Lightning Web Components demystified
In short…
The Lightning Web Components is a new programming model proposed by Salesforce for building Salesforce applications. This model is based on modern and standards-based JavaScript. It allows JavaScript developers to build lightning applications without having to learn anything new.
As this new model is based on web standards and is not tied to a specific framework, it will be easier to find developers who can build Salesforce applications.
By Jonathan Maes
Why Lightning Web Components ?
As a Salesforce trailblazer, you surely have heard about Lightning Web Components during the last months. These three words designate the new programming model, based on JavaScript industry standards, proposed by Salesforce.
Before presenting this new model, let’s have a look back at the Lightning technology.
Some years ago, Salesforce released a new look and feel for their platforms : the Lightning look and feel.
Then, in order to let developers create custom build applications in Lightning, the Lightning framework was created. This framework is based on an open source programming model developed by Salesforce : the Aura model.
Thus, up until now, before being able to develop in Lightning, developers had to learn how this Aura programming model works and how to use it. The first consequence was that there was not a lot of Lightning developers.
As the Lightning framework is very specific to Salesforce the second consequence was the lack of compatibility with the other frameworks.
In order to solve these issues, Salesforce released the Lightning Web Components. This programming model is not based on a specific framework but more tied to the use of standards-based JavaScript.
With Lightning Web Components, developers are now able to build Lightning applications by only using modern JavaScript and not using Aura anymore. It means that every JavaScript developer can now code on Salesforce without having to learn anything new.
Interoperability with Aura
Of course, this new model is interoperable with Aura: both can coexist on the same page, they share the same underlying services,… Thus, the Lightning developments already built using Aura will work side by side with the Lightning Web Components (with a few exceptions).
Although both models are supported, Salesforce advices to start new projects with Lightning Web Components.
Advantage for the Salesforce customers
As it is designed on standards-based JavaScript, the major advantage of this new programming model is that it will be more easier for customers to find developers able to create Lightning applications on Salesforce.
A last word
The Lightning Web Components seems to be a significant change and the future of Lightning development for Salesforce. This continuously evolving topic is really promising and opens a lot of possibilities with the technical compatibility it brings !
