AngularJS has risen the ranks of popularity a lot over the last couple of years. Why? Because, not only it has multiple benefits for developers, it’s also the only way to realize the true flexibility of JavaScript. Created by Google, AngularJS is the cutting-edge JavaScript MVC framework for building proper architecture and maintainable web applications.
The huge uptake of AngularJS by developers globally is evidenced by the kind of sites that have been built by using this MVC. Youtube on PS3, Vevo, Localytics, Balance Projector, MSNBC, and Sky Store are some of the leading examples that have been doing really well in the market. In fact, observations show that AngularJS has done remarkably well in a very short time as compared to others such as KnockoutJS, Backbone, Ember or Single Page Applications.
At this outset, top 10 reasons that make the learning of AngularJS imperative are:
1. MVC implementation made easy
MVC implementation on most frameworks require the developer to split the app into MVC components and then write a code to tie them up again. Whereas, AngularJS only asks to split the app and does the rest by itself. It manages all the components and keeps them connected.
2. Data models made easy with POJO
AngularJS data models are plain old JavaScript objects (POJO) that cuts through the typical complexity of legacy data models. With this, developers can add or change properties directly any time. This keeps the code clean, simple and more intuitive. Named as scopes, AngularJS automatically views all properties on the scope, tracks changes and updates the view. Since scope doesn’t have any data originally, they rely on controllers to feed data as required by the business.
3. HTML driven declarative UI
The intuitive and less convoluted nature of HTML used by AngularJS enables a user interface that is declarative. Compared to an interface written procedurally in JavaScript, HTML is less breakable to reorganize. The special features of HTML determine which controllers to use for each element that simplifies app development to a large extent.
4. Parallel development made possible
Apps that require several key operations, need a large team to be working on the same thing at the same time. With traditional JavaScript applications, developers usually step over each other. However, AngularJS can break the various actions for developers and enables them to test and code individually. This makes it an ideal and scalable deal for large projects and makes a developers life a lot easier.
5. Adds functionalities with directives
AngularJS brings additional functionalities to HTML with directives that come in the form of custom HTML elements, attributes and class names that can be used as regular HTML elements. And by placing all DOM manipulation codes into directives, these can be separated from the MVC app, thereby allowing it to only update the view of the data. The resulting behavior of the app is managed by the directives.
6. Less to code, more to yield
The various benefits of AngularJS imply the need for writing less code. The view being defined by HTML makes it more concise and eradicates the need to write the MVC pipeline. Simpler data models, directives separate from the app, filters that can manipulate data on the view without changing controllers and such makes it for lesser code writing and more efficiency with AngularJS.
7. Testing made easy, at a unit level
Dependency Injection (DI) is what links Angular and manages the controller and scopes. Therefore, all data from controllers passes through the DI, and Angular’s unit tests use this for unit testing. By injecting mock data in the controller, it measures the output and behavior at a granular level. AngularJS even has a mock HTTP provider for injecting fake server responses.
8. Contextual and intuitive communication
The PubSub system in AngularJS is contextual. By using a broadcast and emit system, it decouples communication from children and parent nodes. And AngularJS goes even a step further to make the system more intuitive between controllers through data binding. Scopes inherit properties of parent scopes. Which means, in AngularJS, when a child scope modifies any properties, all other scopes coming from the same parent will adapt the same modifications and Angular will update the view automatically.
9. User interface design made easy
Contrary to traditional process, the DOM manipulation code in AngularJS resides within the directives and not in the view. This makes it much easy for UI designers, as they don’t have to look at DOM manipulations and jQuery calls and focus only on ways to enable business view. Web development thereby becomes more fun with this one functionality.
10. More choice with Services
By introducing Services, that provide an outward API and syncs to a server to maintain offline data store and expose methods to push and pull data, AngularJS creates an option for some heavy duty development. Controllers are simple functions that only manage scopes; adding Services whereas creates the capability of resource sharing for multiple controllers. Services are individual objects and let the controllers remain lean and dedicated. However, if complexity is to be avoided, it is perfectly fine to do some light work inside the controller and leave the Services out.
This article pretty much sums up why learning AngularJS is important for a developer today, to not only create world class products, but also make they lives a tad easy.
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Bibliography:
The Coder Factory, Site Point, Java Dzone
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