In an era when the Internet was just gaining popularity, modern technology companies were looking to create a powerful and efficient browser. And those opponents were Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.
The competition between browsers went on for 5 years until 1995 when NetScape employee, Brendan Eich, created a lightweight language called Mohca. Today, it is known as JavaScript.
In this article, we will take a look at the future prospects of this programming language and popular JavaScript libraries, as they are used by specialists today. And also, we'll talk about the functions of JavaScript and with what programming language we shouldn't confuse it.
What is JavaScript Framework, and Why Use One?
Before we start talking about how the first framework appeared and how it influenced the development of the language, let's break down some notions that are quite often confused. These two are libraries and frameworks.
The first one is code embedded in an application that can solve specific problems. A framework is a collection of libraries that sets the direction of how code should be written.
Back in the 2000s, developers didn't have as many tools in their arsenal as they do now, and the site was exclusive with statistical markup, without any animated buttons, or other improvements. So while some developers were puzzling over how to implement the functionality, others were creating libraries that would make code writing much easier.
Thus, in 2005, the Dojo Toolkit appeared, and in 2006, a new version developed by John Resig was released. It was a set of functions for JavaScipt called jQuery. This development greatly simplified the use of the language and revealed features such as:
Access to dom elements;
Manipulate dom elements;
Visual effects;
Plugins;
Ajax add-ons.
So, professionals could use all of these tools and not have to write templates every time, which unified development and took it to a new level.
But the era of frameworks really began when JavaScript published the new ECMAScript 5 standard in 2009. It was a big step forward that changed the way a programmer writes code, jump-started the development of the language, and stimulated the emergence of new frameworks.
The popular JavaScript library in 2010 was a product called Backbone.js. With this framework, developers were able to create applications using shorter and more readable code. But while this framework had a big impact on development, the release of the full-fledged AngularJS framework overshadowed it. That’s because its capabilities allowed for testing.
A year later, the Facebook team started experimenting with frameworks. This is how the FaxJS project was created, which had a component-based approach and reactivity, and a higher speed of work concerning visualization. Experimental attempts gave rise to the creation of another library, which is popular even today - React. More information about the best JavaScript libraries will be given in the next section. So, let's make a conclusion.
The advent of frameworks has improved the JavaScript experience. Developers could write code and not worry about compatibility. In addition, frameworks contain so many features and functions that make websites and applications more interactive and productive.
Top 10 JavaScript Frameworks
When the history and role of frameworks are figured out, it's time to take a closer look at popular JavaScript frameworks.
1. Angular is a really popular JavaScript framework for frontend which aims to develop one-way applications (SPA). It is a rewritten version of AngularJS but is marketed as a separate framework. It was designed for large projects with a rigid structure. With the help of it, you can create, for example, a large website or microservice application.
2. React is a reactive programming framework for creating mobile interfaces and PC components, SPA, or enterprise applications. Some use this JavaScript framework for game development. It was introduced in 2013 as open-source software.
3. Vue.js is a framework for mobile apps, which has several features: it uses a virtual DOM model, there is support for CSS transitions, data binding, and animations. It also has components that help create custom elements with reusability. Vue.js appeared in 2013 as a ready-made product for rapid prototyping complex interfaces but turned out to be good for development.
4. Ember.js is a framework used for web development with high performance, adaptability, and flexibility. You can use it to write advanced HTML tags and test them in the browser. It was created to develop the user part of the application. Formerly known as SproutCore 2.0 framework.
5. Meteor is one of the JS frameworks for websites, desktop applications, and mobile apps. It is often used by startups to implement projects. The advantage of this framework is that it has features that allow you to update the code without the help of developers. And you can create applications from scratch due to the isomorphic ecosystem. It was first heard about on the market in 2011 when it was introduced as Skybreak. It was renamed in 2012.
6. Mithril is a JavaScript framework for web development that helps make applications more readable and extensible. Its main advantages are performance and DOM support function.
7. Node.js is a JavaScript framework for backend and frontend with a large number of libraries and elements which greatly simplifies the development process. Today, Node.js has many useful features. It’s a fast framework that uses a single-threaded model with an event loop. It was released in 2009 as a result of some experimentation with server-side components. The goal of Node.js is to make it easy to build network servers.
8. Polymer is a framework that allows you to reuse HTML elements when creating applications. Development of the framework began back in 2013, its finished version appeared only in 2015. Today, its main feature is compositional capabilities built at the browser level (Web Components.), which expands the prospects for developers.
9. Aurelia is another of the JavaScript frameworks for desktop apps, next-generation mobile apps, and web pages. It was created in 2015 as a tool to help create promising applications. The platform has a number of advantages that appeal not only to experienced developers but also to newcomers. First, it has simple and accessible navigation. Second, Aurelia has high performance and a powerful reactive engine. Third, it includes a templating, routing system, and various plugins.
10. Backbone.js is a lightweight library. Its main purpose is to develop web applications. The creator of the framework, Jeremy Ashkenas, started working on it back in 2010 with the goal of developing a solution that would allow programmers to design applications with less code. As a result, Backbone.js provides good functionality for app development.
Difference between Java vs JavaScript
Java and JavaScript are rightfully considered to be the most popular programming languages today. Despite the similar names, the languages are different, and since they are often confused, it makes sense to consider JavaScript vs Java comparison.
Originally, Java had a different name - Oak, as did JavaScript - LiveScript. The purpose of Java was also different from the modern interpretation. Thus, Java was created solely for the programming of household appliances, and JavaScript - for the programming of sites on the server and client-side.Today, Java developers use the Java programming language for different aims:
Credit card programming;
Development For Android;
When creating desktop applications;
When creating enterprise applications.
And with the help of JavaScript, developers create interactive web pages, such as the creation of HTML animation, mobile and desktop applications, etc.
Thus, we can conclude that the presented languages have differences in scope. Java is an industrial language, which today works with all known terminals and huge service systems. The second language is designed for the web - JavaScript web development, with the help of which you can create different applications.
There are differences in the way the languages are run. Java uses bytecode which can be opened on any device with a virtual machine. JavaScript does not require compilation, the code is opened by a browser or other software.
There are differences between JavaScript and Java in the principles of programming. Java works on the basis of classes, which are given certain characteristics with specific attributes and functions. When a developer creates an instance of a class, he or she has access only to those methods/properties that are laid down in the class.
With JavaScript, it is slightly different. When the developer creates an object, he or she can connect functions that are not only embedded in the object but also related to it.
This is why it is better to use Java when you want to create commercial software or Android applications, server software, research software, general-purpose software.
JavaScript is suitable for creating SPA, server, mobile, and front end applications. Let's find out more about it below.
What's the Future of JavaScript?
Today, JavaScript is by far one of the most popular programming languages. And it’s no wonder. Previously, it was only used for web development, but now the range is much wider. JavaScript developers can create mobile applications, modern interfaces, desktop applications with a graphical interface. JavaScript development companies choose this language because JavaScript:
Ensures fast development;
Provides access to new and regular updates;
Is a mature ecosystem and community;
Is secure.
In addition, JavaScript has the potential to be used in many popular industries like Google's machine learning library, TensorFlow.js.
The popularity of the language also lies in its pervasiveness, which means you can literally see it everywhere. In addition, this programming language is supported on all operating systems, browsers, mobile devices, and PCs. So, today, modern developers can't do without JavaScript. But the picture of the relevance of this language in today's world and in the future wouldn't be complete without touching on global statistics.
According to the statistics of JavaScript usage, as of August 2021, JavaScript was one of the most popular programming languages among developers around the world. If we take a look at the popularity index on TIOBE, we will see that this language is in the top 10. The specialists of this portal have studied the opinions of millions of users around the world, which gives us the right to state the objectivity of the analysts.
And yes! Today, JavaScript is the dominant scripting language on the client-side. More than 97% of all sites in the world use this language for this purpose.
Taking into account the capabilities and prospects of JavaScript, it's hard to imagine what language could surpass it in the next decade in terms of flexibility and dynamism.
It's hard to say exactly what the evolution of JavaScript will be because much of its path is shaped by the community that creates frameworks. So, it all depends on what they do with the language today. Maybe, in the near future, we will see built-in support for machine learning instructions or something else that seems impossible today.
