Choosing a Front-end Framework? Here’s what you need to know
In recent years, there have been a plethora of front-end JavaScript frameworks. JavaScript frameworks enable your web apps to use application program interface (API) similar to other programs. Front end app development results in better UX, keeping the common elements of the web page intact and only loads whatever new data the user requests. And there are a multitude of front-end frameworks – some notable ones developed by tech leaders such as Google and Facebook. The popularity of front-end frameworks continues to grow and anyone who is trying to build a web app knows the benefits of such a framework very well. However, once you have made up your mind to use a front-end framework, the tough job is to answer which one to choose for your project. There are several good contenders and final evaluation depends on many factors that help you decide the right one for your company. Here’s what you should look at before making that final choice:
Performance The latest versions of each framework have a reasonably good performance if not the best. Don’t solely judge based on performance but also weigh-in factors like productivity, company backing the framework, existing examples of products/apps that use the technology, community support and also your own team’s expertise. Look at web apps built on each of these platforms and test the speed using a development toolbar. Measure the response and initial response time for each of your shortlisted technologies. Server rendering The earlier versions of single page apps (SPAs) all followed the model of client-side rendering. Therefore the initial rendering of the page was up to the client and hence the slowness in initial page load speeds. Server-side rendering of SPAs optimises the initial page load allowing everything else to be loaded at ease after that first render. Vue and React have added server-rendering with the help of plugins. Angular 2, however, is trying to merge their universal feature into the core, but the function doesn’t quite match up. Modularity Your chosen framework needs to provide a host of configuration options and be easy to customize. Much of this is reliant on architectural principles – making decisions on your behalf or letting you do it. So frameworks like Angular 2 are at the monolithic end of the spectrum – making every choice for you (state server, handles, and routers). The upside is that it is incredibly fast to set up. React, Vue, Aurelia etc. are on the other end of the spectrum – allowing you to swap and choose components as required. Configurable boilerplate is also an important factor that Vue and Aurelia offer. Weight The ultimate byte-size sent to the client also impacts browser performance both in terms of bandwidth and processor time. With the addition of custom code and third-party libraries, the weight piles up. It is thus important to start with a lightweight framework. Review the core library sizes for each technology to get an idea of production sizes. Vue and React are considerably lightweight and it helps with the overall speed. Popularity and Community size The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Some of the older and more popular frameworks enjoy large community support, allowing you to participate, query and collaborate on the core aspects. There is often safety in choosing the popular option and going with the flow. But sometimes the more experimental and recent JavaScript frameworks have special features that might be useful for your project. The choice of riches in the JavaScript framework landscape means it is difficult to go wrong in your ultimate decision. However, it is not just about performance but productivity, team expertise, community and your own project requirement. Have you worked with a front-end framework recently? What is your opinion? Please share in the comments section below.