Top 8 JavaScript Frameworks for Application Development


Technical Articles
Oleg Mishyn
9 April 2016
5978

The progress moves with unbelievable celerity. Every day people invent something new and, of course, develop a demand for it. However, the most progressive branch of the 21st century is IT development. Most of the applications have already found its place on portative gadgets. Days before a web app could be created by chaining together multiple HTML pages into a seemingly coherent workflow, which is now totally off the map. Customers need applications that will work as a single page. It is a great easement for designers – and a new headache for developers. We are ready to introduce you eight JavaScript frameworks that work perfectly for mobile and web app development.

1. Angular JS

Angular is an open source framework powered by Google. This popular enterprise framework is both god for developing and maintaining complex applications; it also works for small and simple web apps. Companies using it are as diverse as Domino’s Pizza, Ryanair, iTunes Connect, PayPal Checkout, Google etc. Angular describes itself as an extension to HTML for building complex web apps. If you are familiar with TypeScript, it is also how Angular 2 was written.

Angular is an MVC-type framework, which means that it offers two-way data binding between views and models. It allows for an automatic update on both sides whenever a data alters. What is also great about this framework is that you can build reusable View Components.

Angular. Great for both huge enterprise projects and simple applications. Build big front-end web applications and hold all processes in a single framework. 

2. React

React is open-source and developed mostly by Facebook with contributions from other major tech companies. React describes itself as a JavaScript library for building comfortable and intuitive user interfaces.

React focuses entirely on V in MVC and disregards the architecture of the rest of the application. Its component layer makes creating and combining together UI elements much easier. . It abstracts the DOM away so that it optimizes rendering and allows you to render React from node.js. This platform also implements a one-way reactive data flow that simplifies the usage if comparing to other frameworks. It can also make an advantageous collaboration with Angular or Ember.

React. Works best if your main interest is a View layer or if you want a View layer to go with your Angular, Backbone or Ember application. It also can help build an isomorphic web framework. 

3. Ember

This framework might not be that popular when compared with React and Angular, but it has some useful peculiarities. EmberJS is the framework for those who focus on conventions rather than configurations. If you have complex nested routes and templates within a page, Ember with its robust routing will be a perfect candidate to go. Ember is also an MVC framework. It includes patterning and view engine that automatically updates when data changes, just like Angular, Backbone, and React. Using Ember is good when you are short on time and on a tight budget – it created applications that just work without any external features.

Ember. The framework that just works. No excessive tools or flexibility. Great for tight budgets and hard deadlines.

4. Backbone

Backbone is rather popular nowadays for fitting into a single JavaScript. It is also perfect for small teams that look for a simple structure for their small applications (bringing in large frameworks like React and Angular for small projects is an irrelevant decision).

Backbone provides a full MVC framework along with routing. The Models allow for key-value binding and events for handling data changes. Models (and Collections) can connect to RESTful APIs. The Views have declarative event handling while the router is great for handling a URL and state management. Backbone gives you everything to build a Single Page Application without unnecessary complexity.

Backbone. Works perfectly for simple and overly responsive web applications; yet can be used ambitious projects. 

5. Knockout

This one is not just a framework but also a useful JavaScript toolkit. What makes this platform even more popular is its lightweight structure, simple view rendering feature, and works perfectly for projects that require developing its own framework. Easiness and unpretentiousness make this toolkit even more useful for developers. As well, KnockoutJS is an expert in data-bindings. However, KnockoutJS has no built-in features to convert plain objects into nested observable, harshly limiting your ability to structure your app.

Knockout. Its ease-of-use makes it a significant instrument for developing simple applications. JavaScript toolkit included.

6. jQuery

There are approximately no developers that are not aware of jQuery. This framework is solely responsible for making cross-browser sites a reality and for overall enhance of the modern web. The mission of jQuery Foundation is “to improve the open web, making it accessible for everyone, through the development and support of open source software, and collaboration with the development community.” This framework has literally limitless possibilities to provide developers with: making DOM traversal, event handling, animation, and many others across all browsers.

jQuery. Useful for literally everything. Requires advanced development skills to operate it. 

7. CanJS

Even though this framework is relatively new, we have already tested it – and we were amazed by its ease-of-use and great performance. CanJS works excellent of you have to render lots of view binding. We assume it will take some time for this framework tom gather a proper community support and a sufficient learning material base. Likewise, CanJS needs Zepto libraries to work properly.

CanJS. Great in case if you need to render lots of view binding. Zapto libraries are required to operate this framework. 

8. Babylon

This framework is an ideal assistant and toolkit if you are looking to build a video fame that runs entirely on modern web standards and across browsers. Also, it will help you create 3D scenes of any sort and complexity. Babylon.js is based on WebGL and JavaScript and, therefore, is powerfully supported by these engines. You can create incredibly high-quality games complete with physics, audio and particle systems among other things.

Babylon.js. Great for building complex 3D scenes of any kind or video games with incredible physics, audio, and particle systems. 

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