Evaluating Vue 3: The state of development in 2023
Tags: vue, webdev, javascript, programming
Published: 2023-02-23 10:53:27

Vue is a progressive JavaScript framework for building user interfaces and single-page applications. The framework is designed to be approachable and easily adopted. Today, it is one of the most popular choices among businesses seeking to develop software solutions.

At Audacia, we have extensive experience using Vue to build [intuitive and user-driven applications](https://audacia.co.uk/services/front-end-development) for a range organisations across many industries.

This article evaluates the benefits and drawbacks of using Vue. We’ll also look at how Audacia overcomes the potential challenges of using Vue to deliver quality solutions. 

## Case Studies

Vue has been popular for quite some time, and today the framework has a vibrant community of users. Vue’s potential has also been recognised by industry-leading organisations. Here are a some organisations who are harnessing the power of Vue:

1. Alibaba: The e-commerce organisation has a large-scale and complex web application ecosystem that requires the best performance possible. They chose Vue because of its flexibility, performance, and ease of development. Alibaba's [platform](https://www.alibaba.com/?spm=a2700.8293689.scGlobalHomeHeader.8.4bd267af6UgFS6)  has been successful in handling their massive traffic, which currently handles around 700 million unique visitors per month.
2. GitLab: The web-based Git repository manager, uses Vue in their front-end development. They [chose Vue](https://about.gitlab.com/blog/2016/10/20/why-we-chose-vue/#:~:text=Primarily%20what%20drew%20us%20to,js%20is%20extremely%20easy.)  because of its simplicity, ease of use, and excellent documentation. GitLab has been able to develop a fast and reliable web application with Vue that is both user-friendly and efficient.
3. BMW: The German automotive company has been able to develop intuitive and user-friendly web applications such as [Build your BMW](https://www.bmwusa.com/build-your-own.html?ref=madewithvuejs.com#/series) . The BMW car configurator allows customers to customise their vehicles before purchasing.

These are just a few examples of how Vue has been used across industries to create powerful web applications. To find out more about projects that have been built with Vue, see [madewithvuejs.com](https://madewithvuejs.com/) 

## Benefits

At the time of writing, Vue 3 is the latest version of the popular JavaScript framework for building user interfaces and single-page applications. This version offers several new and improved features that make it even more appealing to developers. Here are some of the benefits of using Vue 3:

### Reactive data binding

Vue's reactivity system allows the application to respond instantly to changes, which makes the application fast and efficient.

When any data changes, Vue updates the DOM (Document Object Model) accordingly, without the developer having to write any additional code. This means that the changes made in the browser are made immediately, making the user experience seamless and fast.

This is particularly beneficial for single-page applications, where the user interface is constantly changing in response to user input. Vue's reactivity system allows for instant and seamless updates to the DOM as the user interacts with the application. This makes for a smoother user experience and faster application performance.

### High scalability

Vue 3 is highly scalable, which makes it a great choice for organisations with growing software development needs.

Vue is designed to work well with large data sets and complex applications. This means that it can accommodate the needs of growing organisations. With Vue, developers can create a scalable architecture that can handle large data sets. This allows the application to grow with the organisation without compromising on performance.

Additionally, Vue's modular architecture makes it easy to break up large applications into smaller, more manageable components. These components can then be developed and maintained separately.

This modular architecture is exemplified by the [single-file component (SFC)](https://vuejs.org/guide/scaling-up/sfc.html) . With this format, users can group related code into one file. This feature is particularly useful if you have multiple developers working on the same application.

For example, a wholesale platform could use Vue to break up the application into smaller components, such as product pages, search results, invoices, and checkout. All of these elements can be developed and maintained separately, which allows developers to work more efficiently. This also reduces the risk of conflicts when developers work on different parts the application.

### Large and active community of developers

Vue has a large and [active community](https://vuejs.org/about/community-guide) of developers who provide support and resources to Vue users. The fast pace of development and bug fixes mean that it is always improving, with new features and enhancements being added to the framework regularly. This ensures that Vue 3 remains up-to-date, and makes it an excellent choice for developing intuitive front end solutions.

## Drawbacks

Vue 3 also has some potential drawbacks that are important to consider. Being aware of these challenges can help developers make informed decisions when choosing a technology stack:

### Lack of institutional support

Vue does not have the same institutional support as other JavaScript frameworks like [React](https://audacia.co.uk/technical-blog/why-audacia-uses-react-native-to-build-user-focused-mobile-applications)  or [Angular](https://audacia.co.uk/technical-blog/angular-speed-comparison), which are owned by Meta and Google, respectively. This can make some enterprises hesitant to adopt the framework, as they may be concerned about the long-term sustainability of a community-driven project.

However, it's important to note that Vue has proven itself to be a reliable and innovative solution for modern web development, as evidenced in the aforementioned case studies and results from the most recent [Stack Overflow Survey](https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2022/#most-popular-technologies-webframe), where Vue is ranked as the 6th most used Web Framework among respondents. 

Therefore, while there may be concerns about the framework's sustainability, Vue's [extensive documentation](https://vuejs.org/guide/introduction.html), active community and proven performance make it a strong choice for organisations seeking a reliable and powerful web development solution.

### Lack of built-in libraries

Some developers prefer frameworks with more built-in libraries. Vue, alternatively, aims to keep the framework core lightweight by letting developers choose their own libraries.

The lack of built-in libraries might also mean additional time and effort needed to set up an application. However, this can also be seen as a benefit as it allows for more flexibility and customisation in the development process.

Additionally, there are many third-party libraries available, and the community has created a number of plugins to extend the framework’s functionality. These libraries can provide the necessary functionalities or by creating custom components to meet specific needs. This approach also offers greater flexibility in terms of customising the application to meet the specific requirements of each project.

## Conclusion

Vue 3 has numerous benefits that make it an ideal choice for businesses looking to develop software solutions for their operations. While Vue has some drawbacks, these can be overcome with the help of a skilled development team.

At Audacia, we are committed to using industry-standard technologies and approaches to deliver quality solutions for our clients. Our expertise in using Vue allows us to deliver user-driven applications for organisations across a variety of industries.

We can provide tailored solutions to meet these needs. Whether you're looking for front-end development services for your project, or dedicated Vue developers to augment with your existing team, Audacia can help.

Our experienced team of developers has a deep understanding of the Vue framework and can seamlessly integrate with your existing team to provide the additional resources you need.

**This article was written by Audacia Senior Front End Developer, Louis Dickinson. View more technical insights from our teams of consultants, business analysts, developers and testers on our [technology insights blog](https://medium.com/r/?url=https%3A%2F%2Faudacia.co.uk%2Ftechnical-blog).**