Over the recent past, websites have entirely become vital corporate tools. They are used at least in every field from marketing to engineering. The high demand for websites has put developers on the spot, a situation that explains the current industrial competition for better platforms.

Regardless of the technological dynamics, a good website should be easy and affordable for use by the web owner or their clients, a convenience which should be prioritized by web developers. Hence, the following website development trends made to the top list in 2017.

1. Angular JS

AngulaJS should be familiar with those who are always up to date which technological advancements in the web-based development industry. The tool is an open-source JavaScript framework that is designed for single paged web applications using an MVC (Model Viewer Controller) architectural framework.

AngularJS is a front-end plan aimed at supporting your web page design process. The new AngularJS 4 is extensively different from previous versions such that, it’s building blocks are data bindings, components, dependency injections, metadata and more. AngularJS also uses a component of hierarchy as its principal architectural concept, and more so, its modularity makes it more of a faster and lighter core.

In summary, the following features make AngularJs an important 2017 trend:

  • It can deliver modern based web capabilities and experiences like offline availability, high performance, and zero-step installation.
  • Enables faster creation of UI views.
  • Boost your web’s Command line tools, for the development side.
  • Faster loading of apps.

2. Artificial Intelligence

It is another advancement that has revolutionized the modern IT industry. AI (Artificial Intelligence) was first conceptualized by tech giants like Google and Facebook, but today many app developers have adopted the tech to make their inventions operate more like humans. For example, Facebook uses facial recognition in photo tagging.

The key advantage of AI is that it facilitates devices to web-platforms to automatically operate without strict human interventions. Hence this leads to improved accuracy, efficiency, and generally better user experience. LinkedIn, a global leading web-based professional site has become the latest adopter of AI. The website now targets mobile users with its improved interface, this owing to the previous research, which suggests that 50 percent of its users use mobile phones to access the website.

AI is not only a trendy dynamic, but it also enhances user experiences. A study by Merril Lynch estimates the AI market to rise to $153 billion by the end of 2018. Microsoft’s Cortana or Google Assistant are some of the high-level web-based AI adjustments of this age. Online marketers and retailers have also adopted this tech as their branding strategy.

3. Virtual reality

VR technology is often associated with video games. Although the tech has been around us for some time now, its potential is increasingly getting realized by corporate bigwigs days on. Bigger industrial players like Google have already incorporated their APIs (application programming interface) to enable web-based VR transition.

The VR tech generates improved customer experience through virtual presentations for products like golf courses and real estate properties. Thanks to this tech, major brands have reported improved sales. Thus, it strategically positions itself as an important marketing and web-based tool that needs to be observed over time especially this period where web users are increasingly demanding for improved content consumption experience.

4. Ruby on Rails

Also referred to as ‘Rails’, the tech is a server-based web application system. Although since 2005 Rails has not shown much competitiveness in web development, the rise of Rails 5 on June 2016 has proven the tech’s influential capabilities. Features like ActionCable and Turbolinks 5 are amongst the favorite in the new re-engineering.

With Turbolinks 5, web developers can directly create single paged applications from Rails stack. Meaning that with the system, developers don’t require client-side JavaScript frameworks. Ruby on Rails 5 performance has also been improved and enhanced using aesthetic flexibilities, which capacitates web developers to shift their focus on the overall website’s appearance.

The ActionCable feature enhances an integration of WebSockets with other Rails applications. Moreover, they enable the real-time writing of features on Ruby in similar form and style of other Rails applications while maintaining scalability and effective performance.

5. Static website generators

StaticGen combines language markups like reStructuredText or Markdown with engines for creating templates such as Jinja, to generate HTML files. HTML files developed from the process can be served and hosted by a CDN (content delivery network), or a web server without using other dependencies like a WSGI server.

The advantage of static content files like CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), JavaScript, and HTML is that they can be served using a CDN at a low cost yet with high scaling. CDN’s can also sustain the high concurrent traffic on a website that is statically generated without dropping connections.

Generally, static website generators work by allowing users to generate HTML files through coding of template files, written in a markup language. HTML generated from this process regenerates each type of templates or markup modification. With the StaticGen, websites can also be created using plaintexts as opposed to coding.

Other techs, like Jekyll, can help enhance the speed, security, ease, and bolster the handling of a traffic surge on a static web. Other common static generating elements include Pelican, which is often used to create a Full Stack Python, Lektor a content management system, and more others. The StaticGen technology has also improved the efficiency of web host managers like the 24/7 WordPress support team in dispensing their supportive services such as live customization of CSS forums.

To conclude, websites are increasingly becoming important tools for individuals and corporate branding, marketing, and more other uses. These means that web developers should rise to the occasion by remaining versed with the industrial dynamics especially in the contemporary world where consumers are getting more inclined on consumption experiences.

Origianl article on TNW.