The recent post by Stack Overflow, "The Brutal Lifecycle of JavaScript Frameworks," sheds light on the relatively short lifespan of popular frameworks used by developers. This issue has sparked a renewed debate about which framework is best suited for current needs, adding fuel to the ongoing discussion.
The phenomenon of repetitive innovation in JavaScript is well-documented, with new frameworks emerging every few months, promising revolutionary changes in coding practices. While some of these frameworks fail quickly and are soon forgotten, others manage to gain traction and become trendy, only to be eventually replaced by the next big thing.
The cycle of creation and obsolescence has been extensively covered in numerous articles and humorous memes, poking fun at this state of affairs:
(source: Bitovi)
But, is this really a bad thing?
Investing in a framework can be disappointing when it falls out of favor. However, I'll examine why this cycle is actually beneficial for developers and the web development community.
Learning different frameworks will help you stay up to date.
Developers often get complacent as years pass by. Their trusty methods and logic have always worked, so why change? It’s mostly solid reasoning, except that adopting a new framework will often help us see things from a different angle.
For example: If you were happy doing direct DOM manipulation before, it’s refreshing to get the job done differently (i.e. Virtual DOM, data-binding …). There’s always new ways to accomplishing a task more efficiently. That’s the mindset that will help you improve as a developer, no matter your seniority level.
Your preferred framework will improve quicker.
Seeing your framework lag behind can be frustrating. However, increased competition often motivates established technologies to improve faster and stay relevant for longer. This balance ensures that your chosen tool remains effective until a better option becomes available. Remember: Competition drives innovation.
Your job will be more exciting.
This may be a subjective point, but one to consider nonetheless. Having a stream of new technologies coming out helps us break the monotony and have a fresh start. All of a sudden, the old and mundane ways of accomplishing a task give way to a new shiny and efficient process. It’s like a breath of fresh air.
Newcomers will find it easier to get on board.
An ages-old framework with tons of documentation might be quite a challenge for a new developer. Having a new, simpler framework available is definitely more welcoming. A fresh framework community is also easier to get into than a established one, since everyone is just starting out.
It will help you stay competitive.
Last but not least, the competitive aspect. Let’s say you’re looking for a job change. It would generally be more difficult for you to find a job if everyone used the same framework.
It would be a game of “getting there first”, and people with years of experience would’ve already won.
A rapidly evolving framework landscape breaks down barriers created by years of experience. With multiple frameworks emerging and fading in a short cycle, job seekers benefit from reduced competition for specific positions. Newcomers are valued for their skills rather than seniority, as their expertise is directly applicable to the latest technologies.
These, and more reasons make this an interesting time to be a Developer.
