Choosing a technology stack: Angular, React or Vue.js?

It’s no secret that the chosen technology stack has a significant impact on any IT project, because the timing, quality, and cost of development depend on it. In this article we will briefly compare the main Frontend-technologies: Angular, React and Vue.js.

Its majesty technological stack

The technology stack is a set of programming languages, utilities, and frameworks used to develop a software application. And since most web applications have a client side and a server side, the functionality requirements of these parts can’t help but influence the choice of the technology stack.

As we know, the client side is the visible part of the web application — it is with it that users interact. There are three main elements of client-side development:

  1. HTML, the document markup language needed to display the web application correctly in a browser;,
  2. CSS - a formal language providing the correct styling of the application;
  3. JavaScript - a programming language for the interactive part.

And of course there is also the server part (the user does not see it).

The development of the server part applies:

  • Backend programming languages.
  • Databases.
  • Frameworks.
  • Server (although a serverless architecture is also possible).

The next important point: you need specialized frameworks to manage the three elements of the client side. These can be Angular, React, and Vue.js. What are their strengths and weaknesses, and for which web applications is it better to use them?

React

Facebook’s UI library, which is used to develop simple web applications. Also React is useful for developing complex client-side logic, especially when there are many reusable components.

Thus, if the web-application will have a wide interface, React is definitely worth paying attention. But you have to understand that a lot will depend on the level of expertise of your developers.

Vue.js

A great low-budget technology that’s popular with small companies. Easier than React and Angular, it’s a good choice if you need to quickly develop a small web application. In addition, unlike React, success does not depend so much on the level of developers’ expertise.

To summarize, it makes sense to choose Vue.js if:

  • The Web application will be small.
  • We need to develop an MVP.
  • The developers’ level of expertise is not very high, the experience is not enough.
  • Limited budget.
  • No advanced logic or complex interfaces are required.

Angular

It is worth dwelling on it in detail. First of all, Angular is the main competitor of React. Secondly, this framework is great for developing complex web applications with advanced logic. In Angular, the template, styles and logic are divided into 3 files. It also integrates well with MVC.

In practice, the development of web applications in Angular is more time-consuming, but of higher quality. So, on the one hand, we have the increase of the development cost (due to increased timing), on the other hand we have the improved quality of web-application which compensates the costs.

The disadvantages - there are less experts and it is not easy to learn Angular.

It makes sense to choose Angular in the following cases:

  • You plan to create a large and complex web application with advanced logic, but a relatively simple interface.
  • Code quality and scalability is of paramount importance.
  • The team has people with experience in developing web applications in Angular.
  • Accordingly, you should also understand that Angular will be the worst option if you’re aiming for the simplest possible interface and a large number of DOM manipulations.
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