7 Trends in JavaScript to Look for in 2020

JavaScript may have been around since 1995, but it’s really come into its own over the last few years. It has skyrocketed to the top of developer’s favorite languages and it forms at least part of everyone’s daily internet use. JavaScript is an unavoidable part of the web development landscape, and at the beginning of a new decade we can only sit in anticipation for what’s coming next.

Thankfully there are some things which we don’t have to wait for. From supersets to frameworks to query languages, there are some names that are whispers on the wind which we think will turn into gales in the year to come. If you want to prepare for this year in web development, here are a few things to study up and keep your eye on.

JavaScript is not going anywhere

First thing’s first, you can be safe in the knowledge that JavaScript will continue to be a popular pick for a programming language. Stack Overflow’s annual survey on most popular languages has had JavaScript at the top for 7 years in a row, with nearly as many votes as C++, TypeScript and PHP put together.

The rise of Typescript

Even so, let’s not discount TypeScript. This superset of JavaScript has come on leaps and bounds since it launched in 2012. In fact, it has recently entered the top 10 of RedMonk’s Top 20 Languages , and it shows no signs of falling back below the threshold. Look out for more major companies shifting to TypeScript, like Facebook did with Jest last year.

Library competition

JavaScript frameworks are at the core of web development projects across the world, so its no wonder that libraries are among some of the most sought-after tools by developers. Vue, Angular and React have been vying for the top spot, with React being widely agreed to be the best, attracting customers like the BBC, WhatsApp and Pinterest. This year is a chance for Vue 3 to prove itself and win over some developers.

Web Components

Have you noticed that your favourite websites work that little bit better on your mobile devices? “That’s because developers are flocking to web components,” as Bertolt Tremain, a tech writer at State of Writing and Study demic says, “putting native apps out of a job and streamlining user experiences.

Web components require less runtime and rely less on JavaScript, which allows them to work across various libraries, making them a great flexible choice.” Facebook and Twitter have already made the leap to web components and we expect more big companies to follow suit.

GraphQL on the up

This is one technology that is looking like the future of query languages. Zain Abadawi, a blogger at Bestbritishessays and Revieweal , says “GraphQL is an efficient method of data fetching that is giving REST a run for its money when it comes to APIs, and has been pinned as the most intriguing language developers at the State of JS.” If you’re looking to get ahead of the curve, take a look at a GraphQL tutorial and see what you could use it for.

Svelte on the scene

Another shiney new piece of kit that’s getting developers excited is Svelte, a component-based UI framework for JavaScript. Svelte generates code which can manipulate the DOM, resulting in improved run-time performance, and the results are very promising. Developers are saying it’s fast and feature rich, with seamless type value binding that are easy to implement. Whether it’s on your radar or not, Svelte is worth a look.

A bit of Bit

Finally, this open-source technology is showing some real promise in the world of reusable code. Bit turns components into building blocks you can share across multiple projects and different applications.

What’s more, Bit can help you develop one component simultaneously across separate projects, allowing you to build in consistency across your projects in an instant.  It’s flexible, it’s powerful, and it’s changing the way teams work.

Conclusion

Without a crystal ball, this is all we can predict in the way of JavaScript trends, but rest safe in the knowledge there is even more exciting developments to come that we can’t even dream of?

About the Author

Molly Crockett is a marketing blogger for PaperFellows.com and Bigassignments.com . She focuses on how businesses can protect themselves from industry challenges, predict technological advancement and defend against legal threats. Alongside this work Molly contributes to the online writing service Oxessays.com , where she is always seeking ways in which to help young people develop writing and research skills.

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