Why We’re Teaching React
By Bloc’s Program Director, Courtland Alves
As thought leaders in tech education, Bloc’s curriculum is constantly evolving in order to meet the needs of hiring managers. We’re excited to announce that starting November 14th, our curriculum will include the React framework for all of our Web Developer and Software Developer Track students! We strongly believe this change benefits our students and their job prospects, given the feedback we’ve garnered from our curriculum advisors.
What is React?
ReactJS is an open-source library managed by Facebook. Developers value the simplicity, speed, and components of React. Other alternatives include Ember, Backbone, and Vue.
Why React over AngularJS?
The topic of using React versus AngularJS is hotly debated in the programming world. Many have discussed which is the better option, but the truth is it really depends on who you ask. Although AngularJS is the frontend framework that seems to have the most jobs, the adoption of React has been growing exponentially. Below are a few different sources with different viewpoints regarding the two:
NPM Trends — React module is downloaded more from NPM
Google Trends — Angular is searched for more on Google
Similar Tech — Angular is used on more sites in production
Github stars — React has more stars on Github than Angular
Although AngularJS is more widely adopted today, it is slowly becoming an aged technology. Meanwhile, React adoption continues to grow. Now that React is relicensed under the MIT license, the tech community can expect it to keep growing. It’s important that the languages and frameworks we teach are informed by our Curriculum Advisory Board. As David Clements, Director of Engineering at Gloo recently told us, “The general feeling is that … React is winning the race”.
It comes down to this: React is our top choice for frontend frameworks because of its ease of use, flexibility in both web and native environments, and it’s relevancy for years to come.
Looking to become a web developer and not sure how to get there? Bloc offers part-time, online coding and design career tracks for those interested in switching careers. Learn more about our programs at www.bloc.io and schedule a call with a Student Advisor today!
