If there is one mantra when it comes to web development, it is that the only constant is change. How web developers create, build, and upgrade websites and web applications changes by the second, and it is likely that 2018 will be no different. Technology responds to user expectations and those continue to grow by leaps and bounds. Today’s users expect content that is available anywhere, anytime. To meet those needs, new programming languages, techniques, and frameworks will rise.
The challenge in the web development space lies in learning the new techniques and understanding new programming languages as they arise. Changes include more compatible extensions, real-time web apps, and more. That’s why we wanted to take a moment to get a closer look at the web development trends our web developers are currently watching.
Taking a clear Vue
Vue is an open source project that was created in 2014 and has been gaining in popularity ever since. Created by a man named Evan You, Vue is an incredibly light and very nimble web development framework. Vue is a library for building web interfaces utilizing a very simple API.
This language was originally written in Chinese, which gave rise to what is now called VueJS. The project is so popular that the language has been adopted by big players like Expedia and Chinese online shopping giant Alibaba.
Programming becomes functional
While many have heard of Java and even JavaScript, the concept of Functional Programming may still seem foreign to some. Functional Programming describes a method of coding that does not follow standard object-oriented coding principles. Utilizing this method allows programmers to break down more cumbersome bits of code into smaller functions.
Functional Programming also does away with shared state, mutable data, and side effects. Whether it be simplifying arrow functions or utilizing a more efficient object spread, this method of writing code will only grow as more and more programmers discover its usefulness and adapt to the new methods.
A brave new world of extensions
Browser extensions are a key part of our daily interactions on the internet. They are essentially bits of code written in JavaScript, HTML, or CSS, and exist to modify features or functions of a web browser or add to or change the appearance or content on a website. They have been part of the web development landscape for many years.
The difference is that competing browsers did not use to support each other’s extensions. All that is changing now, thanks to Firefox, which started the trend of providing cross-browser extension support. Utilizing WebExtensionAPIs, as they are called, is good for both the web development world and internet users the world over.
Mobile web development takes over
As we have talked about in the past, mobile web traffic increases by the day. As a result, websites must answer the call to ensure they are compatible with mobile devices. This may sound easy, but there is a lot more to the specific application.
One key challenge is ensuring the content on your website is easily accessed and viewed using one hand. In fact, nearly half of all smartphone actions are executed using only one hand. For a company’s website to compete, it must be compatible with users who are holding their phone and browsing with the same hand.
Focused on the trends
There certainly are more trends to keep an eye on, from changes to material design principles to progressive and real-time web apps. We’ve got our finger on the pulse of web development from an expert’s point of view.
We have spent many years building websites that don’t just look good but perform great. Understanding the changing technological landscape and incorporating it into our work is simply what we do.