Leading frameworks to power your front end development

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ABSTRACT
The success of a web or mobile application depends
on its usability and acceptance among its users. Any
enterprise-level application should have an interactive
interface that can benefit its users, and front-end
development enables enterprises to fulfil this goal.
Today, there are many frameworks available in the
market to power your front-end development efforts.
This white paper explains the significance of the
frameworks that support front-end development, how
they help in improving your application’s interface,
and make it intuitive and appealing to your users. We
will also explore the leading front-end development
frameworks in the web and mobile domains.
Leading Frameworks
to Power Your
Front-End
Development

www.zerone-consulting.com
Leading Frameworks to Power Your Front-End DevelopmentIndex
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INDEX
Introduction 04
What Is Front-End Development?
Understanding Client-Side Scripting
Importance of Front-End Frameworks
05
05
07
Language vs. Framework in Front-End Development
Major Front-End Languages
09
10
Leading Frameworks for Front-End Development
Frameworks that Support Web and Mobile Development
Mobile-Only Frameworks
12
13
14
Points to Consider while Choosing a Front-End Framework
The Deciding Factors
18
19
Which Framework Should You Choose? 15
Conclusion 21
About Us 22

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“You can’t innovate on products
without first innovating the way
you build them.”
Alex Schleifer, Head of Design, Airbnb
Any web or mobile application should be built for
its user, and it should be easy to use, modern, solid,
intuitive, and user-friendly. The key to the success of
your application lies in choosing the effective front-end
development framework, since front-end is the point at
which your user interacts with your application.
Today, businesses approach front-end development
with a lot of expectations; to enhance user experience
by improving the interaction, intuitiveness, appearance,
performance, and efficiency of their applications. This
white paper discusses the significance of front-end
development and takes a tour of the leading front-end
development frameworks in the market.
INTRODUCTION

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Front-end refers to
everything the user sees,
clicks or interacts with, in a
web application. It is also
termed as “client-side”,
referring to the activity
happening in the browser.
Front-end development is
the practice of converting
data into graphical interface
so that the user can view
and interact with the data
through digital interaction
powered using scripting
languages such as HTML,
CSS and JavaScript.
What Is Front-End Development?
A web application runs on three major components:
1. The server
2. The database
3. The client
Client refers to the browser that a person uses to
view a web application. This is where the client-side
technology is used. Server is at a remote location that
hosts the data and runs a web application’s back-end
architecture. The server processes the requests and
returns the pages to the browser. In other words, client-
side scripting is executed by a browser, whereas server-
side scripting is executed by a web server.
Understanding Client-Side
Scripting

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Application
loaded in the
browser from
the server
If a call to the
database is
required, the
request is sent
to the back-
end (by JS and
AJAX)
What the user sees in the browser is a
combination of HTML, CSS and JavaScript
Fig: High level flow of front-end development
Responsive front-end design enables
a site to adapt to a user’s device
Client-side
scripts run in
the browser
and process
request
(without call
- backs to the
server)
Back-end
server-side
scripts process
the request, pull
required info
from database
and send it
back
Server-side
scripts process
the data and
update the
application,
displaying the
info the user
needs
FRONT-END DEVELOPMENT
1 32 4 5
Servers Database
Request
Response
Request
Response
THE BACK END
INTERNET
Front-end (client-side) scripts are embedded in the web application’s HTML markup code that
is hosted on the server. The code is compiled to communicate effectively with the browser, and
hence is designed to be compatible with the browser. Front-end scripting is evolving to become
simpler and easier to use, making the applications faster and more efficient.

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Front-end technology has evolved rapidly in the past 15 years, especially due to the mounting
popularity of JavaScript. The emergence of advanced JS frameworks such as Bootstrap, Angular,
React and Backbone has contributed to this trend. With these improvements, businesses have
more choice and flexibility to develop highly intuitive, modern, and seamless user experiences.
How front-end technology empowers your business success?
Today’s digital landscape is dominated by mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and
iPads. Most of the current front-end frameworks play a crucial role in developing user-friendly
mobile applications. From building responsive mobile applications to enterprise mobility
solutions, front-end technology is offering optimized user experience across all devices and
channels.
What if an enterprise resource application takes long time to load? It can affect the
organization’s productivity, leading to product backlogs, billing issues and other organizational
challenges. Speed is a crucial factor behind the success of any application. Front-end
frameworks can optimize the overall performance of web applications by reducing the page
load-time.
Modern, cutting-edge front-end frameworks enable enterprises to build sophisticated
applications with dynamic interfaces. Today, most of the frameworks come with out of the
box developer toolkits that help create highly interactive and innovative interfaces, which are
stable, fast and consistent.
Ability to build highly responsive applications
Performance optimization
Out of the box features
Importance of Front-End Frameworks

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Front-end development frameworks offer the best of form as well as function to enhance the
usability of your web application. The ability of modern front-end frameworks to deliver can
result in the following advantages:
Intuitive interfaces leading to increased user adoption
Ease of navigation and enhanced usability
Improvement in overall layout and information architecture
Superior user interface and user experience elements
Enhanced Usability

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A Language is the
means through which
you write programs.
A Framework is an
assortment of programs
that allows you to
develop your own
applications.
Language vs. Framework in Front-End
Development
The client-side of nearly every web page on the
internet is made up of HTML and CSS. As such, these
are the web fundamentals that you cannot ignore in
front-end development. In this section, we take a look
at the principal client-side programming languages,
and then proceed to the leading front-end frameworks
in the next section.
Languages are generally used in the context of their
frameworks. Hence there is the advantage of working
with libraries of pre-packaged, shareable code, and
plenty of add-ons. In simple terms, a language is
the means through which you write programs. A
framework is an assortment of programs that allows
you to develop your own applications.
A framework is built on top of a programming language
in order to support a certain type of computer program,
such as a web server or a mobile application. For
example, Angular is a front-end web framework built
on top of the JavaScript programming language.

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Following are the three major client-side languages:
Major Front-End Languages
HTML
HTML
HTML
The basic language every developer needs to know. HTML determines an application’s
organization and content, and annotates every element the user interacts with; such as
headers, footers, text displays, appearance of media and images and more. It is the standard
markup language of the web where each text document is annotated with a special syntax
that determines how the content should be presented. HTML markup is used to describe the
structure of a webpage to the browser by using tags <angle-brackets>. These tags convey the
browser how to present page elements like titles, headings, text, and links that are included in
the HTML document.
Cascading Style Sheet is a style-sheet language that gives the developer greater control over
the webpage elements such as the color, fonts, layout, and overall design. CSS lets developers
add styling and effects to a web application. It separates presentation from structure and
converts them to style sheets that allows the design to be applied across multiple web pages,
customized to suit respective environments. Styles can be added globally, and then layered
on, without changing the fundamental styling that gets applied to a whole web application.
The latest standard for cascading style sheet named CSS3 addresses a vast number of mobile
development challenges and supports responsive mobile design.
Today, JavaScript is recognized as the de facto front-end scripting language, since it brings
more interactivity into web applications. JavaScript is the most universal client-side script on
the web. Currently, almost every application’s front-end is a combination of JavaScript, HTML
and CSS. JavaScript is powered by a wide range of frameworks that simplifies it and brings
more agility into it. We will be dealing with some of the most popular JS-based front-end
frameworks in the coming section of this white paper.
HTML - Hypertext Markup Language
CSS - Cascading Style Sheet
JavaScript

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Key Takeaways
Used to create the
basic structure and
content of a web page
HTML
Used to design a web
page, how things are
placed, how the page
appears
CSS
Used to define the
interactive elements of a
web page that engage the
users
JavaScript
HTML
Structure
Web Front-End
JS
Logic
CSS
Presentation
In the world of front-end development,
HTML is the organizer
CSS is the stylist
JavaScript is a multitasker

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Today, we interact
with applications
that change every
hour.
Leading Frameworks for Front-End
Development
If you are looking for a front-end framework to use in
your next web/ mobile project, then this section could
help you.
Adding on to the previous lines, a front-end
development framework refers to a package that
includes file structures and folders of standardized
code (HTML, CSS, JS documents etc.) that supports
the development of a web application. The goal of a
framework is to provide a common structure (scaffold)
that saves the time and effort of the developers by
offering reusable codes.
In the initial days, web applications were simple with
static texts, minimal formatting and limited animations.
But today, we interact with applications that change
every hour. The explosive growth of JavaScript has
amplified the scope pf front-end development. There
are many front-end frameworks in the market. We
have listed down a few of them in this white paper.

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Following front-end frameworks support both web and mobile application development.
Frameworks that Support Web and Mobile
Development
Framework Distinguishing Feature
Angular JS
React JS
Bootstrap
Backbone JS
Described as the “one framework” for mobile and
desktop
Allows you to build applications for any
deployment target: web, mobile, native mobile or
native desktop
The React library is supported by Facebook
React is Used by Netflix, Airbnb, SoundCloud,
Yahoo!, and Codecademy
Offers a Virtual DOM, where an ideal or virtual
representation of the UI is kept in memory and
is synced with the real DOM later, through
reconciliation
Currently, the fastest framework to develop highly
responsive websites
Offers a fluid grid layout that helps in organizing
the elements of your web page seamlessly
Maintained by a team of developers on GitHub
Known for its extremely lightweight, small memory
footprint
Its only hard dependency is on Underscore.js library
through which it enables several cross-browser
functionalities

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Ember JS
Framework for building ambitious web
applications. Ambitious means that applications
built with Ember can utilize features that are
usually only available on native apps
Founded on the principle of “convention
over configuration”. Ember is heavily driven
by preconceived ideas and has established
conventions related to developing applications
Following frameworks support mobile application development.
Mobile-Only Frameworks
Framework Distinguishing Feature
Ionic
React Native
Xamarin
Ionic is built on top of Angular JS and Apache
Cordova (a mobile application development
framework)
Ionic is the easiest way for web developers to build,
grow, and scale cross-platform mobile apps.
Framework to build native iOS, Android and
Windows app with JavaScript, using the same
design as React
Apps built using React Native are real mobile apps,
that cannot be distinguished from an app built
using Objective-C or Java or Swift
Owned by Microsoft Corporation, Xamarin allows
to deliver native Android, iOS, and Windows apps
with a single shared .NET code base
Access to the full spectrum of functionality exposed
by the underlying platform and device, including
platform-specific capabilities

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Now that we have
looked at the leading
frameworks for front-
end web development,
we will try to map
which framework is the
right fit for a particular
business scenario.
Which Framework Should You Choose?

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Select
Angular JS
Select
React JS
Select
Bootstrap
Select
Ionic
Here’s what we recommend to our customers:
If you want to create a dynamic single-page web
application at a snap
If you want your web application to have rich features
If your web application needs to undergo content changes
frequently
If you need to meet the naturally increasing demand for
sophisticated user experiences
If you need a cost-effective alternative to native mobile
app development
If you want to build large scale applications with data
that changes over time
If your business belongs to ecommerce, travel, video
conferencing, video chat, social media apps etc.
If you want to develop mobile-first, responsive projects on
the web
If you need a static web application with minimal user
interactions, and a responsive UI
If you want to develop a cross-platform application with a
native looking user interface
If you need a reasonable solution to build a simple
application without a complex front-end
If you do not wish to employ third-party solutions
separately (in Ionic it comes integrated with the software)
If you are looking for a “develop once, deploy anywhere”
kind of framework support
If you do not want to face platform-specific problems for
your mobile or web application

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Select
Backbone JS
Select
Ember JS
Select
Xamarin
If your purpose is to develop fast, high-performing single
page web application
If your single-page application is simple and requires only
few dependencies
If you want to keep different parts of your application
synchronized (for example: multiple clients and server)
If you are looking for a scalable and flexible front-end
development option for your tech startup
If you wish to develop an ambitious web application that
can utilize the features available only on native apps
If you want to manage your application’s logic depending
on the current state of your app
If you need a “long-lived” app that can be open for hours
at a stretch without having to be refreshed, and the user
can still make new data requests
If you want to develop and publish native applications in
the shortest time limit, without having to know multiple
programming languages (You can develop using C# itself)
If you want to reduce the development cost of your mobile
app, because Xamarin allows you to develop once for all
the target devices

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Points to Consider while Choosing a
Front-End Framework
The idea of developing a new application or product
can be exciting, but organizations need to face plenty
of challenges while deciding upon the right front-end
framework to meet their application requirements.
Front-end frameworks simplify the development effort
of enterprises and enable them to offer a great user
experience. Companies prefer one front-end technology
over the other for multiple reasons; if some prefer
vertical stability, others might look at the core strengths
of their development team, availability of support and
numerous other factors.
Here we share our insights on how to select the right
front-end framework for web development.

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Prior to selecting a front-end development framework for your business, analyze the following
factors:
The Deciding Factors
Factor Framework’s capability
Flexibility
Architectural
decision-making
Performance &
Productivity
Support for Mobile
Server-side
Rendering
Does it provide a wide range of options for configuration?
Is it easy to customize as per your requirements?
Does it offer the ability to swap components?
Ease of integration with other libraries?
Does it automatically preselect architectural decisions?
Or will it leave the decision-making open for you?
Is it capable of running on minimalist resources?
Is the framework compact and lightweight?
Framework’s ability to minimize every block of code
Code size and its impact on browser performance
Is it a contemporary web front-end stack?
Opportunities to reuse codes in cross-platform
development?
Does the framework provide option to add server
rendering with plugins?
Else, does it minimize the page load-time in single page
applications?

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Community &
Support
Learning Resources
Is the framework tested and trusted in the developer
circle?
Is there ample support for troubleshooting and
debugging?
Developer tools and unit testing support?
Are the learning resources easy to retrieve?
Do they reduce your learning curve?
Is the framework well adopted by community?
Is enough documentation available on the discussions?

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CONCLUSION
Whether you are working in a small or large project, individually or as a team,
determining a front-end framework is crucial for the success of your project. Great
business ideas need landing gear as well as wings. Leveraging front-end frameworks
enables you to develop your digital estate quickly and efficiently, providing a seamless
and engaging user experience. Over time, the frameworks that we have discussed
in this white paper will evolve, their popularities might vary, and your business
requirements will change.
Zerone Tech Team is a bunch of technology enthusiasts
at Zerone Consulting who have hands-on expertise in a
vast variety of technologies essential to keep businesses
running in the competitive world. The team is committed to
perform systematic research on the novel technologies and
the dynamic digital trends, and share the insights with the
readers.
Zerone Tech Team will enrich you with updates on the
latest happenings in IT and also provide thoughtful
perspectives.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Choose a framework which has a more foreseeable future and
discover how it’s moving ahead with your research.

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ABOUT US
Zerone Consulting is a leading agile software development company that delivers
innovative technology and business solutions to customers across the world. Our
focus is to accelerate our customers’ journey towards digital transformation by
ensuring them rapid delivery, transparency, and cost advantages in the best possible
way. We help forward-thinking businesses to leverage transformation through
Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Computing, Internet of Things (IoT), Robotic Process
Automation, Data Analytics, Face Detection and Recognition, Natural Language
Processing, and Blockchain technology.
Zerone Consulting started its operations way back in 2003 and is located in Kochi,
India. We have a success rate of 99+%. We are ISO 27001 certified with
an exceptional track record of completing and delivering 500+ successful
projects.
http://www.zerone-consulting.com/
contact@zerone-consulting.com
ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE
COGNITIVE
COMPUTING
INTERNET
OF THINGS
(IOT)
DATA
ANALYTICS
ROBOTIC
PROCESS
AUTOMATION
BLOCKCHAIN
TECHNOLOGY

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https://rubygarage.org/blog/best-javascript-frameworks-for-front-end
https://ionicframework.com/about
https://angular.io/
https://reactjs.org/
https://www.danielgynn.com/building-ember-apps/
https://getbootstrap.com/
https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/xamarin/
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/backbonejs/backbonejs_overview.htm
SOURCES :

Leading frameworks to power your front end development

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