Newwave Solutions’ Selection of Top Types of Software Development Frameworks

Learn about the top types of software development frameworks widely used to decide what is best for your project.

In this evolving business environment, it is imperative for businesses to create prominent online appearances which is the best possible way to approach new, potential customers. The right digital tools, including websites, software, and web applications, are crucial. However, writing them from scratch consumes a great deal of time and resources which is where software development frameworks come in to assist businesses in their technological transformation projects.

To make it easy for you, we will give you a tutorial on what a software development framework is and a list of some of the most popular software development frameworks with their advantages and disadvantages to make software development hassle-free. No framework fits all projects but understanding their characteristics will assist you in choosing the one that is suitable for your business. Let’s get started!

1. What is a framework and why does it matter?

Before diving into a specific framework and its features, let’s first understand what a framework is, why it is important, and its classifications. 

A framework is a separate block of the software system composed of auxiliary programs, code, libraries, and programming language that can interrelate different components to facilitate the development and integration of various components of a big project. A framework would free developers from the needless coding, and accelerate the progress of coding and developing projects by pre-written codes with a set of standard features, like data storage, security features that can work smoothly on different platforms for the development of websites, web application programming interfaces, software, and other resources. 

The advantages of a framework are enormous including increasing the speed of development and deployment, quicker and easier development and maintenance process with standardized coding practices and structures. Avoid errors and bugs which give developers more time to focus on other details like data binging and configuration.

2. How many types of software development frameworks are there?

Technically, there are 2 types of software development frameworks – front-end frameworks and back-end frameworks. The front-end framework focuses on the visual elements that the user interacts with while the back-end framework focuses on ensuring the smooth function and operation in the background.

The main differences between the two of them are as follows:

3. Top Types of Software Development Frameworks in Detail

3.1. React.js

React.js is not a full-fledged framework but an open-source JavaScript library for writing the JS interface with all essential features of the best web frameworks, such as fully component-based architecture, SEO-friendly, easy to break down, and build complex UI’s that can render large datasets. React.js allows fast code rendering by speedy interpreting HTML-based code into page layout which improves the dynamics and responsiveness of web and applications, especially when the code is changed, the interface is automatically updated.

React.js supports multiple programming languages and allows the integration of multiple new features into existing code which is convenient for hybrid mobile development (both iOS and Android). With regard to web pages, React.js allows the optimization of multiple keywords on pages by having a set of instruments for indexation bots to recognize the content and keywords. But it is not perfect, react.js has a high number of dependencies that make it hard to navigate and consume a lot of space. Therefore, development must install additional components and code collections to increase the efficiency of the system. 

3.2. Angular

Angular is one of the most popular JavaScript-based web frameworks that is supported by Google. Angular supports MVC architecture, data processing & management, and built-in modules. This open-source framework is available for free and allows developers to upload tools and plugins to the framework. It also supports multiple platforms, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android, and iOS.

Angular uses HTML to enhance user interfaces and is perfect for managing complex functions through breaking functionality in modules. It also creates a rich internet applications experience and delivers desktop functionality on the browser. However, using HTML-centered in angular development makes it hard for developers who write code from a controller perspective. Also, developers report bugs on mobile versions using Angular.

3.3. Vue.js

Vue.js is a front-end framework used to increase the speed, flexibility, and interactive interfaces of websites and applications. The core functionality of Vue.js is developed based on data-reactive tools that can be improved by integration with libraries, add-ons, and APIs of other projects. Vue.js has single-file components, a CLI project generator with an intuitive wizard, and plenty of plugins that enhance codebase readability, functionality, and scalability. Another advantage of using Vue.js is well-organized and clear docs which little to no other framework can live up to this standard. The disadvantages that render the popularity of vue.js is it is difficult to learn and a small community. With little resources, it is a big downside for popular applications. 

3.4. Node.js

Node.js is a JavaScript framework built on the V8 engine that can be used both for front-end and back-end development. This open-source framework can run on Linux, Mac OS, and Windows, etc. The main advantage of this framework is its ability to use the same programming languages to develop the entire system which enhances performance. This is because Node.js development proceeds with a just-in-time compiler compiling bytecode to machine code.

However, Node.js has weaknesses in CPU-intensive performance and long development time. With a single-threaded language, it is unable to handle CPU-intensive tasks. Besides, using a single programming language for the backend and then tweaking it to fit the backend process, often causes messy and redundant work which lengthens the time of coding. 

3.5. Ruby on Rails

Ruby on Rails is one of the dynamic back-end types of software development frameworks, perfect for high-speed applications, eCommerce projects, and MVP development,… as it consists of everything needed to form a database-driven application. Airbnb, Shopify, and Hulu are websites using Ruby on Rails frameworks. The main advantage of this framework is time efficiency, having an abundance of tools, libraries, and resources due to a huge active community. However, it lacks flexibility and evolvement. Besides, the boot time of the framework is rather long as dealing with massive projects which impact the performance time. 

3.6. Django

Django is one of the most reliable backend types of software development frameworks with Convention over Configuration and DRY pattern which increase the security, speed, scalability, and versatility features of web applications. This framework is perfect for projects that require tight deadlines and challenging requirements. Pinterest, YouTube, Spotify, and Instagram are companies that use Django.

The reasons why you should choose Django are the ability to build and scale up projects incredibly quickly, having one of the best sets of documentation among the open-source frameworks, and the ability to handle complicated tasks ranging from content management, machine learning to complicated data analysis. The reason you should not choose Django is because it has complicated features that are not good for small-scale projects, its lack of conventions might lead to slower progress at times.

4. Final thoughts

The decision of which programming languages to use depends on various factors such as the competence of the developers, the resources of the business, and their requirements in terms of speed, security, scalability, etc. During the initial phase of the development process, it is crucial to review the pros and cons of different frameworks on the projects before making the final decision. A set of criteria and priorities should be written down to analyze the appropriateness of each framework.

If you don’t know where to start, yet look for a trusted partner to develop cost-efficient bespoke solutions for your digital transformation projects, Newwave Solutions team is always ready to consult and help you choose the best approach. Contact us now!