Potential Technologies for Web Developers to Leverage in 2024

Introduction:

Web development is a fast-growing field and it is vital to be in tune with current trends and advancements. Even the users have higher standards nowadays. They need intuitive design, quick page speed, and robust protection.

If your website lacks these elements, you will lose many of your viewers. Approximately 88% of online visitors will not return to a website if they have a poor user experience.

To this end, the developers must use the current technologies and trends in web development. This is not just about adding new features, it is about improving every aspect of the user experience from faster response and better security to new and exciting user interfaces. Neglecting this development can put you at risk of being left behind in the competition.

Dive into the Potential Technologies to turn your web development strategy success in 2024

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

Progressive web apps (PWAs) are the new buzz in the digital world. They combine the advantages of web and mobile apps and thereby provide a smooth user experience. PWAs offer several advantages to your business such as they can work offline, send notifications and install directly onto devices. 

Take Twitter and Starbucks as an example. These giants have used mobile applications to increase users’ engagement to the next level. You can also take this opportunity and offer your users a native app-like experience without having to spend a fortune.

There are so many resources out there to help you out. Workbox by Google makes it easier to build progressive web apps by managing service workers and caching. Both Angular and React are well-equipped to handle PWA development, thus easing your development process.

Serverless Architecture

Serverless Architecture is the future of software development. It relieves you from the responsibility of managing servers so that your team can concentrate on writing code. This is because your cloud provider takes care of server allocation thus improving efficiency and scalability.

Use serverless architecture to cut down on expenses. You only pay for the time spent on computation, not the time when the servers are not being used. This approach helps with quick deployment and quicker time to market your applications. For example, Coca-Cola used serverless solutions for publishing nutrition information.

AWS Lambda, Google Cloud Functions, and Microsoft Azure Functions are some of the best serverless platforms available in the market. These services execute your code based on specific events in a microservices-based system. You can even get automatic scaling to ensure applications work as expected regardless of the load they are given.

Web Assembly

WebAssembly (Wasm) is your one-stop solution to speed up your web application. It allows you to execute fast code written in C, C++, or Rust in browsers while coming close to native execution.

WebAssembly brings new opportunities to your business. It means now you can develop web applications that were earlier developed for desktop applications. Consider video editing, 3D gaming, or scientific visualization- all this is possible and can be rendered seamlessly through a browser. Some of the largest players such as AutoCAD have already used Wasm to deliver their full-fledged desktop applications online.

It is easy to integrate Web Assembly into your existing projects. You can use Emscripten to compile Web Assembly and integrate it with your existing JavaScript application. Or you can even try out Microsoft’s Blazor for creating UIs with C# and WebAssembly. 

Headless CMS

The future of content management is headless CMS. This new approach separates your content backend from the front end and gives you the freedom to organize your content as you wish.

Headless CMS allows you to create a unified content experience across all channels. It allows you to easily share content to websites, mobile apps, and even Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets. Big brands such as Nike have already implemented this technology to provide a smooth and personalized digital experience.

Migrating to a headless CMS is easier than you think. They are designed with popular APIs for content management such as Contentful, Strapi, or Sanity. These solutions are highly compatible with existing frontend frameworks like React, Vue.js, and Angular. This way, by choosing a headless CMS, your digital strategy is not going to get outdated and you will be one step ahead of your competitors.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Integration

Integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) into your digital marketing plan. These technologies can greatly improve user experience, save time, and provide more customized information.

Use intelligent chatbots to improve customer service. Implement the use of predictive analytics to identify the possible needs of the user. Or you can even come up with content recommendations for your users like Netflix does, to keep them interested and coming back for more.

Applying AI to your web applications is now easier than ever. You can use TensorFlow.js for in-browser machine learning capabilities. You can even leverage cloud-based AI services like Google Cloud AI and Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services. These tools provide pre-built models for natural processing, image classification, and many more tasks.

Blockchain Technology

Blockchain is the new-age solution for improving your business processes. With the help of blockchain, it is possible to achieve safe and secure transactions, develop the NFT marketplace, and improve decentralized identity verification and supply chain management. For instance, IBM’s Food Trust leverages blockchain technology to enhance food supply chain traceability and improve food safety.

It may seem challenging but, incorporating blockchain into your web app is not as daunting as it seems. You can use Ethereum to develop smart contracts or Hyperledger for enterprise blockchain applications. These platforms provide APIs and libraries to integrate blockchain with your existing web application easily.

Single Page Applications (SPAs)

SPAs have emerged as the new trend in web development. They load a single HTML page which refreshes content as you navigate the application. This leads to faster loading times and a fluid experience for the user. It helps to reduce the number of full-page reloads, which is crucial for applications where interactions are a primary focus.

Some of the most well-known libraries for developing SPAs are React, Angular, and Vue.js. They offer different benefits for custom software development. React’s modular and component-based design supports reusability. Angular is a highly capable framework for building large-scale applications. Vue.js provides simplicity and can be easily integrated into the project.

Low-Code and No-Code Development Platforms

Custom software development is now being revolutionized by low-code and no-code platforms. This makes it possible for developers to create applications with ease through the use of visual interfaces and drag-drop features. With this, you can even engage non-developers in the application development process.

These platforms can decrease expenses, shorten the time to market and facilitate rapid prototyping. For example, KLM Airlines applied Mendix to build a new booking app with significantly reduced time spent on the development.

Some of the most popular platforms include OutSystems, Mendix, and Microsoft PowerApps, which provide advanced features. They offer interfaces for integration with other systems and work well with complicated solutions. When needed, you can increase their capabilities through custom code and extensions.

API-First Development

API-first development focuses on strong API design before front-end creation. API-first development approach increases integration, scalability, and flexibility for your business. It is especially useful if you are going for an omnichannel approach.

With API-first development, it is easier to integrate with other platforms and services. This promotes the use of scalable architectures and aids in the communication between multiple systems. If you are opting for third-party services or developing complex, highly integrated applications, then this approach is the perfect choice.

For this approach use tools such as Postman for testing, Swagger for documentation, and Apigee for management.

Conclusion

The field of web development is dynamic and holds a promising future. You can elevate your digital presence with API-first development, SPAs, and low-code platforms. These technologies deliver better performance, extensibility, and usability than their predecessors.

To stay ahead, expand your knowledge of the latest trends like AI, VR, and blockchain. These technologies will redefine how people engage with web applications. However, the important thing is that there is no end to learning and you must always keep on trying and adapting.

Use these technologies to strengthen your web development strategies and prepare to address new user needs.

Harikrishna Kundariya, a marketer, developer, IoT, Cloud & AWS savvy, co-founder, Director of eSparkBiz Technologies. His 12+ years of experience enables him to provide digital solutions to new start-ups based on IoT and SaaS applications.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

What are Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and how do they benefit businesses?

PWAs are web applications that use modern web capabilities to deliver an app-like experience to users. Benefits include offline functionality, fast load times, and increased engagement, which are particularly useful for businesses looking to improve user experience and retention.

How does serverless architecture impact web development costs?

Serverless architecture allows developers to build and run applications without managing servers. This reduces overhead costs significantly as you only pay for the server space you use when your functions execute, making it a cost-effective solution for startups and enterprises alike.

Why is WebAssembly (Wasm) important for web developers in 2024?

WebAssembly allows code written in languages like C, C++, and Rust to run on the web at near-native speed. This opens up new possibilities for web applications in terms of performance and capabilities, such as gaming, video editing, and other intensive applications directly in a browser.

How can AI and machine learning enhance web applications?

AI and ML can personalize user experiences, automate tasks like customer support through chatbots, and optimize systems for better performance. These technologies make web applications more intelligent, efficient, and user-friendly.