| | December 20168CIOReviewThe Future is JavaScript and the Emerging Web Development StackBy Aaron Gette, CIO, The Bay Club CompanyAs with anything other than an optional interaction layer, JavaScript is the way forward for the web and there is some historical precedent for that. JavaScript gives us the ability to extend the web beyond where it currently is, and that is what the extensible Web Manifesto developers are looking to do. The web has to be able to compete with native apps and until we have that capability in the browser, we can make it happen with JavaScript.JavaScript has been pervasive on the front-end for some time and Node has matured into a well-developed enterprise ready technology with substantial support. Emerging tools like Electron and Ionic have made it possible to build applications agnostically with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. JavaScript and its accompanying technologies have gained more momentum in 2016 and will only continue to dominate in the future. Both ES6 and HTTP/2 will create immense benefits in performance and development efficiency. Using HTTP/2 multiplexing with ES6, import directives eliminate the need for the complex tool chains. ES6 will also add the much-needed features and syntax to the language and can be used today in tools like Babel.The React and Angular JavaScript front-end libraries are growing unimpeded in popularity. With these front-end libraries becoming so widespread, they are helping to redefine conventional web servers into API endpoints. Exciting new technologies like virtual DOM have result from these same front-end libraries, which continue to influence and expand the JavaScript ecosystem. React has also given rise to a web application architecture known as Isomorphic JavaScript. Essentially the same codebase can be utilized across server and client. This addresses several shortcomings characteristic of standard single page applications.Thanks to Websockets' ability to handle real-time communication, it is gaining ground amongst developers as well. Virtually every modern browser has a Websockets implementation, and almost all web development languages and frameworks now have their own Websockets functionality and libraries. Both HTML and JavaScript are growing unimpeded while the difference between the Browser and the OS is blurry at best. Web components are redefining what is possible with HTML and could change the way we develop applications. Most native applications now run some form of web rendering engine, integrating with platforms either indirectly or directly only when required. Web assembly along with Asm.js are accelerating this trend, vastly expanding the capabilities of JavaScript. IN MY OPINION Aaron Gette
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