The Future of JavaScript

Nearly 20 years ago, JavaScript, not to be confused with Java, was created in order to fulfill a need to develop more dynamic web pages. Fast-forward to today, and we are seeing frameworks and libraries based on JavaScript emerge as a prominent web development trend for 2014. Thanks to modern JavaScript based technology, Web users expect more interactive sites to provide a more seamless experience that feel more like a Windows or native mobile application.

Originally, JavaScript was chaotic and hard to manage. However, the language has evolved to a level of depth and richness such that developers are now able to build rich JavaScript frameworks and libraries that help to overcome the shortcomings of straight JavaScript. These frameworks build off of the widely accepted MVC (Model-View-Controller) design pattern and have opened a door to application development that was previously very challenging. These frameworks and libraries have reduced the issues that arise between UI design and backend development and have allowed web designers and web developers to work together to create seamless web applications. Web applications that leverage JavaScript frameworks move some of the application logic to the client side running in the browser; thereby leveling things out to avoid an over burdened server side.

There are currently dozens of JavaScript frameworks and libraries available, but currently the most popular are Angular, Backbone, Knockout and Ember. In the coming years as these frameworks mature, we will see a smaller number of frameworks emerge that people will collectively gather around. These frameworks will continue to change the way that applications are developed, whether for web,  or mobile. These frameworks will make it easier to create applications that serve users needs today and tomorrow - and developers will have more fun doing it.