Is Web Development a Good Career Choice in 2020?
The field of web development has grown rapidly over the years. It still has scope for improvements but may not have major innovations any time soon. Being a web developer today is not the same as it was ten years ago. Previously, learning HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and such other languages as well as knowing frameworks like Ruby on Rails could get one a prospective career as a web developer. Today, however, this is not the case primarily because there are many developers out there who have these skills. A web developer now must have what it takes to build websites and applications that are innovative and out of the box.
While it is possible to make a career in web development in 2020, the process is more complicated than you think. Since the mere knowledge of basic programming languages will not do, it is essential to have a competitive edge and skill sets that make you different and out of the ordinary. Today, it is also not just about learning tried and tested programming languages and frameworks. It is also essential to learn new languages and frameworks that have huge potentials and are yet to be popular. The scope for these is high because they can be experimented with, and they may have features that do not exist in traditional languages or frameworks.
In recent years, JavaScript, Python and PHP have been the most popular programming languages. While learning JavaScript and Python in 2020 is necessary, it may not be the case with PHP. Python is not the ideal language for mobile applications, yet its robust features and the ability to build web applications for browsers continue to retain its popularity. PHP seems to have taken a back seat because it does not have what it takes to build modern web applications. However, it is easy to learn and use, and so it is still a choice of some developers.
Two of the most popular frameworks now for front-end developers are React and Vue. Previously, both React and AngularJS were equal in terms of popularity, but Angular fails to be as efficient as React. Vue has grown only in recent years and may become as powerful as React. Another framework that is not well-known but has huge potential is Svelte.js. With this framework, developers can create web applications that do not take up much memory and have a reduced size. It is particularly helpful because applications that take up too much space, often affect the device’s functionality.
For back-end development, Node.js and Express are leading in popularity. Python’s Django and Flask are also in use. Node.js is remarkable for its speed and enables developers to be more productive. Express’ popularity is primarily due to the freedom it gives to the developers. It is highly customisable, and developers can do just about anything when using this framework. Django is in use because it is fully featured, whereas Flask is loved for its minimalist approach to web development. It has all the features a developer may need but also requires the developer to make decisions on his own to build the perfect web application.
Another aspect of web development is CSS. While it continues to be necessary for web developers to know CSS, merely relying on various CSS frameworks like Bootstrap may not work. Developers now must be able to build modular CSS components of their own that can be used and reused in a single project. Among popular CSS frameworks is Tailwind because of its focus on utility classes. It is significantly different from other frameworks because it has potential for experimentation.
Top firms before they hire website developers also take into account whether the web development professionals are able to adapt to new changes in technology. While artificial intelligence is taking over much of the development work, all developers need to be able to adapt to this change. It is necessary to know how to integrate AI in development to make the task more efficient and less time-consuming. It is also essential to know about Content Management Systems or CMS’ which are widely used in business enterprises today. Various CMS’ can be used as a back-end, and the developer has to code the front-end entirely. It is an evolving technology and may become an integral part of development.
Having a career in web development in 2020 requires you to know everything about web application building as well the users for which you are building it. With the growing demand for pageless websites, you need to understand the practicality of everything you put on your site. It is no longer about the features but about why they must be on the website. If you can understand your clients as well as the users and can create a balance to satisfy both sides, only then can you make a successful web developer today.
Further Read:- Should You Hire Web Designer Or Use Website Builders To Build Your Custom Website.
