What Are The Pros And Cons Of Using Vue.js
By: Iryna Vasiutynska
Tags: Framework, Vuejs, JavaScript

Vue.js is a well-known term in the development of state-of-the-art web applications. It is currently one of the most emerging front-end technologies that are often mentioned in connection with Angular and React.js. Basically, Vue.js is similar to React.js, which is a JavaScript library.

Vue.js, like React.js, is an open-source library, but unlike React.js and Angular, it supports compact file size. In fact, Vue.js is a combination of Angular and React.js. because it uses concepts such as directives and components to control and render user interfaces. It is important to mention that Vue.js provides the ability to control HTML already rendered by the server, which is not the case with React.js.

Advantages of Vue.js

There are certain advantages of using Vue.js, which should encourage developers to use it in their projects. For instance, Vue.js is similar to Angular and React in many aspects, and it continues to enjoy growing popularity compared to other frameworks. The framework is just 20 kilobytes in size, which makes it easier for developers to download files instantly. In fact, when it comes to load times and usage, Vue.js easily beats other frameworks.

Simplicity

The basic idea behind the development of Vue.js is to achieve good results with as little effort as possible so that the user can code using only a few lines. Vue.js is also great for working with components as it needs relatively little overhead because single-file components can store all the codes such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in a single file.

Integration

Developers can integrate Vue.js into other frameworks such as React enabling them to customize the project according to their respective requirements. Due to the ease of integration, Vue.js is becoming a popular choice for web development as it can be used with a variety of existing web applications. As the backend is built on JavaScript, developers can also use the technology to experiment with many other JavaScript applications. Similarly, the variety of components allows developers to create different types of web applications and to alter existing frameworks. In addition to JavaScript, it can also handle HTML blocks because of MVVM architecture allowing two-way communication.

User-Friendly

According to various experts, Vue.js does not require a steep learning curve, which is beneficial for new programmers. Regarding the learning process, it is interesting to note that Vue.js only requires programmers to know the basics of JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, which is unlike Angular or React, where additional programming languages are necessary for advanced coding. In addition, Vue.js can be used with common editors. There is even a browser plugin under Firefox and Chrome, which makes it easier to get started quickly.

Customization

Vue.js is a great tool for developers because all of its functions are readily accessible. For ease of use, developers can easily name the function as they like. Every segment can have separate functions, which makes it easier to customize the application according to the individual requirements.

Few Restrictions

The design of Vue.js offers fewer restrictions and greater flexibility to complete the project. The core library focuses on the ‘View’ part; which combined with the modular approach, and the use of various libraries allow programmers to solve problems in different ways. Despite the fact that Vue.js community is still evolving, there is always someone eager to help with new ideas.

Good Documentation

One of the most important things is good documentation. It shows all the options offered by the framework and corresponding best practice examples. The documentation at Vue.js is constantly being improved and updated. It also contains a simple introductory guide and a very good overview of the API. Perhaps, it is one of the most detailed documentations available for the type of language.

Support

The support for the platform is impressive. For instance, in 2015, every query on the official platform was answered. Similarly, more than 1,400 issues were resolved on GitHub with an average time of less than 13 hours. In 2018, the support continued to impress as every query was diligently answered. In fact, more than 6,200 problems were resolved with an average resolution time of only six hours. To support the community, there are consistent release cycles of updated information. In addition, the community continues to grow and evolve with the backend support of developers.

Drawbacks of Vue.js

Despite the advantages of Vue.js, there are definitely a few drawbacks that need to be addressed. For instance, stability remains an issue since the release of the first version, back in 2015. It means that the platform is great for personal projects, but it should be used with caution for larger projects, where stability can cause financial losses.

Lack of Support for Large Projects

Vue.js is a relatively new language, which is not supported by a large community of active programmers. Similarly, the development team of Vue.js is also small, which means that the platform will need some time to get corporate backing. As of 2018, the development of the framework is not tied to corporate interest; therefore, any changes to the existing framework are mostly depended on the feedback of community members.

In the JavaScript world, adopting a certain technology can always be considered a bet against the stability of a platform. The greater flexibility and lots of options can also become a problem when large projects are deployed as the involvement of different developers can be difficult to handle.

Future Contenders

A small development team also means that the absence of active research may provide an opportunity for another fresh framework to catch the interest of the community. In such a case, the development of the framework can slow or even stagnate. Such threats are valid as major corporations such as Google and Facebook are actively involved in the development of similar concepts.

Language Barriers

Some experts have also cited language barriers as a potential problem. It is interesting to note that most of the coding is written in Chinese language, which often complicates things for non-native speakers. As such, there seems to be a lot of support for the Chinese development community as compared to others.

Lack of Plugins

As Vue.js is still in the development phase, support for important plugins is missing. It means that developers need to switch to other languages for assistance. For example, it is not uncommon for developers to resort to vanilla JavaScript when using Google Maps. On a similar note, the fast evolution of Vue.js means that some of the important information on the Internet may be outdated forcing developers to revert to documentation.

Overall, Vue.js is a powerful framework for developing user-interface. Its small size and customization features make it a solid choice for developers looking for user-friendly framework for web applications. Most of the drawbacks of Vue.js can be rectified easily keeping developers optimistic that this framework will continue to improve in the future.