Discovery phase in software development: how it saves time and money
The software development process is a complex journey that requires planning, collaboration and efficient execution. A crucial stage in this process is the discovery phase, where the foundations for the entire project are laid. At Yapiko, as specialists in software development and custom programming, we will explain how the discovery phase can save time and money, as well as its impact on the overall success of software development.
The basics of the discovery phase
Understanding customer needs: stakeholder interviews and requirements analysis
In this initial stage, in-depth interviews are conducted with stakeholders to understand their needs and objectives. This process helps to clearly define project requirements and avoid potential misunderstandings as development proceeds.
Market and competitor research: industry analysis and trend identification
A thorough analysis of the industry and competition is essential to identify opportunities and gaps in the market. This provides valuable information for the development of unique features that can give the application a competitive advantage. To do this you can list your direct and indirect competitors in the market and consider both large companies and emerging startups that could affect your niche. Analyse your competitors' websites for information about their products, services, prices, key features and focus on user experience.
Definition of objectives and scope
The discovery phase aims to understand the customer's needs, define objectives and establish a clear plan for the software development project. Setting clear objectives and a well-defined scope is crucial to avoid project drift. This helps to keep the focus on goals and avoids costly deviations during the development process.
Methods and tools in the discovery phase
Rapid prototyping: visual prototyping and early concept validation
Rapid prototyping allows the creation of early versions of the application to validate concepts and get early feedback. This saves time by detecting potential problems before entering the full development phase. To do this, you should identify the key interaction flows you wish to demonstrate in the prototype and may include actions such as navigation, data entry and use of key features. You can use design tools such as Adobe XD, Sketch o Figma to create the visual interface of the prototype. Focus on the general layout, design elements and structure of the application.
Empathy mapping and customer journey: creating empathy maps and mapping the customer journey
The use of empathy and customer journey maps allows for a better understanding of the customer's emotional needs and touch points. This ensures that the final product is designed with the user and the complete user experience in mind.
A good starting point is to identify the users or user segments for which you want to create the empathy map. They can be existing customers or people representative of your target audience.
SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats, Weaknesses)
The SWOT analysis provides a comprehensive view of the position of the project in relation to the market and the competition. This helps to identify areas for improvement and to make informed decisions on how to address potential challenges.
Collaboration and effective communication
Multidisciplinary teams: integrating experts from various fields and fostering creativity
Collaboration between experts from different fields enriches the discovery phase by bringing in diverse perspectives. This encourages creativity and the generation of innovative ideas.
Continuous communication with stakeholders: regular updates and feedback
Maintaining fluid communication with stakeholders throughout the discovery process is essential. Their continuous feedback ensures that the project remains aligned with expectations and can be adjusted as necessary.
Benefits of an efficient discovery phase
An efficient discovery phase reduces risk, optimises the use of time and resources, and improves customer satisfaction by focusing on the customer experience.
Risk reduction: early identification of problems and minimisation of costly errors
Rapid prototyping allows early versions of the application to be created to validate concepts and receive feedback before full implementation. A robust discovery phase helps to identify potential problems in the early stages, avoiding errors and cost overruns in later stages of development.
Optimisation of time and resources: avoidance of unnecessary functionality development and alignment of priorities
Clearly defining objectives and scope avoids wasting time and resources on creating unnecessary features. It also ensures that resources are properly allocated to priority tasks.
Improving the user experience: user-centred design and customer satisfaction
The focus on the user experience during the discovery phase leads to a design focused on the user's needs. This results in higher customer satisfaction and a more successful end product.
Steps after the discovery phase
After the discovery phase, the entire process is documented, specifications are created and development is planned, followed by the transition to implementation and training of the team.
Documentation and planning
Detailed documentation of the entire process and decisions made during the discovery phase is essential to guide further development.
Creation of specification documents
Clear and complete specification documents serve as a reference for developers during the following stages of the project.
Development planning
Once the discovery phase is completed, a detailed plan for continued development is established, incorporating the defined objectives and requirements.
Transition to the development phase
Delivery of relevant artefacts
The transition to the development phase involves handing over to the development teams the artefacts generated during the discovery phase, such as prototypes and specifications.
Training of the development team
Training the development team on the key issues identified during the discovery phase ensures effective and accurate implementation.
Conclusion
The discovery phase in software development plays an essential role in the creation of successful products. At Yapiko we pay special attention to this phase because, by understanding customer needs, researching the market, using effective tools and fostering collaboration, we reduce risks, optimise resources and improve the user experience. Investing in a solid discovery phase translates into more controlled development and more successful end results.
Choosing a technology partner
Choosing a technological partner is a crucial point when it comes to implementing technological improvements in a business. In the last two years, 86% of Spanish companies have increased their digitalisation budgets, according to the study Digital Priorities 2022, carried out by Multiplica.
This means that 6 out of 10 companies in Spain have decided to have a technology partner. This is why the choice of technology provider is so important.
There are many issues to consider when choosing a technology provider or partner. . These are characteristics that they must have in order to meet the quality standards of the industry. However, there are other keys that we consider essential when choosing a technology provider.
In this article we tell you what a technology provider is, how to choose the right technological partner and the basic services they should offer you.
What is a technology partner?
If we start at the beginning, the first question that often arises is what is a technological partner. A technology partner is a company with expertise in new technologies and information technologies. In addition to taking care of the development necessary to digitise a company, they offer advice in the process of digital transformation of companies.
It would be something like a technology ally, a trusted external supporter that will be a benchmark in its sector and will support companies in innovation and technology.
Why is it in your interest to have a technological partner?
You are interested in having a technological partner because the first advantage will be the reduction of costs and the second, the maximisation of the competitiveness of the business thanks to the application of technologies. Hiring an external technological partner allows you to save costs costes in human resources, investment in technology, etc.
However, these are other reasons why it is in your interest to have a technology partner.
- Ongoing technology advice. When you choose a technology partner, you will always have support for recommendations on choices related to technology and your business, so delegating these issues to an expert will free you from spending so much effort on issues that are not strategic to your business.
- Technical assistance and support. In addition, a technology partner will always support you in resolving incidents effectively and quickly and will do so with the quality of being an expert in the service.
- Technological adaptation. A good technological partner adapts to all types of companies, both at a technological level and at the level of different business models. Thanks to their qualifications, they will be able to respond to the needs of their clients.
Choosing a good technology partner and getting it right means that it doesn't matter what company you are, or what sector or business model you have, because the technology partner will know how to adapt to what you are looking for.
Basic services a technology partner should offer
Before choosing the perfect technology provider for your business, there are some basic features that they should have. However, this is always up to you and some of them will be more important depending on the purpose of the service.
On the other hand, a good customer service is important, especially when we are talking about problems that can arise from one moment to the next and where agility is needed to solve them.
In this aspect, is important the support and the communication between your business and the provider.
This means that the outsourcing of the technological service can be for a period of time, until the work is finished and then it will be simple maintenance or it can be permanent, with the support of the technological partner at all times.
In other words, the collaboration can be carried out with actions or projects as needed or through a permanent service agreement for a longer period of time.
It would be good if your technology partner has extensive knowledge of your sector. This will help them adapt to your business objective, understand your needs and know how to strengthen the technology outsourcing service.
The experience of your technology partner is also important. Just as your technology partner needs to know your industry well, it is also important that they have experience. This way he or she will know the most common mistakes, what works and what doesn't work.
To recap, here is what you should consider, as a minimum, when choosing your technological partner:
- Good customer service.
- Technical support and communication.
- Extensive knowledge of the sector.
- Experience in the business.
Keys to choosing a technology partner
However, leaving aside the more intrinsic issues of an outsourced service, which are minimal and basic for everything to go well, there are some keys to choosing a technology partner and getting it right.
- Aligned objectives. We refer to the connection that exists between two companies when both are aligned. This is very important when working together and is the source of the good atmosphere and trust that must exist between the parties.
- Agility in the process: communications and implementation. When two companies work together there must be a certain agility in processes, implementations and communications. Choose a proactive technology partner with strong communication skills to keep the relationship flowing.
- Work methodology. The work methodology also includes the planning of the processes and the timing of the project. A technology partner with a good working methodology will be key to ensure that everything goes smoothly. There may be problems along the way, but without a working methodology and prior planning, the project will not be successful.
- Level of innovation. In the technological world and in the business sector, thinking outside the box and being ingenious are two essential ingredients to differentiate yourself. Finding a technology partner that has this ability deeply rooted in its way of working will be key to achieving different results, but also to turn over a new leaf if plans do not go as expected.
Finally, make sure that your technology partner is not afraid of challenges s and knows how to respond to potential crises with exceptional performance.
Incorporating technology into companies or improving the existing one also means betting on greater efficency. In the end, the objective of any company will be to obtain more profits and increase the profitability of the business.
Conclusions on how to choose a technology provider
From Yapiko we advise you to take all this into account when choosing a technological partner because, as you have seen, there are many things to consider and you should take into account before choosing the right technology provider.
At Yapiko we have experience acting as a technological partner covering the digital solutions needs of different businesses, so you can outsource the technology needs of your business to us.
We strive to meet all industry standards, as well as give you technical support for whatever you may need. Get in touch with us to start exploring together a partnership that will boost the competitiveness of your business.
Bespoke Software - Examples
The offer of bespoke software or bespoke programmes is becoming increasingly popular in the market. The explanation is simple: in your years of experience in your sector, it is very likely that you have come across insurances, technologies or managements that are not adapted to the way your business needs them.
Something similar happens with softwaree and programmes hat are generally designed for companies and are marketed to different sectors indistinctly. There are software packages or applications that do not cover all the requirements of all the companies in the same sector. That is why it is so difficult to find programmes that cover the needs of all businesses.
Your business model should not adapt to the programme or software, it is rather the other way around. At Yapiko we tell you what bespoke software isand examples of sectors that may need them, so that you can identify if they apply or could apply to your specific case.
What is bespoke software?
A bespoke software is a product designed, developed and implemented according to the particularities of a business. In other words, it is 100% designed and developed for a specific company.
That means that the bespoke software has been customised and created to meet all the needs of your business.
Creating a bespoke software has many advantages: competitive, efficiency, optimisation and costs, but the main ones are described below.
Why bespoke software?
It's easy, bespoke software is the solution for companies that want to differentiate themselves from their competitors. That is, for you.
With a bespoke software for your business we develop a system specifically for you, with the aim of achieving maximum efficiency. This is the main difference with a commercial software, which your competitors can also have.
The business environment is becoming increasingly complex and heterogeneous. Sometimes bespoke software is not only needed to adapt to the characteristics of a specific business, because there is no generic commercial software on the market to do so, but also because there are companies with new ideas or business approaches that need their own comprehensive solution.
Bespoke software therefore boost the productivity and performance of the business in which they are implemented, and with it its growth and ability to meet customer demand.
Likewise, choosing a bespoke programme over a commercial, off-the-shelf software reduces costs because repetitive tasks that can be automated are analysed during development.
Another great feature of bespoke solutions is that they can be used to integrate data from your existing applications. As a result, the information is easier to integrate into your business model, optimising processes as a whole and being able to offer your customers better services and products.
Another aspect to consider is that the use of bespoke solutions using technology such as the cloud means that they can be more scalable than commercial software. Consequently, it increases the adaptability and responsiveness of your company and, with it, the ability to scale your business.
Ultimately, bespoke software provides a smoother workflow, unique services and better products to suit you and your customers' needs.
Bespoke technologies solutions become the key to differentiate your business from the competition and, in the context in which we find ourselves, this is something to consider.
Other advantages of a bespoke software
- Simple interface and use adapted to your needs.
- Easy integration with the business infrastructure.
- Maximum customisation.
- Flexible and scalable.
- You own the bespoke software.
- One-time investment.
- Greater data security.
- Higher quality technical support and training.
- Reinforced brand image.
Examples of sectors where bespoke software might be needed
In the following list you will see the sectors in which bespoke software is most commonly found. So, when you look at the types of bespoke development, you will get an idea of the endless possibilities of bespoke software that we all use more than frequently.
- Banking
- Telecommunications
- Lotteries and betting
- Retail
- Industries
- Hospitaliy
- Utilities
- Music Industry
- Logistics
Types of bespoke software developments
What you are going to see below are the bespoke developments that are most commonly used, but this does not mean that they are the only ones, because as you have seen, this type of development has many possibilities to adapt to almost any business. We also leave you a few examples of each bespoke software development.
Web Applications Development
Through bespoke development we can create Corporate Websites, E-Commerce, Management Websites. This type of bespoke software can have from simple to more complex functionalities and with integrations with other systems that can be used in the infrastructure of a business.
For example, some of the websites or ecommerce of well-known brands, such as Leroy Merlin or Carrefour, where we have all shopped at some point, are bespoke programmes designed with the particular needs of each business in mind.
Mobile App Development
Mobile App Development The same thing happens in the mobile app ecosystem as with bespoke web application development. The concept that it is the companies or businesses that adapt to mobile applications is inverted and it is the bespoke softwarethat fits perfectly with each business requirement. In the case of apps, some examples could be:
- Business mobile application. To facilitate a process or procedure in which information needs to be consulted or supplied: customer orders, inventory control, work reports, etc.
- Entertainment, health and leisure applications games, social networking applications, music, reading, travel, gastronomy, gyms, etc., such as Instagram, Twitter, Clash of Clans, MyRealFood or Spotify.
- Utility applications.. Navigation and geolocation apps, calculators, note managers, calendars, etc., such as Waze, Keep or Maps.
- E-commerce applications and online shops for integrated in-app purchases and, as an example, any application from the online shops where you usually shop would be fine, as most e-commerce applications have mobile applications.
High Performance and Real-Time Systems
Being able to process a high volume of data at very high speeds, bespoke developments of high-performance and real-time systems are used, for example, in Data Analytics and Metrics, Data Aggregation, Streaming Processing, Activity Tracking, etc.
Some areas that uses are Banking, Communications, Gambling, Retail, Fraud Detection,but due to its application to a diversity of use cases, it can be used wherever these performance and processing speed requirements are needed.
Monitoring Systems
The monitoring of systems and services is of great importance for some sectors as it allows:
- Detect anomalies and report them.
- Detect incidents and report them.
- To know the performance.
- Optimise systems thanks to the knowledge of the different periodic needs.
By means of a bespoke software, monitoring is increased and with it efficiency. In this way, the company's competitiveness increases, which ultimately translates into customer satisfaction.
Automation of Manual Tasks and Processes
Bespoke software developments for the automation of manual tasks and processes allow the collection and sending of information between systems or the detection of anomalies. An example would be manufacturing and industrial production systems, in which deviations in production are detected, orders, production processes, etc. are managed.
Development of API Services
The development of APIs is a way of offering operations and functionalities that can be used by other applications, reducing costs and development times and facilitating integrations with other applications and systems.
For example, in the sector of Digital Marketing there are APIS that connect to other programmes and applications to, for example, track user activity, provide specific content or interact with chatbots.
Conclusions on bespoke software
From Yapiko we advise you to lose the fear of bespoke development, because as you have seen, it can bring many advantages to your business.
Nowadays it is possible to develop bespoke programmes capable of covering all kinds of needs. To get the advantages of bespoke software, the best option is to turn to professionals. At Yapiko we are experts in bespoke software development, so we create programs taking into account the needs of your business.
What is bespoke software?
Is your company's technology and software obsolete and not adapted to your needs? Does the software currently on the market not meet your business requirements? Maybe you need a customised software that adapts 100% to your company. At Yapiko we tell you what a bespoke software is, what it implies, what its advantages are, and in which case you will be able to use it.
A bespoke software, like the one we develope at Yapiko, is a computer software that is designed in a personalised way for each client and taking into account the way their business works. The aim of bespoke software is to meet the needs of your company and adapt to your processes when standard software cannot do so.
Differences between bespoke software and standard software
If you don't know much about programming and development, you are probably wondering what the difference is between standard software and bespoke software.
Below, you will find all the differences between the two software so that you can decide for yourself which of the two is best suited to your needs.
Bespoke software
As we have already mentioned, a bespoke software is a computer program that is completely adapted to the present needs of the client, and is implemented to adapt more easily to the possible evolutions of the business In other words, it is a project that is developed to measure and therefore adapts to the company. For example, a mobile app or a desktop app, or a web plataform.
To start deveolping bespoke software different steps must be followed:
- The first step is to understand the requirements and processes on which the new software is to be developed.
- The second step will be to determine how the new tailor-made system will intervene in the company's current management processes, including whether they can be modified to improve them, or whether they should be left as they are.
- The last step will be the most important of all, as it will be time to create the software. Remember that the creation of a bespoke softwarewill be adaped to the company, and not the other way around.
Standard software
Now that you know a bit more about bespoke software, we can see how it differs from standard software.
Well, the main difference is that, unlike bespoke software, standard software is a generic software that is responsible for solving multiple needs and, probably, not all of them are demanded by your company. For a better understanding, standard software is not always adapted to the needs of the customer, as it is not created ad hoc for the company, but to meet a general market demand.
However, there are standard software and tools on the market that can cover the needs of a company and sometimes it is not necessary to resort to customised software. There are even cases in which it is sometimes sufficient to apply a application integration to meet certain needs such as enabling different systems and processes to work together or to optimise their operation.
Main features of bespoke software
To learn more about bespoke software or customised software so that you can decide if it is what you currently need, let's look at its main features.
Tailor-made software is adapted to your needs
They stand out mainly for adapting to the specific needs of each company. This is its main feature, as it is designed to cover requirements that standard software does not. As the client, you must communicate to the development manager what your goals and needs are in order to fully design and develop the software from scratch so it will be totally to your liking and will be 100% adapted to your company's needs.
Great ease of use of bespoke software
Another of the most important features of the bespoke software is that it will be easier to use. You will have regular meetings with the professionals developing your project and you will even be part of the development project itself. You will learn how to use your new bespoke programme from scratch, as it develops.
High optimisation of bespoke software
With a bespoke software you will have high optimisation of it because all the functionalities, being created only by and for the needs of your company, will be used 100% and in the most appropriate way with the required performance.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of bespoke software?
Now that you know all about bespoke software, you only need to know its advantages and disadvantages to finally decide if it is really what you need for your business.
Advantages
The company's costs will be reduced:
It is true that the initial investment to create bespoke software may be higher than if you purchase standard software, although this also depends on each specific case, as the final price of each development varies according to the client's needs.
Improve the quality of processes:
Thasks to bespoke software, your company's tasks are automated and will be solved faster and better. One-off problems will be simplified and therefore the quality of business processes will increase.
Having a bespoke software development will give you exclusivity:
You will have a totally customised development, which means that nobody else will have the same software as you, and that will make a difference in your company. It will reinforce the internal corporate image of your brand..
It will allow you to increase cybersecurity:
The IT experts carrying out your project will be able to effectively store all sensitive data generated by the company without having to share it. This will prevent cyber-attack actions such as the spear phishing.
Easy maintenance:
Finally, you should be aware that bespoke software that meets all programming standards will be easier to maintain and update
Cons
Bespoke software is more expensive to build
Creating a bespoke IT system from scratch is a significant cost and therefore the cost and return on investment must be assessed.
It takes time
Both the process of creating the IT development and the subsequent implementation of the software and training of staff will take time, so if you need something quick and immediate, it may not suit your needs.
Company specialised in bespoke software creation
If you have finally decided that you want to develop bespoke software, at Yapiko we are at your complete disposal. We are specialist in developing bespoke software projects and will be delighted to help you.
Contact us and we will advise and help you in everything you need. You can also ask us for a quote without any obligation. We do this because we are involved in your business, because we want to help you and work with you in the growth of your company.
What is the best frontend technology for your bespoke app development?
If you are thinking of having a bespoke application, surely you are wondering what is the best technology to develop it.
Each day there are more websites and apps trying to get their spot at the top of the search results and engage more users. Getting there is not easy, as it is required to have a good product, efficient, but also to keep it up to date fast. These needs have caused many frameworks and libraries to appear too, offering a set of possibilities than can be used based on the type of product to develop.
In Yapiko we have more than 7 years of experience now, and with it we have learned that the aforementioned requirements are key for success.
In this article we will try to explain why we chose it over other possibilities, why it has also become our first option, and also other alternatives that could work with your project
React, the best technology
React is a free library of JavaScript, one of the most used languages in web development. React eases the development load by combining the front and back ends. This means that the styling and logic of the app can be done simultaneously in the same place and using React only, so the tech stack required stays small compared to other options and developers can get more experience faster.
Its main advantages are:
Easy to develop
React makes it painless to create interactive UIs. Design simple views for each state in the application, and React will efficiently update and render just the right components when the data changes, so it gives a richer and more fluid user experience.
Declarative views make the code more predictable and easier to debug, thus saving development time.
Component-Based
It allows to create simple components that can be reused anywhere in the app, like the menu or different types of buttons that will appear many times throughout the app, but that will need to be created only once. This means that during development any change that affects for example 12 buttons, can be done easily changing the single component where the button is, so changes can be applied and compared faster, while keeping a consistent look of the app.
Learn Once, Write Anywhere
Develop new features in React for multiple platforms without rewriting existing code.
React can also render on the server using Node and power mobile apps using React Native, which can use the same code for both Android and iOS, so with the code of one, we get two apps ready for the vast majority of the smartphones market.
Community
React has a a strong and growing community (it’s the top JS framework according to GitHub) and has a huge variety of free libraries, which allow to implement features without the need to develop them from scratch, like theming, customizable components, widgets and share buttons from social media, user authentication with captcha security and other types of forms, and many more that will facilitate their implementation.
SEO
Since it is a JavaScript framework, the content is client-side rendered which affects negatively since Google would get mostly an empty page, waiting for the JavaScript code to work, However Google has been improving this side in the last years and is not as much of an issue as it once was.
But React can also be server-side rendered thanks to others tools like Gatsby.js and Next.js, which can make the website load faster in older computers or smartphones, and spare Google from having to execute the JavaScript code to read the content of the page.
Although it was released a few years ago, it has been growing every year and has become the 2nd most used framework by professional developers surpassing Angular.
It has also kept the first and second positions for the most beloved for 4 years straight with a percentage of 67-75% “of developers who are developing with the language or technology and have expressed interest in continuing to develop with it”
Usage of React and other Frameworks by professional developers in Stackoverflow | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Graph | Percentage | Growth per year | Position |
2017 |  | 12.6% | 311% (according to the | 4th |
2018 |  | 28.3% | 15.7% | 3rd |
2019 |  | 32.3% | 4% | 3rd |
2020 |  | 36.8% | 4.5% | 2nd |
Only second to jQuery, which is suited for simpler web building, the future of React looks promising with a constant growth and a huge community that loves it and assures that it will stay relevant for many years more.
Used by:
- Facebook: StackShare
- Instagram: Developer velocity is a defining value of Instagram’s mobile engineering. In early 2016, we started exploring using React Native to allow product teams to ship features faster through code sharing and higher iteration speeds (React Native at Instagram)
- Reddit: StackShare
- Uber / UberEats: “…[ReactNative] did seem to fit the UberEATS use case very well. Since the original incarnation of Restaurant Dashboard was built for the web, our team had a great deal of experience using React but limited iOS/Android exposure. There was also a wealth of knowledge about how the restaurant component of the service functioned, which we had accumulated by working on UberEATS since its inception. These considerations made React Native, which provides a platform for mobile development in the language of the web, a compelling option. It provided us with the utensils we needed to “cook” the application we wanted to near-perfection.” (StackShare)
- Airbnb: StackShare
”The primary benefit of React Native is the fact that code you write runs natively on Android and iOS. Most features that used React Native were able to achieve 95–100% shared code and 0.2% of files were platform-specific”. “One of the largest concerns around React Native was its performance. However, in practice, this was rarely a problem. Most of our React Native screens feel as fluid as our native ones.” (Medium post) - Netflix: High performance user interface / Performance without compromise
- Amazon: StackShare
- Tesla: Seen in React’s page: reactnative.dev
- Spotify: They had a Desktop and Web player clients. And event though Desktop was their main client developed with other technologies, they decided to unify both using Web’s React approach of “a much lighter, simpler experience”. And now, “at the beginning of 2021, we have created one maintainable codebase for both of our clients with the high standard of accessibility and speed of development we hoped for”, having React as the core of both. ("Building the future of our desktop apps" )
- Forbes: StackShare
And many more: reactnative.dev/showcase , including the mobile version, React Native: github.com/ReactNativeNews/React-Native-Apps
Alternatives to React for your bespoke app development
Angular
Angular is also one of the most common JavaScript framework that helps developing dynamic, single page web apps. Made by Google, but it is losing its ground and is fighting to stay relevant now, as it has been surpassed by React.
Strong core
It has a stronger core so that it does not rely on external libraries to perform certain tasks, unlike React. This can be a good thing since it unifies development, but it also restricts freedom. React is most likely to have at least one library for the many tasks you will need in your app, allowing the developer to choose the one that will work better for your needs.
Reusability
Components of similar nature are well encapsulated, in other words, self-sufficient. Developers can reuse them across different parts of an application. This is particularly useful in enterprise-scope applications where different systems converge but may have many similar elements like search boxes, date pickers, sorting lists, etc. This behaviour is similar to React’s.
Learning curve
Angular has a steep learning curve. It is a complex and verbose framework with many ways to solve a single problem. It has intricate component management that requires many repetitive actions.
Suited for large sites
Its complexity is designed for complex systems in mind. It can also be used for smaller sites, but it will not be as effective.
Two-way Data Binding
This means that when the model changes, the DOM (UI) is updated too, and vice versa. This doesn’t require the intervention of a developer, so more time and effort can be saved in coding, translating, and updating DOM elements. However, as the complexity and breadth of your project increases, the difficulty of managing UI elements and model states also increases, making it harder to control performance and controlling renderings.
Used by:
- Paypal
- Google services:
- Google Play Store
- Google Voice app
- G Suite homepage
- Google Open Source
- Google Play Books
- Gmail
- Forbes: StackShare
- Deutsche Bank
Vue
Vue.js is a progressive framework for JavaScript used to build web interfaces. The core library is focused on the view layer only, and is easy to pick up and integrate with other libraries or existing projects. On the other hand, Vue is also perfectly capable of powering sophisticated Single-Page Applications when used in combination with modern tooling and supporting libraries.
Tiny size
It is the smallest compared to the others mentioned, so it has an advantage when it comes to download time in the client side improving the user experience and also the SEO ranking.
Component-based
It works like React, diving its code into smaller pieces that can be reused in many parts of the application, which makes it easier to code, read, and write tests.
Community
Vue has a lot of support and is becoming one of the most used frameworks, so more libraries are being added and are easier to find. However, big part of that community is from China because its creator, Evan You, is Chinese, and is also used by some important Chinese companies, like Xiaomi and Alibaba, which although it helps to increase the numbers, it also means that some of those libraries, documentation and help will be harder to access to for us who use English as our main language when programming.
Used by:
- Nintendo
- 9gag
- Font awesome
- Xiaomi
- Alibaba
- Paypal (Vue Storefront)
Flutter
Is another free framework and Google’s platform-independent technology for creating native web and mobile applications.
New language
Flutter is a fairly recent framework, released in 2017. And unlike the previous ones, it is not a JavaScript framework. It is based on Dart instead. While in 2021 JS has a 68% of professional developers using it, Dart only has a 6%. Which will make finding support and developers for it more complicated.
Performance
Flutter apps tend to have a smooth performance which makes a better user experience. Although it also tends to have a big size which can impact the download time and space taken, that can be a drawback for older phones or some people that have little space in their phones and have to prioritize between apps.
Community
It has a growing community which is essential, and although it doesn’t have nearly as much support and third party libraries as React, if it keeps this path it will become an important tool and it is worth keeping an eye on it to see how it evolves.
Used by:
- Google
- Google Ads
- Stadia
- Tencent
- The New York Times
Svelte
Svelte was released at the end of 2016 and is based on JavaScript too. It is an open source, front end compiler to build user interfaces.
Performance
As it is compiled, it means that the end user doesn’t actually “see” it. It is instead transformed into standard JavaScript when it is launched into production. This way there is no need for the user to download anything related to Svelte, instead, they get the JS code that the browser will need in a much smaller size, taking advantage of all the Svelte features but in a more efficient way, making it a more fluid and engaging experience for the user.
Learning curve
Svelte is also based in JavaScript, and its code is also simpler than most of the other options listed above, so developers will acquire experience faster than with the rest.
Faster development
It is also component-based, which makes it easy to create one component and use it in many different places of the app, by having the same component or changing small parts like the text of a button, while keeping the style the same.
Community
Similar to Flutter, it is growing but it is still nowhere close to React or Angular. Support and other libraries will be harder to find, and in some cases creating the required component from scratch will be the only option, which is much more time consuming than downloading a third party library that has already been used and tested by thousands of other developers in which you only need to change and adapt some parameters to the liking of your app.
Used by:
- Avast
- 1Password
- IBM
- GoDaddy
- Philips
Stats comparison
GitHub repository | Stars | Forks | Contributors | Used by | License |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| React | 174k | 35.2k | 1,506 | +7,463,259 | MIT |
| Angular | 76.4k | 20k | 1,447 | +1,958,277 | MIT |
| Vue | 188k | 30.1k | 400 | Unspecified | MIT |
| Flutter | 131k | 19k | 921 | Unspecified | BSD 3-Clause |
| Svelte | 50.9k | 2.4k | 446 | 62k | MIT |
GitHub stats on September 2021
JS frameworks benchmark: stefankrause.net/js-frameworks-benchmark8/table.html
Conclusions
So why is React the best technology for your bespoke app development?
Given the pros and cons of React and some alternatives that could also work, we decided to keep using React because its pros outweight those of the alternatives and with the experience we have acquired in different projects we are convinced that we are in the right path. A path that is bound to last many years more seeing how React keeps improving, becoming more important and relevant every year since its release.
No language is a “one-size-fits-all”, and depending on the type of project one will be better than the others. However, thanks to its scalability, flexibility, support, huge community behind, and our experience with it, React is a serious candidate for your next project.
That is why, after considering the best option for us, we ended up choosing React, and after testing it and working with it, it convinced us and we have stuck with it since then, learning more and more about its possibilities, weaknesses and strengths, and adapting to its constant evolution.
