As unbelievable as it seems, 2020 is just around the corner. Until now, we have perceived this date as something descended from the pages of science fiction novels, and yet, this is exactly the case - until 2020 is just a stone's throw away.
If you're curious about what the future of the programming world might look like, then you've come to the right place. I may be wrong on every point - do not take my words as infallible truth - but below I will give my thoughts on what awaits us. I have no gift of providence, but I can make some assumptions based on the available data.
Rust will go mainstream
Rust is a multi-paradigm systems programming language that prioritizes security; first of all - security in parallel computing. Syntax-wise, Rust is similar to C++, only tweaked to be more memory-safe while still maintaining high performance.
For four years now, we have been witnessing the rapid development of this programming language. I think it is in 2020 that Rust will officially become mainstream. Everyone understands something different by the word "mainstream", but I believe that educational institutions will begin to include it in their programs. Thus, over time, a new wave of programmers writing in Rust will appear.
Top Favorite Programming Languages
Rust has already shown itself to be a good language with a very active and dynamic community. This is what Facebook uses in , the biggest project in the company's history, so we'll soon see what Rust is really capable of.
If you're on the lookout for a new language to learn, I highly recommend Rust. For those who are interested in a more detailed plan of action, I advise - I started with it myself. Go Rust!
GraphQL will continue to grow in popularity
GraphQL in
As our applications become more complex, so does the need for data processing. Personally, I am a big fan of GraphQL, which I have used more than once. In my opinion, in terms of getting data, this solution is a cut above the traditional REST API.
The REST API in its default form requires fetching data from multiple URLs, while the GraphQL API gets all the data your application needs in a single request.
GraphQL is used by teams of all sizes, working in different environments and languages, building mobile apps, websites, and APIs. If you are interested in learning about GraphQL, check out my authorship.
Progressive Web Apps will make you count
Progressive Web Apps (or PWAs) represent a new approach to app development, combining all the strengths of the web with the best of mobile solutions.
There are many more web developers in the world than native developers who write for a specific platform. I suspect that once large corporations realize that it is possible to use the skills of web developers to create progressive web applications, we will see a massive influx of products of this type.
However, it will take some time for large corporations to readjust, as is usually the case with any technology. The task of making web applications progressive will fall on the shoulders of front-end development, since all the salt is there in interaction with the Web Workers API (native browser API).
Web applications are not going anywhere. More and more people are picking up on the idea that building one progressive web application with universal compatibility will require less resource and better pay for time.
PWA's
Now is the time to get started with Progressive Web Apps - you can start .
Web Assembly will be released
Web Assembly (wasm for short) is a binary instruction format for a stacked virtual machine. It acts as a portable compilation target for high-level languages ββ(C, C++, Rust) and can be deployed to the web for client and server applications. Progressive Web Apps also work with wasm.
In other words, Web Assembly bridges the gap between JavaScript and other technologies at different levels. Imagine that you need to use a Rust image processing library in a React application. Web Assembly will make this possible.
Recording of a speech about the role of wasm in the web segment from a conference with JSConf.Asia 2019
Performance is everything, and data volumes are constantly growing, so keeping it up is becoming increasingly difficult. This is where low-level libraries from C++ or Rust come into play. Soon we will see how large companies add Web Assembly to their arsenal, and then everything will go up.
React will stay on top
React is by far the most popular JavaScript library for front-end development, and rightly so. Building React apps is easy and fun. The team that created this library, along with the community, did a great job of providing a good experience for developers.
I've worked with Vue, Angular, and React, and they all seem like great frameworks to me. Here you need to remember: the purpose of any library is to perform a specific task. This means that you need to think less about taste preferences and more about how to solve this particular problem. Arguing about which framework is βbestβ is completely pointless. It is enough just to choose one for yourself and direct all your energy to development. Inspired? Select from the list and get started!
Always bet on JavaScript
It's safe to call the 2010s the decade of JavaScript. His popularity has skyrocketed over the years and it doesn't look like it's slowing down.
JavaScript developers have to endure attacks - they are often referred to as "fake developers". But JavaScript is an integral part of the products of any tech giant: Netflix, Facebook, Google, and many others. Based on this alone, it should be considered the same legitimate programming language as all others. Wear the title of JavaScript developer with dignity - after all, this community has created many of the coolest, most innovative solutions. Almost all websites use this language to some extent. And there are millions of them!
So the time for JavaScript developers is now very fertile. Salaries are growing, the community is livelier than all the living, the job market is huge. If you're thinking about learning how to write JavaScript, try the book series - wonderful materials. In the past, I have already discussed the reasons for the popularity of JavaScript, it may be worth reading .
The dynamics of the popularity of programming languages
Thanks for reading! If I missed something cool, write in the comments about projects and technologies that deserve attention and interest.
Source: habr.com