JavaScript is a widely popular text-based programming language that has been around since late 1995. It was inspired by Java to change the dynamics of coding. It offers an unlimited library of frameworks that allows the developers to create interactive webpages and make changes to HTML and CSS to engage users.
The multi-paradigm language is suitable for client-side and server-side programming; however, ever since the ‘20s, JavaScript is used for server-side programming more prominently. JavaScript frameworks are tools that make using JavaScript easier and smoother. The frameworks offer an app development company the ability to develop device-responsive programs quickly.
The Best Six JavaScript Frameworks to Build Desktop Apps
It’s challenging for developers to find the right tools using JavaScript, so here’s a list of the best frameworks to develop desktop apps.
1. React
React is a popular and the most preferred framework by companies. It was launched by Facebook to develop responsive and user-friendly interfaces that generate high volumes of user traffic. It utilizes a virtual DOM that also aids in smooth integration with any app.
The Features:
Declarative – React provides tools to create UI/UX design for mobile and desktop apps. The framework also rolls out upgrades efficiently as new features are available to ensure the software is up-to-date.
Virtual DOM – It provides with DOMs, and for every DOM, there’s a corresponding ‘virtual DOM object.’ It creates a copy of the original DOM, automatically, the developer uses to represent the DOM.
Event Handling – The W3C object model event system is compatible and offers tools for cross-browser interface development.
JSX – JSX is a markup syntax that is very similar to HTML. The syntax makes writing React code easy because of the HTML similarity.
Performance – It uses one-way data-binding with an app architecture known as Flux controls. It helps control the workflow, and the virtual DOM can leverage it to compare new data and updates automatically.
Component-based – The webpage components are divided into minimal components to create a view (or UIs). Each component is self-contained and can be altered as needed.
2. Angular
Angular is known as a powerful and efficient JavaScript framework that is mainly operated by Google. The primary purpose of using Angular is to develop a Single Page Application (SPA). Developers extend HTML into apps and interpret attributes to ensure proper binding. Angular is written in TypeScript and used to implement core and optional functionality from the libraries that are imported into the apps.
The Features:
Progressive Web Apps – It allows developers to build modern desktop apps that offer high performance and a great experience.
Native – Offers features like Cordova, Ionic, or NativeScript to build outclass native apps.
Speed and Performance – Angular offers a feature to turn your templates into a highly optimized codebase that can be used for JavaScript – the benefits are similar to hand-written code. You can also save the same code on several servers like .NET, PHP, or Node.js that can be viewed and edited in HTML and CSS. The new and improved Angular has decreased the app load-speed time drastically.
Productivity – Using a simple syntax, developers can design unique UIs with the help of command-line tools and popular editors and IDEs.
3. Node.js
Node.js is a JavaScript framework that is mainly used by the server-side, i.e., the developers. It allows developers to build cross-platform and open-source software for businesses. The framework is run through the JavaScript Runtime environment and offers all Java-like features for smooth development.
The Features:
Swift – Node.js is swift and offers smooth code generation that is executed on V8 JavaScript of Google Chrome.
I/O is asynchronous and Event-Driven – The APIs are I/O asynchronous, meaning the server calls each API and keeps moving data instead of waiting for APIs to come back with data.
Single-threaded – The model is single-threaded that allows event-looping for faster code execution.
Scalable – The server responds in a non-blocking manner, which makes it quickly scalable.
Faster Load-speeds – Node.js is a fast-paced framework that has cut down the loading time by half and gets data out quicker.
Licensing – The framework is licensed under MIT license.
4. Electron
Electron is an open-source JavaScript framework that was introduced by GitHub for Atom editor in 2013. The framework offers developers the use of multiple features for developing fast-track desktop apps using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
The Features:
Web-apps like Apps – The desktop apps behave a lot like web apps, and they can easily read/write the data in the computer’s file system.
Popular Apps – Some prestigious apps built on the framework are Skype for Linux, Serene, etc.
Reuses Logic and Structure – With Electron, businesses don’t need a JavaScript developer because the framework reuses the design, and infrastructure of a web app to build desktop apps.
5. Meteor
Meteor, Meteor.js, or MeteorJS is a significant JavaScript framework for developing high-end desktop apps. Meteor makes back-end development, database management, and front-end design easier to execute.
The Features:
A Full-Stack Framework – The framework offers full-stack development, meaning businesses can develop back-end and front-end solutions using Meteor.
Open-source – Meteor is a JavaScript framework and an open-source Isomorphic Development Ecosystem (IDevE). It supports the development of desktop apps from scratch and offers all components that can be used throughout the software development lifecycle.
Isomorphic Codebase – The code can be used for front-end and back-end development along with some great features. Meteor can be integrated with Backbone.js that offer better results.
Database – Meteor.js can be easily integrated with MongoDB, for now, that poses as a drawback.
6. Polymer
Google developed the Polymer as an open-source framework of JavaScript that takes the creation of desktop apps to the next level by offering complex features. The development environment also supports one-way and two-way data binding, which creates an exceptional application area.
The Features:
The Polymer is built on a JavaScript library that has a web-standard APIs, which makes it feasible to create custom HTML elements more simply.
Developers can also create customized and reusable elements using polyfills.
It offers components that can be used to create app widgets.
It also supports hybrid development using Google material design.
The custom elements are available across the network for every developer to use.
Author Bio: Digital Content Producer at Cubix , Jennely loves collecting ideas and shaping them into stories. She also loves reading fantasy and suspense novels. The Prince by Machiavelli is by far her favorite book.
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