JavaScript is one of the most popular scripting languages worldwide. It is used by companies and businesses of all sizes to deliver excellent products and services. If you wonder what this technology is good for and how much a full-stack Java engineer costs, this article will give you answers.
How Popular Is JS?
According to statistics, it is the most used programming language with a whopping 64.96%. And it has been holding this title for more than 8 years in a row. That’s why a JS professional is a highly demanded position globally. Here are just some huge names that use this technology:
- Netflix;
- PayPal;
- Google;
- Amazon;
- LinkedIn;
- Uber;
- Walmart;
- Trello;
- eBay.
JavaScript full stack developers use this scripting language to create a wide variety of online products and services. If you are not sure how your online business can benefit from JS, here are just some things that can be developed with it:
- Desktop applications;
- Dynamic websites and portals;
- Mobile applications;
- IoT apps and solutions;
- Command-line tools;
- Server technologies;
- Machine learning solutions and libraries;
- Blockchain solutions;
- Simple video games.
No wonder that 96% of all websites are created with JavaScript by Java developers. So it is even hard to imagine what would happen without it, probably the whole internet will fall apart.
Pros and Cons of JavaScript
JavaScript was created in 1995 by Brendan Eich as a scripting tool for dynamic web content. It allowed implementing multimedia, animations, interactive forms, and many other features for online pages. Together with HTML and CSS, it is a part of core technologies for frontend web development. So it is not only beneficial but rather necessary for almost any online business.
To understand why JS is so widespread, it is important to highlight its pros.
- It is designed with the thought of optimization. For example, it requires less time and effort (code) than C or C++ to create similar functionality. And it is supported by most browsers, which adds to the performance of any online solution. It is also easy to learn and has a huge community of users.
- It also saves a lot of time as compilation is not required. It is also quite flexible and works with many other scripting languages, such as Java, PHP, Ruby, Python, or .NET.
- JavaScript is a high-level language, which makes the programming simpler. It is also dynamic and uses dynamically written code for faster development and deployment.
- Another strong benefit of this language that any full-stack JS master enjoys is that JS is prototype-based. It is built with prototypical objects that can be used as templates for the creation of new objects. It means that one can directly copy and modify objects. It makes programming faster and easier as well as eliminates some redundant tasks.
- JavaScript is primarily used for a client-side of apps or websites. It means that developers program what a client will see on their devices with JS. But it is flexible enough to be used for the back-end too. Some companies choose full-stack JavaScript development.
- An online business can use JS for interactive components to their website, to create web or mobile apps, render 3D graphics, build web servers, combine it with IoT, or even make simple games. It can also be used for blockchain and machine learning solutions, which makes it almost a one-fits-all solution.
- Because of its nature and many optimization options, it allows accelerating build and release time. It is easy to update, there are plenty of ready-to-use tools and libraries. So, speaking metaphorically, instead of inventing the wheel, programmers can build the car right away.
- JavaScript also offers versatile applications. Although it was created for web development, it can be used for non-browser apps as well. It also offers rich interfaces for websites that boost customer experience.
- Everything in JavaScript is treated as an object and curly braces are empty JavaScript objects {}.
What about the disadvantages? There are some but they are treated more like concerns that should be properly addressed during development.
- The JS code runs in a browser. It is great to make the server faster but it comes with a client-side security vulnerability. Also, the use of third-party libraries can expose customers to malicious events. But these concerns are addressed by senior professionals. There are many protocols and tools to prevent it.
- Huge talent pool. How is that a con? Well, because of the fragmentation of the community. Many developers work in specific frameworks (NodeJS, React, Angular, etc) and not with pure JS (known as Vanilla JavaScript). So when hiring JS developers keep in mind that they need to have experience with a particular framework you are interested in.
- JS can be incompatible with some browsers, usually outdated ones.
Overall, JS is an interactive, responsive, flexible, and dynamic scripting language. It allows creating almost any type of web solution and customizing it to specific business needs.
JS Alternatives
Of course, there are alternatives out there that a company may consider.
TypeScript
It was developed by Microsoft in 2012. It has similar benefits and functions but is to be used for large-scale applications. It simplifies JS code and makes it very easy to debug and read. So it is not a competitor but rather a way to expand original capabilities.
Python
It is another high-level and dynamically written language. Python is as fast and effective as JS, so it is hard to tell which is better; it is a draw and matter of preference. It also has pre-made tools and libraries. But Python is a general-purpose scripting language. It is used in data analytics, deep learning, web app backend, etc.
PHP
Often PHP and JS are used together. PHP is commonly applied to backend development but it can work for other tasks as well. The main benefit of PHP in comparison to JS is the cost of project delivery. It is commonly cheaper. However, it is slower in development and less versatile.
Ruby
Ruby is a general-purpose language that is often used in the Ruby-on-Rails framework for web apps. It is more versatile than JS. It is also more focused on making programmers’ lives easier with simplicity, and time efficiency. But it is less common and when implemented badly can damage app performance.
JavaScript Engineer’s Salary Rates
The exact rates depend on the country of hire and expertise level (JavaScript Senior, middle, or junior). But there is some statistical data to keep in mind. Here are annual salaries for full-stack JavaScript engineers in different countries:
US – $113,034
UK – $101,917
Switzerland – $113,059
Germany – $97,567
Ukraine – $30.000
Conclusion
JavaScript is the most widely used programming language today. It is versatile, dynamic, and flexible. It can be used to create a unique website, online store, mobile application, or any other web solution for a business.