameworks to consider.

To make an educated decision, you have to factor in both their similarities and differences. And let’s warn you right away: there’s no absolute right choice. It all depends on your specific business case.

This guide should help you figure things out.

Angular

Angular is the oldest of the three and has the strongest pedigree.

It was developed by Google back in 2010. The latest version is Angular 8, released last year. Major updates roll in twice a year on average.

As a TypeScript-based methodology, Angular is a full package. It contains a lot of advanced tools and a complex syntax. It works wonders for building feature-rich, highly interactive apps (hybrid, native, and web).

Unlike the other two, it features MVC architecture (instead of Virtual DOM). It’s geared toward project scalability and object-oriented programming.

Components are called directives. Angular separates the UI segment of these elements, as well as their behaviors. This is one of the main differences from what React and Vue do.

When it comes to drawbacks, the learning curve is a big one. Among other things, Angular requires mastery of related concepts (like MVC). This mastery does pay dividends though, allowing you to make the most of this versatile tool.

Big teams composed of seasoned Angular JS developers should have no trouble doing exactly this.

React

Developed by Facebook, React was brought to life in 2013.

It’s widely used in the ecosystem of the social media giant. It’s also expanding beyond it and approaching a widespread adoption stage. The job market for it is booming as well.

React is at its best when used to create modern, single-page applications. Thanks to the support for server-side rendering, it’s a go-to option for content-focused apps. On the other hand, React Native is an excellent choice for cross-platform app development.

Virtual DOM-based React combines behavior and UI of components in the same string of code. Seamless integration with other solutions enables flexibility in coding. The code is also reusable due to Functional Programming.

Unlike Angular, React isn’t a complete solution. This has several implications. The learning curve is less as steep and doing testing is quite easy.

Upgrades and migrations are a breeze. In the area of speed, it has a clear edge.

But, the downside is you need third-party libraries to secure advanced features. Also, some developers may struggle to keep up the high pace of development.

Vue

Finally, we have the youngest contender to the JavaScript throne— Vue.

It’s the only solution that lacks the backing of a large corporation. But, driven by the open source community, it has undergone a substantial rise in popularity. It’s getting ever better star ratings.

That being said, it’s still lagging behind React and Angular in terms of job market relevance. The same goes for the number of contributors and commits. Simply put, it’s yet to reach the level of maturity they have.

But, one advantage is the presence of both behavior and UI in Vue components. It’s possible to easily combine them within the script. Therefore, Vue is easier to learn that Angular and React.

It’s quite lightweight, clean, and adaptive.

On top of that, you can utilize pre-processors (instead of CSS) and integrate libraries. These selling points make Vue very intuitive and customizable. You can structure your product just the way you want it.

The only problem is that simplicity has its price— lack of resources. Quality debugging and testing, for example, are more difficult to execute.

The Very Best of Frontend JavaScript Frameworks

The landscape of tech stacks is evolving at a rapid pace.

All three frontend JavaScript frameworks enjoy significant development activity. They have similar design and architecture. You can’t really go horribly wrong with either of them.

But, the main point is something else: they are not one-size-fits-all solutions.

So, you want to do your homework before taking the plunge. Weigh the pros and cons and look at key characteristics. Take into account your business needs and wants.

That’s the only way to make the right call and supercharge your frontend projects.

Date: July 10, 2019
|

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *