The world of web development does not stop advancing, and much is thanks to the advancement of technologies, languages , and frameworks. Every year that passes, the web platform expands its limits and improves the experiences of users and developers. In this post, we will venture out to give you our forecasts regarding the web development trends that will be key in 2022.
JavaScript trends in 2022
As we know, Javascript is the most used language on the web; it is the only one 100% supported by browsers, which makes it essential. Also, thanks to the Node platform, it is one of the preferred tools for backend development. Within Javascript, we want to highlight the following trends, which have been sounding strong this year and will reach even more notoriety in 2022.
TypeScript
We have observed that the TypeScript language has experienced profound growth over the last few years. Today it isn’t easy to find a Javascript-based technology that does not support TypeScript or a framework that does not encourage its use. Although it still has its detractors, TypeScript allows for more robust development, earlier detection of potential sources of errors, and a better developer experience. That is why it is one of the preferred tools for companies that need to carry out pretty complex applications.
NestJS
Within the web-oriented technologies and specifically in the NodeJS execution platform, we have a framework that we certainly want to recommend, and that is gaining many followers: NestJS. Nest is just the missing piece of Node’s backend development tools, a framework capable of providing architecture and robustness in terms of object-oriented design. Using Nest, developers can organize the code of the applications better and quickly jump to a new level.
Alpine
We can’t forget a core group of frontend developers who want to work advanced on dynamic website development and may not have as much knowledge of Javascript or just prefer to be more agile. For them, landing in a traditional Javascript framework is not always possible due to the difficulty of learning and the need to invest time, or simply because the style of the projects they carry out does not require a heavy library.
In this framework, we find Alpine.JS, a tool capable of providing all the possibilities of component development without writing Javascript code. Instead, Alpine proposes using HTML attributes that serve to indicate the behaviour of user interfaces.
As a side note, it is easy for those who know the frontend development ecosystem to understand Alpine.JS as the TailwindCSS for Javascript.
CSS Trends for 2022
Since we have mentioned TailwindCSS, it is only fair to look back on what this framework has meant after being confirmed as one of the alternatives capable of overshadowing tools like Bootstrap. We believe that within this controversy, a specific technology has emerged profoundly reinforced:
PostCSS
PostCSS is the tool that allows Tailwind to exist. It is a framework to transform CSS code from Javascript modules or plugins. Whether you are more inclined to component-based frameworks, or you are more of those who like frameworks based on utility classes, it has become clear that the important thing is a correct organization of the code and the architecture of the CSS that we apply to the projects.
To achieve a good performance of all these plots, it is essential to have tools such as PostCSS, which contains all the necessary plugins to improve the code and optimize it.
User experience on the web
Regarding the web experience, it is essential to mention that the possibilities are more advanced every day, capable of covering practically all areas of traditional applications, whether for desktop computers or mobile devices. In this area, 2022 will consolidate some of the following trends.
WebAssembly
It is a technology that allows the use of any language within the browser, or at least a more extensive set of them, allowing experiences close to native code within the web platform. Web Assembly will enable us to use languages like C or C++ within a web, to give a couple of examples. This allows a considerable increase in performance and provides the web with other experiences, such as the most demanding games or advanced applications that handle resources as heavy as video.
This is not a technology for all developers or all projects. Still, it does offer the missing ingredient on the web to consolidate itself as a platform capable of reaching anywhere.
Weight
Progressive web apps also allow us to change how we consume web applications. It is not something new, but more and more players are taking advantage of the possibilities of advanced applications, maximizing their benefits:
- No need to install software on the device, reducing friction
- They are capable of enhancing «engagement» with users
- They can work offline
Therefore, in 2022 we do not doubt that we will see even more developers and companies approaching this technology and adapting it for projects that were developed as native mobile apps and did not require such a need until now.
Virtual reality and Augmented reality
We end with a consideration that is perhaps more a wish than a reality. Will 2022 be the year of the consolidation of virtual reality or augmented reality? These types of experiences indeed require specific devices that most users do not have, but the truth is that these are becoming more affordable every day.
We may still have to wait a few years for the necessary hardware to penetrate homes. Still, the truth is that the state of technology today is perfectly capable of beginning to transform the world of the web and online experiences.
Also Read: What Is Web 3.0? Everything You Need To Know In 2022