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Struggling with tools that don’t fit your business? Learn how bespoke software solves inefficiencies, adapts to your needs, and supports long-term growth. A detailed guide for business owners exploring tailored digital solutions.

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Bespoke software development: a practical guide for business owners

Today, many businesses struggle with software that doesn&#039;t fully match their needs. You might be managing multiple generic tools, experiencing frequent frustrations with manual data entry, or feeling held back by rigid platforms that don&#039;t adapt to your processes. Perhaps you spend considerable time dealing with software limitations or correcting mistakes caused by ineffective integrations. If these challenges sound familiar - or if you&#039;ve heard about bespoke software development but aren&#039;t sure how it can specifically help your business - this guide is exactly what you need.<h2>What is bespoke development?</h2>Bespoke software, sometimes called custom software, is designed from the ground up to match the specific needs of a business. Unlike generic, off-the-shelf tools that are made to serve many different users, bespoke solutions are built to support your internal processes, workflows, and goals.Instead of adjusting your business to fit a product, the product is shaped to fit how your business actually works. This makes everyday operations smoother and more intuitive.Bespoke development can result in many types of software solutions depending on your needs:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="/our-approach">Custom web applications</a>: Web-based platforms or portals built for your company’s specific use cases (e.g. a tailored e-commerce site, a booking system, or an internal dashboard).</li><li>Mobile applications: Mobile apps developed just for your business – for example, a custom mobile ordering app for your store, or an internal app for your employees.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="/expertise/web-app-development">Tailored CRM and ERP systems</a>: Customer Relationship Management or Enterprise Resource Planning software designed around your workflows (as opposed to generic CRMs/ERPs). This could mean a sales pipeline tracker that matches your sales process, or an inventory management system aligned with your supply chain.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="/expertise/custom-software-development">Bespoke websites and portals</a>: Company websites or customer portals with unique features and integrations not available in standard website templates.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="/expertise/bespoke-app-development">Integration solutions</a>: Sometimes the “software” you need isn’t a single application but a way to connect existing tools. Bespoke development can include building middleware or custom integrations (for instance, linking your online store with your inventory database, or creating a unified view of data from multiple systems).</li></ul>Industries like healthcare, finance, retail, and manufacturing regularly use bespoke software. For instance, healthcare providers often use custom patient management systems to meet strict privacy laws and streamline patient data handling, while financial institutions might develop tailored trading platforms that precisely align with their unique risk management processes. <h2>Key differences between off-the-shelf and bespoke software </h2>One of the biggest differences between off-the-shelf and bespoke software is how well it fits your business. Off-the-shelf tools are built for mass use and often include features you don’t need, while missing key ones you do. In contrast, bespoke software includes only what’s relevant to your business, giving you better focus and usability.Flexibility is another major point. With off-the-shelf tools, you’re limited to predefined settings and options. But when the system is custom-built, it can adapt to your processes, and be adjusted over time as your business evolves.Integration is also much easier with custom software. Many businesses use multiple tools that don’t communicate well with each other. This can lead to data silos or manual entry. Bespoke software can be designed to connect everything you already use - CRMs, ERPs, websites, and more - into one seamless system.Cost structure is different too. Off-the-shelf products usually have a lower starting cost, often based on monthly or annual licenses. Custom development has higher upfront costs because you’re paying for design and development time. But over the long term, you might save by avoiding multiple subscriptions, inefficiencies, or the need to constantly switch between platforms.Ownership is a big advantage of going bespoke. You have full control over the product and how it grows. You’re not locked into a vendor or subject to sudden pricing changes or removed features.Custom software gives you the chance to build features your competitors don’t have. That edge (whether it’s a better user experience, smarter automation, or unique capabilities) can help you stand out in your market.<h2>Advantages of bespoke software development</h2>One of the biggest strengths of bespoke software is how well it can support the way your business actually works. Instead of adjusting your workflow to fit a tool, the tool is built to match how you operate. This gives you a natural fit that removes the need for workarounds or patching things together with other apps.By automating repetitive tasks and simplifying key processes, bespoke solutions free up your team’s time and reduce the risk of mistakes. The result is better use of your resources, improved accuracy, and a smoother day-to-day operation.As your company grows, a custom solution can grow with it. Whether you&#039;re adding new products, expanding to new markets, or changing how you work - your software can be adjusted without needing to start over or switch tools.Another major benefit is integration. Many businesses juggle different platforms that don’t talk to each other. A well-built bespoke system can act as a bridge between these platforms, keeping your data consistent and removing the need for manual syncing.Custom-built systems also give you the freedom to include features that are hard - or impossible - to find in off-the-shelf software. This could be anything from a personalized customer portal to a smart tool that supports your unique services. These features help you stand out in your market.On top of that, you’re able to build software that’s easy for your employees or customers to use. Since the interface is tailored to the people using it, it can feel more natural and lead to higher adoption.Over time, custom software often pays for itself. You reduce license costs, avoid paying for unused features, and eliminate time lost to inefficient processes.Security and compliance are also easier to control. You can build in the exact measures your industry requires, whether it&#039;s GDPR, HIPAA, or something else. You don’t have to wait for a vendor’s next release - you control what gets built and when.Full ownership gives you independence. No forced updates. No surprise pricing changes. You decide how the software evolves, ensuring it keeps supporting your business as you grow.

<h2>Signs your business might need bespoke software</h2>It’s not always obvious when your existing software is holding you back. But there are a few signs that show you may be ready for a custom solution.If you find yourself constantly using workarounds - manually transferring data between systems, keeping spreadsheets just to fill gaps, or repeatedly fixing the same problems - it’s a sign that your current tools aren’t keeping up with your needs.When different departments use disconnected tools that don’t talk to each other, it slows everything down. Manual syncing causes errors and wastes time. A bespoke solution can bring these systems together and automate the flow of information.You may also notice that your existing software becomes a bottleneck as you grow. Features you once didn’t need are now essential. Perhaps you’ve expanded your services or team and your tools are starting to limit your ability to scale.Industry-specific needs are another trigger. If compliance, reporting, or process requirements aren’t supported by your current software, it creates risk and inefficiency. Custom software can be built to meet these needs directly.Finally, feedback from your team or customers - requests for missing features, frustrations with workflows, or suggestions for improvements - can show that your current setup needs to change. Listening to this feedback can help guide the design of a tailored solution that better supports everyone involved.<h2>Potential downsides and considerations</h2>Bespoke development isn’t a magic bullet – it comes with its own challenges and may not be the right choice in every situation. It’s important to weigh the potential downsides:<ul><li>Higher upfront cost: Developing custom software requires a notable investment. You are funding the design and build from scratch, whereas with off-the-shelf, you’re just paying a license fee that’s shared among many users. This means bespoke solutions typically have higher initial costs​. (However, remember to weigh this against the ongoing costs of inefficiency or multiple software licenses that you might incur otherwise.)</li><li>Longer time to launch: You can’t get a custom solution overnight. Depending on complexity, it could take a few months to several months (or even longer for very large projects) to plan, develop, test, and deploy. If you need an immediate fix, bespoke might not meet an urgent timeline. Patience is required to do it right.</li><li>Involvement and effort: Building software is a collaborative process. As a business owner, you’ll need to be involved in providing requirements, feedback, and testing the solution to ensure it meets your needs. This requires time and effort (though a good development agency will guide you through and minimize the burden). If you prefer a hands-off approach, an off-the-shelf solution might seem easier, albeit less precise.</li><li>Maintenance responsibility: After the software is delivered, it will still require maintenance – updating for security patches, adapting to new operating system versions, adding enhancements, etc. With off-the-shelf, the vendor handles all that (you just update to their latest version). With bespoke, you’ll need to arrange ongoing support, either in-house or with your development partner. That said, maintenance can be planned and budgeted for, and you have control over when and what to update.</li><li>Possibility of changing requirements: One risk in any software project is that by the time it’s finished, business needs have changed or initial requirements missed the mark. This can be mitigated by using an agile development approach (building the software in iterative phases and keeping you involved throughout). Still, there’s a risk that you invest in something that needs adjustments later. A reputable bespoke development firm will usually plan for this by including refinement cycles and flexibility for updates.</li><li>Not always necessary: In some cases, a custom solution might be overkill. If your needs are fairly standard and budget is tight, sometimes it’s better to start with an off-the-shelf solution. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel for common functions like basic accounting or simple website content management unless you truly have special requirements. Bespoke is best reserved for when it brings clear added value or solves a unique problem that off-the-shelf cannot.</li></ul>Despite these considerations, many businesses proceed with bespoke development because the long-term benefits and ROI outweigh the initial drawbacks. The key is to enter the process with a clear understanding of costs, timeline, and responsibilities. By choosing the right development partner and maintaining good communication, most of the risks (overruns, missed requirements) can be managed effectively.

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<h2>Cost-effectiveness and ROI of bespoke software</h2>Is bespoke development financially worth it? Most of the time, yes - especially in the long run.Custom software can save your team hours every week. For example, if 10 people save 5 hours each per week, that&#039;s 2,600 hours per year you get back.Replacing several subscription tools with one custom solution can reduce software costs and make processes smoother.Error reduction and less downtime prevent lost revenue and customer dissatisfaction.Custom software can also drive revenue growth. Whether through a better checkout flow or features your competitors can’t match, the right system makes a difference.Many businesses report profit increases of 25% to 65% after moving to a custom solution.It’s also worth mentioning that you don’t always have to build a massive system all at once. Many companies start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or a core module that addresses the most critical needs, then expand the software over time as they start seeing returns. This phased approach can help manage costs and deliver incremental ROI at each stage.<h2>Reasons to consider bespoke development</h2>There are many practical reasons why businesses turn to bespoke software. While cost savings and flexibility are often top of mind, there are other long-term advantages worth noting.<ul><li>You gain control. When you build something tailored to your business, you’re no longer dependent on a third-party vendor’s roadmap or feature set. You can make updates when needed, add functionality as you grow, and adjust the tool as your team’s needs evolve.</li><li>You reduce workarounds. Many businesses use multiple tools and spreadsheets to patch over the gaps left by generic software. Custom solutions remove these gaps and make daily operations simpler.</li><li>You avoid paying for unused features. Off-the-shelf platforms often come packed with features that don’t apply to your business. With bespoke software, you only pay for what you use - nothing more.</li><li>You can grow without disruption. Custom software scales with your company. Whether that means handling more users, supporting new services, or expanding into new regions, you don’t have to switch systems or force workarounds.</li><li>You build for the long term. Bespoke solutions are designed to last. Even if your business changes, your platform can evolve with you.</li></ul>

<h2>FAQ: common questions about bespoke development</h2>Q: Is bespoke software development only for large companies? A: Not at all. While larger companies often need custom tools, small and mid-sized businesses can benefit just as much. A small team can gain a big edge with a system built around their exact process.Q: How much does bespoke development cost? A: Costs vary depending on complexity. A smaller project might start in the low five figures, while larger platforms with integrations and advanced features can be significantly more. The right partner will help you phase your project, focus on high-impact features, and ensure the investment is worth it.Q: How long does it take to build custom software? A: Timelines depend on the size and scope of the project. Simple tools can be delivered in 1–2 months, while more advanced systems may take 4–6 months or longer. A phased approach is often used so you can start using parts of the software earlier.Q: Will the new software work with what we already use? A: Yes. Integration is one of the biggest benefits of bespoke systems. Whether you use a CRM, ERP, payment gateway, or a legacy database, a good developer will connect everything into a single, streamlined workflow.Q: What happens if our needs change later? A: One of the biggest advantages of bespoke development is flexibility. You can always add or adjust features as your business changes. That’s harder to do with off-the-shelf software, where you&#039;re stuck waiting for updates that may never come.Q: Who owns the software and how is it maintained? A: If you commission a custom system, you should fully own it - including the source code. You can manage maintenance internally or keep working with your development partner. Just like a physical asset, custom software needs care over time.Q: Why not just use off-the-shelf tools since they’re cheaper? A: For many basic needs, off-the-shelf tools are fine. But when those tools start slowing you down, forcing workarounds, or limiting what your business can do, a custom system starts to make more sense. The right solution should move your business forward, not hold it back.Q: I’m not technical. Can I still manage a bespoke project? A: Absolutely. You know your business best - that’s what matters most. Your development partner should guide you through the process, translate your goals into features, and ensure the end result works exactly how it should.

<h2>Is bespoke software right for your business?</h2>If you’re facing problems like disconnected systems, repeated manual work, or software that simply doesn’t fit your operations, those are strong signs that a tailored system could offer real value. If your growth is slowed down by your tools, or if you find yourself building workarounds instead of working efficiently, it may be time to explore something more aligned with your goals.You don’t need to be technical to lead this kind of project. What you do need is clarity on your pain points and a partner that can turn your business logic into a functioning system. That’s where we come in.We’ve helped companies like YOONIT Bikes and growing media businesses replace rigid platforms with custom-built systems tailored to how they work. The result? More efficiency, better user experience, and measurable business outcomes.If you&#039;re still unsure, that&#039;s completely normal. A custom solution is a commitment - but it can also be a game-changer. We’d be glad to walk you through the possibilities, share examples of our work, and help you make the right call.No sales pressure. No obligation. Just honest advice.<a href="https://simple-code.agency/business/bespoke-software-development">Explore our approach to bespoke software development</a> to see how we work and what you can expect. If it feels like the right fit, let&#039;s talk.

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Bespoke software development: a practical guide for business owners

Choosing the right CMS can feel overwhelming. Many options seem similar, making it hard to know what’s best for your business. This comparison highlights key differences to help you identify which platform suits your business model and goals.

Storyblok vs WordPress: Which CMS is Right for Your Project?

<h2>Overview</h2><h3>Storyblok</h3>Storyblok is a SaaS-based headless CMS that relies on an API, providing users with an easy-to-use and flexible interface for managing content. Unlike traditional CMS platforms, Storyblok is headless, meaning it doesn’t include a front-end. Instead, it offers tools and support for building the front-end with the technology of your choice.

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It simplifies backend maintenance, supports modern technologies, and delivers strong security, excellent performance, an incredibly fast CDN, and advanced image services.Storyblok is flexible, designed for content management and organization, and works seamlessly for websites, web applications, mobile apps, and as a CMS for various e-commerce services.While it offers robust features for larger teams and complex projects, experienced web agencies can also use Storyblok to quickly develop simple, high-quality presentation websites. These solutions are scalable and adaptable, making them ideal for future growth.<h3>WordPress</h3>WordPress is a traditional, all-in-one CMS originally designed for blogging, where it performs exceptionally well. It’s simple to use, featuring a user-friendly dashboard that requires minimal technical expertise.

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As a monolithic solution, WordPress has its backend and front-end built in PHP. Its widespread popularity and long history have resulted in a vast array of themes and plugins, many of which are either free or inexpensive.Creating a website or basic e-commerce solution with WordPress doesn’t require technical skills. Its block-based editor, Gutenberg, enhances user experience and streamlines the process of designing custom front-end themes.Although WordPress was initially intended for blogs and simple websites, skilled developers can adapt it into a headless CMS. This allows integration with modern front-end technologies to create distinctive and highly customized user experiences.<h2>Detailed Comparison</h2><h3>Ease of use</h3>The ease of using either platform largely depends on how it is configured during development.For WordPress, theme creation allows developers to customize the maintenance experience for end-users, while in Storyblok, structuring content blocks can be tailored to user needs. The development team&#039;s choices significantly impact the platform&#039;s intuitiveness, making it crucial to select an experienced agency.Both systems are straightforward and easy to maintain when properly set up, but custom solutions offer even more flexibility tailored to specific requirements.

<h3>Dashboard UI</h3>Both platforms offer additional sections for managing global settings and feature-specific configurations, ensuring a smooth content management experience.

<h3>Themes</h3>WordPress has a large library of themes that can be used to quickly set up a website. Many of these are free or affordable, making them an easy starting point. However, lower-cost themes often lack proper optimization, which can lead to security risks, performance issues, or accessibility problems. Custom themes provide more control and allow developers to meet specific needs.Storyblok doesn’t include pre-built themes. Instead, it allows developers to design custom front-ends using modern technologies. This approach takes more time and effort but ensures the final product is unique, high-performing, and built to fit the project’s exact requirements.<h3>Plugins</h3>

<h3>Security</h3>Storyblok, as a SaaS platform, maintains its system and ensures plugin quality, providing a high level of security.WordPress, being open-source, allows anyone to develop plugins, which increases the risk of vulnerabilities if plugins are poorly maintained or selected by someone without technical expertise. Regular maintenance and careful plugin selection are crucial for ensuring security.<h3>E-commerce</h3>

<h3>Flexibility and adaptability</h3>Storyblok’s headless architecture and API-first design make it extremely flexible. Its &quot;Component-Based Content Management&quot; approach allows developers to create intuitive editor experiences while maintaining a data-driven structure. Custom field types and logic can be added when needed, offering unparalleled adaptability for specific or complex requirements.WordPress, with its Gutenberg block editor, provides flexibility for custom themes. While pre-made themes can be enhanced using plugins, the true potential of WordPress shines with custom themes where developers have access to advanced features like conditional fields and multilingual capabilities. However, relying heavily on plugins without proper technical knowledge.<h3>Compatibility with modern technologies</h3>

<h3>Integration with other tools</h3>Storyblok’s API-first approach makes it easy to integrate with modern applications, web solutions, or tools via API connections.WordPress has a vast library of plugins that enable integration with various tools. For specific business needs, there’s often a plugin available, offering significant flexibility for less complex requirements.

<h3>Support and communities</h3>WordPress boasts a massive global community with extensive resources, documentation, and answers to almost any question.Storyblok has a smaller but highly active and helpful community, primarily on Discord. Its documentation is detailed and precise, ensuring users receive clear guidance when needed.<h3>Preview and Live Editing</h3>Storyblok excels in live editing, offering real-time previews across different environments (live, staging, development).WordPress loses its preview capabilities if used as a headless CMS. In its traditional setup, it provides reliable preview features through the Gutenberg editor.<h3>SEO opportunities</h3>Storyblok’s headless nature allows developers to implement tailored SEO solutions specific to a business’s needs. For instance, a retailer using Storyblok could benefit from custom-built SEO strategies to rank higher in search results for specific product categories, driving more targeted traffic to their site.WordPress offers ready-made plugins that simplify SEO tasks, including content optimization and page analysis. Some plugins even utilize AI to help continuously improve site performance.

Still not sure which CMS is right for your business? Let’s explore your options together!

<h3>Costs and licensing</h3>WordPress is free to use, but additional costs can arise from premium themes, plugins, hosting, and maintenance.Storyblok starts at €99 per month, with pricing increasing for more complex solutions. While its cost is higher, the investment pays off with excellent performance, system stability, and included features like CDN services and automatic updates.<h3>Blogging/Presentational website</h3>WordPress is an excellent choice for blogging and presentation websites due to its ready-made plugins and themes. Whether using a free theme or a custom solution, WordPress can deliver a high-quality result.Storyblok, while requiring more effort for basic setups, is ideal for creating high-performing, modern websites with features like custom workflows, versioning, comments, and auto-saves.<h3>Accessibility</h3>Many WordPress themes, especially free ones, fail to meet accessibility standards. Custom solutions, however, can be designed to address these shortcomings.Storyblok supports accessibility by allowing developers to create websites that meet high standards, ensuring all users, including those with disabilities, can interact effectively. For example, a business prioritizing accessibility can improve user experience, increase customer satisfaction, and comply with legal requirements.<h3>Dashboard Performance</h3>When comparing dashboards purely as CMS interfaces, Storyblok outshines WordPress. Storyblok’s dashboard is extremely fast, free from errors, and provides clear, descriptive messages to guide users.WordPress’s dashboard is user-friendly but can become slower and more cluttered, depending on the number of installed plugins and themes. Regular optimization and maintenance can help mitigate these issues.<h3>Editors</h3>The main difference lies in how each platform handles content editing.

<h3>Asset Caching</h3>Storyblok uses &quot;Amazon CloudFront&quot; to store and heavily cache assets. Even when functionalities like cropping, resizing, or blurring images are applied, the caching ensures outstanding performance. Developers can define or dynamically generate image sizes as needed.WordPress requires predefined image sizes for optimization. However, plugins are available to dynamically generate images on demand, which improves performance and reduces manual setup. There are also many plugins for CDN integrations that can be configured at any point.<h3>Front-end Performance</h3>Front-end performance in WordPress depends largely on the chosen theme, plugins, and hosting setup. Custom themes can improve performance but still fall short of the possibilities offered by modern technologies.Storyblok, as a headless CMS, has a significant advantage. Its reliance on modern front-end technologies like Next.js or Astro, combined with asset caching via Amazon CloudFront, ensures superior performance and scalability.<h3>Scalability</h3>Storyblok offers excellent scalability due to its headless design. Adding new features or scaling resources is straightforward, with just a few clicks needed to upgrade plans or assign additional front-end resources.WordPress requires more effort to scale, especially for high-traffic websites. Running multiple instances or optimizing server configurations is often necessary, making scalability more complex.<h3>Multilanguage support</h3>WordPress does not natively support multilingual functionality but offers many plugins that handle translations effectively. High-quality plugins can minimize potential issues, provided they are regularly maintained.Storyblok has built-in multilanguage support and additional plugins for advanced translation features. Developers can even program custom paths for personalized multilingual experiences.<h3>User roles and access</h3>Storyblok allows for detailed customization of user roles and permissions directly from the dashboard. Administrators can define which roles can modify workflow statuses, view specific blocks, or access certain content. These options make it ideal for larger teams and complex requirements.WordPress doesn’t natively support custom user roles, but plugins can be used to add this functionality. These plugins offer extensive options, including the ability to create members who can access specific parts of the application without full admin rights.

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<h2>Use cases</h2>Storyblok is used as a CMS for websites, web applications, mobile applications, as an omnichannel CMS, but always only as a CMS, and it works great for all types of businesses and team sizes.WordPress was primarily designed as a blogging tool, but over time it has progressed and various plugins have been developed. If you&#039;re interested in how WordPress compares to other CMS platforms, check out our blog post on <a href="wordpress-vs-typo3-vs-craft-cms">WordPress vs TYPO3 vs Craft CMS</a>. Today you can use it for blogging, websites with various integrations, e-commerce, or headless and connect it with modern technologies. It should be noted that if you use it for anything other than a monolithic website, then you should consider whether it would be better to use other technologies for the product.

<h2>Conclusion</h2>Storyblok and WordPress each have their strengths and are suited for different needs.<ul><li>Choose Storyblok if you require a scalable, modern solution built with high standards and are willing to invest in a customizable setup. It’s ideal for teams expecting growth or businesses that demand a high-performance, future-proof system.</li><li>Choose WordPress if you need an affordable, user-friendly option for blogging, basic websites, or small e-commerce setups. Its extensive plugin library and themes provide flexibility, but it’s better suited for simpler projects.</li></ul>Both platforms have their merits, and the right choice depends on your product’s needs, budget, and long-term goals. Consulting with experienced developers can help you select the best solution tailored to your requirements.

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Compare Storyblok and WordPress to find the best CMS for your project. Explore ease of use, themes, plugins, scalability, and more in this detailed guide.

Storyblok vs WordPress: Which CMS is Best for Your Website?

In a world where providing a seamless digital experience is key, Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are a game-changer for businesses. This article explores how PWAs work, their benefits over native apps, and how they help businesses reduce costs, reach users on any device, and boost online visibility.

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How Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) Are Transforming the Digital Experience

Every business today wants to provide a smooth and engaging experience across all devices. But what happens when creating an app becomes too costly and complex? The reality is that developing separate native apps for Android, iOS, and web can be time-consuming and expensive. On top of that, your users expect a fast, responsive, and seamless experience – whether they’re on a smartphone, tablet, or desktop.What if there was a better solution to this challenge? That&#039;s where Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) come in.<h2>What Exactly Are PWAs?</h2>Imagine having one app that reaches your users on every device, one that provides all the functionality of a native app without the need for a separate build for each platform. That’s the essence of a PWA.A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a type of application that runs directly in the browser but feels and acts like a mobile app. Users can add a PWA to their home screen, just like a traditional app, but they never have to visit an app store or download large files.<h2>How PWAs Solve Real Business Problems</h2>PWAs are more than just a technical improvement – they’re a business advantage. Let’s walk through some of the ways they can help:<ul><li>Reach Users on Any Device: Imagine being able to offer the same user experience on a desktop, smartphone, and tablet without needing separate versions of your app. PWAs make this possible by adapting to any device, ensuring your content is accessible to all users, anywhere.</li><li>Faster Development and Cost Savings: The cost of developing native apps for multiple platforms can be high, and maintaining those apps over time adds up. PWAs provide a cost-effective solution – you build one app, and it works on all devices. This means quicker development, lower costs, and consistent functionality across platforms.</li><li>Quick Loading and Offline Access: What happens when your users have poor or no internet connectivity? With a PWA, they can still access core features and content, providing a seamless experience regardless of their connection. For example, a user browsing your online store can keep shopping even when they temporarily lose their connection.</li><li>Engaging, App-Like Features Without the Hassle: A major challenge with native apps is encouraging users to download and keep them. With PWAs, users can add your app to their home screen straight from the browser – no app store required. Plus, they can receive push notifications, keeping them informed and engaged with real-time updates.</li><li>Easy Updates and Maintenance: Unlike traditional apps that require users to update manually, PWAs update automatically like a website. This means your users always have the latest version without any extra steps, reducing the burden of maintenance for your team.</li></ul><h2>PWAs vs. Traditional Native Apps</h2>Native apps have been the go-to for many businesses, but PWAs offer a fresh alternative. Here&#039;s how they differ:<ul><li>No App Store Needed: Traditional native apps require users to go through an app store to find, download, and install. A PWA skips this step entirely – it can be added to a user’s home screen directly from the browser.</li><li>Lightweight Storage and Automatic Updates: Native apps take up device storage and often require large downloads to install or update. PWAs are much lighter, use less device storage, and update automatically without user intervention.</li><li>SEO Benefits and Discoverability: PWAs, unlike native apps, are indexed by search engines like Google. This improves their discoverability and boosts your online visibility. Native apps, on the other hand, aren&#039;t found in search results, limiting their exposure to potential users.</li><li>Simple Integration with Existing Systems: PWAs integrate easily with your existing website, e-commerce platform, or CRM without disrupting your current setup. They extend your digital presence without requiring a complete overhaul.</li></ul><h2>Real-Life Success Stories</h2>The benefits of PWAs aren’t just theoretical – real businesses are seeing tangible results:<ul><li>Twitter Lite: With a goal of reducing data usage and improving the user experience, Twitter developed a PWA that loads quickly, uses less data, and provides the core functionality of their native app, all while taking up less space.</li><li>Starbucks PWA: Starbucks wanted a way to allow customers to browse their menu and place orders even with limited internet access. The PWA they built achieved this, providing an engaging experience that keeps users connected.</li><li>Pinterest &amp; Lancôme’s Wins: Pinterest saw a 44% increase in ad revenue and a 60% boost in engagements with their PWA. Lancôme reported a 50% faster loading time and a 16% year-over-year increase in mobile sales after adopting a PWA.</li></ul>These examples highlight how PWAs can improve user engagement, increase sales, and keep users connected no matter the situation.<h2>PWA Features You Should Know About</h2>Here are some of the powerful features PWAs offer that can benefit your business:<ul><li>Push Notifications for Engagement: Reach out to your users directly with personalized messages, updates, and offers. Push notifications make it easy to keep your audience engaged and informed in real-time.</li><li>Responsive Design Across All Devices: Whether your users are on a desktop, tablet, or mobile phone, PWAs ensure a consistent and seamless experience without any extra development effort.</li><li>Fast Loading Times to Reduce Bounce Rates: PWAs load quickly, even on slow connections, improving the overall user experience and reducing the chances of users leaving your app due to long wait times.</li><li>Automatic, Hassle-Free Updates: Users don’t have to worry about manual downloads or app store updates. With a PWA, they always have the latest version with all features and improvements instantly available.</li><li>SEO Benefits for Better Discoverability: Since PWAs are indexed by search engines, they can drive more organic traffic to your app, improving visibility and accessibility compared to native apps.</li><li>Single Codebase for Easier Maintenance: Maintaining a single codebase for your PWA means you save time and costs on development and updates, ensuring consistent functionality across all platforms.</li></ul><h2>How to Know If a PWA Is Right for Your Business</h2>If you&#039;re still not sure whether a PWA is the right fit for your business, consider these scenarios:<ul><li>Do you want to provide a smooth, app-like experience across multiple devices without building separate native apps?</li><li>Are you looking to reduce development costs, speed up time to market, and ensure easy maintenance?</li><li>Do you need your app to work even when users have poor or no internet connectivity?</li><li>Are you aiming to improve your app’s discoverability on search engines and drive more organic traffic?</li></ul>If any of these situations resonate with you, then a PWA could be the perfect solution to enhance your digital presence and engage your users effectively.

<h2>Conclusion</h2>With the growing need for user-friendly and responsive digital experiences, PWAs are shaping the future of how businesses engage with their customers. If you’re ready to explore what a PWA could do for your business, we&#039;re here to help. From providing real-time user engagement to ensuring your app is optimized for all devices, PWAs offer a powerful way to grow your digital presence.

desktop-mobile-person

Why PWAs Are the Next Big Thing - See how Progressive Web Apps enhance user experience, boost engagement, and drive conversions for businesses.

How PWAs Transform User Engagement and Drive Business Growth

How Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) Are Transforming the Digital Experience

Svelte 5 introduces game-changing features like runes and universal reactivity, transforming web development with faster, more efficient apps. Dive into how these innovations simplify coding, enhance performance, and prepare you for the future of JavaScript frameworks.

Svelte 5 - A Magical Revolution

If you&#039;re a web developer, you&#039;ve probably heard of Svelte. You may think it&#039;s yet another JavaScript framework, however, according to StackOverflow&#039;s Developer Survey conducted in 2022, it was the most loved JavaScript framework at the time.Svelte always prioritized developer experience, while producing light and fast results with minimal JavaScript. In fact, unlike React or Vue, Svelte doesn’t use virtual DOM. Instead, it uses a compiler to produce small, optimized, pure vanilla JS chunks that result in light and fast-executing code.<h2>Challenges with Svelte 4</h2>When Svelte came around, it utilized everything in JavaScript&#039;s toolbelt to improve developer experience. And they still do. It is as simple as you can get. For instance, within Svelte components, top-level variables are always reactive, e.g.<pre><code class="language-markdown">&lt;script&gt;
 let amount = 0;

 function add() {
 amount++;
 }

 $: double = amount * 2;
&lt;/script&gt;

&lt;button type=&quot;button&quot; on:click={add}&gt;Add&lt;/button&gt;
&lt;div&gt;Current amount: {amount}&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;Double amount: {double}&lt;/div&gt;</code></pre>Whenever you would click the button, <code>amount</code> variable would update and template would follow. To have a derived value, i.e. to create a variable dependant on another variable, Svelte uses a special <code>$:</code> label that looks at the variables on the right side of the assignment and whenever one of them changes, it&#039;s going to update the variable on the left side of the assignment. It&#039;s perfect.But, in reality, apps grow in size and complexity. Figuring out which variables are reactive and which aren&#039;t can get hard. Also, assignment reactivity works only at the top level of <code>.svelte</code> files, which can lead to unexpected bugs and problems when refactoring, splitting, or moving code around.This is only the tip of the iceberg, but the topic of this article are not the problems of a potentially great technology, but the future solutions to the mentioned problems.<h2>Runes - Where the Magic Happens</h2>In September 2023, Svelte team introduced runes for Svelte 5. By definition, a rune is a letter or mark used as a mystical or magic symbol. In Svelte terms, runes are symbols that instruct Svelte compiler to do specific things. In other words, to achieve something &quot;magical&quot; in Svelte 5, you would use a rune. The magical symbol, that defines a Svelte rune, is the <code>$</code> sign (jQuery fans will love this).To understand runes better, let&#039;s rewrite the above code in Svelte 5 rune mode:<pre><code class="language-markdown">&lt;script&gt;
 let amount = $state(0);
 let double = $derived(amount * 2);

 function add() {
 amount++;
 }
&lt;/script&gt;

&lt;button type=&quot;button&quot; onclick={add}&gt;Add&lt;/button&gt;
&lt;div&gt;Current amount: {amount}&lt;/div&gt;
&lt;div&gt;Double amount: {double}&lt;/div&gt;</code></pre>Instead of every assignment being reactive, reactive variables are denoted by <code>$state()</code> rune. Also, there&#039;s no more special <code>$:</code> label - there&#039;s now a <code>$derived()</code> rune which denotes a variable that depends on another variable(s).This might feel like a step back, as the previous approach was simple and intuitive, but runes make stuff much more transparent and easier to understand, as there is no magic happening in your code until you opt-in with a rune.At the moment of writing this article, there are around 10+ runes in total. It doesn&#039;t mean there won&#039;t be more in the future. However, the most important ones you should understand are (but it doesn&#039;t mean you should neglect the others):<ul><li><code>$state()</code></li><li><code>$derived()</code></li><li><code>$effect()</code></li><li><code>$props()</code></li></ul><h3><code>$state()</code> rune</h3>As the name suggests, <code>$state()</code> rune is used to define reactive state.<pre><code class="language-markdown">&lt;script&gt;
 let opened = $state(false);

 // plain objects and arrays are (deeply) reactive as well
 let selected = $state([1, 2, 3]);
&lt;/script&gt;</code></pre><h3><code>$derived()</code> rune</h3>When a variable (trivially) depends on another variable, it can be wrapped with a <code>$derived()</code> rune to make it reactive.<pre><code class="language-markdown">&lt;script&gt;
 let price = $state(0);
 let priceInEur = $derived(`${price} EUR`);
&lt;/script&gt;</code></pre><h3><code>$effect()</code> rune</h3>To run side-effects when something happens AND to replace lifecycle hooks, use <code>$effect()</code> rune.<pre><code class="language-markdown">&lt;script&gt;
 let opened = $state(false);

 $effect(() =&gt; {
 // This will run only once - when component mounts, because it
 // doesn&#039;t depend on any variables.
 console.log(&#039;Component mounted.&#039;);

 // This will run on mount AND whenever `opened` variable changes.
 console.log(&#039;State toggled:&#039;, opened);

 // This will run before the effect re-runs AND on component unmount.
 return () =&gt; {
 console.log(&#039;Re-running...&#039;);
 }
 });
&lt;/script&gt;</code></pre><h3><code>$props()</code> rune</h3>To pass the props to a component, use <code>$props()</code> rune.<pre><code class="language-markdown">&lt;!-- Cart.svelte --&gt;

&lt;script&gt;
 let { amount, price = 0 } = $props();
&lt;/script&gt;

&lt;div&gt;Price for {amount} items is {amount * price} EUR.&lt;/div&gt;</code></pre><pre><code class="language-markdown">&lt;!-- Shop.svelte --&gt;
 
&lt;script&gt;
 import Cart from &#039;Cart.svelte&#039;;
&lt;/script&gt;

&lt;Cart amount={5} price={12} /&gt;</code></pre><h2>But that&#039;s not all!</h2>Runes are not the only new magical thing brought to Svelte. In fact, there’s a handful of new and improved features in Svelte 5.Svelte 5 is a ground-up rewrite, meaning that its entire core was rewritten and improved, which means smaller, better and faster apps. Main optimizations include more efficient memory usage, faster compilation times, and reduced bundle sizes.Also, it brings new and improved TypeScript support, which brings better type inference and more robust type checking.Snippets and <code>@render</code> tags are another new thing. They are a way to create reusable chunks of markup inside your components to reduce duplications and possible bugs and errors.<pre><code class="language-markdown">{#snippet figure(image)}
 &lt;figure&gt;
 &lt;img
 src={image.src}
 alt={image.caption}
 width={image.width}
 height={image.height}
 /&gt;
 &lt;figcaption&gt;{image.caption}&lt;/figcaption&gt;
 &lt;/figure&gt;
{/snippet}

{#each images as image}
 {#if image.href}
 &lt;a href={image.href}&gt;
 {@render figure(image)}
 &lt;/a&gt;
 {:else}
 {@render figure(image)}
 {/if}
{/each}</code></pre>But, one of the most important new aspects in Svelte 5 alongside runes is universal reactivity which means reactive statements/runes in files other than Svelte components. To enable reactivity in other files, they need to end in <code>.svelte.js</code> or <code>.svelte.ts</code> to tell Svelte compiler that runes are possibly present there.<pre><code>// cart.svelte.js
export function createCart() {
 let amount = $state(0);

 return {
 get amount() { return amount },
 add: () =&gt; amount += 1
 };
}</code></pre><pre><code class="language-markdown">&lt;!-- Cart.svelte --&gt;

&lt;script&gt;
 import { createCart } from &#039;./cart.svelte.js&#039;;

 const cart = createCart();
&lt;/script&gt;

&lt;button onclick={cart.add}&gt;Add to Cart&lt;/button&gt;
&lt;div&gt;Current items in cart: {cart.amount}&lt;/div&gt;</code></pre>

<h2>Conclusion</h2>At the moment of writing this article, Svelte 5 milestone is 97% done, which means there shouldn’t be that many breaking changes, and opting in runes mode should be fairly safe, even for smaller production code apps. Once it’s done, it could improve the entire Svelte ecosystem big time, and improve the JS developer experince once again. The time is now to get ahead and learn more about Svelte’s revolution. Who knows, maybe you’ll ditch some other frameworks in favor of Svelte. You can check the resources below to find out more:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://github.com/sveltejs/svelte/milestone/9">https://github.com/sveltejs/svelte/milestone/9</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://svelte.dev/blog/runes">https://svelte.dev/blog/runes</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://svelte-5-preview.vercel.app/docs/introduction">https://svelte-5-preview.vercel.app/docs/introduction</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://github.com/sveltejs/svelte">https://github.com/sveltejs/svelte</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://svelte.dev/">https://svelte.dev/</a></li></ul>

svelte-5

Discover how Svelte 5's runes and reactivity enhancements create faster, lighter web apps, pushing the boundaries of JavaScript development.

Svelte 5 Revolutionizes Web Development with Runes

Svelte 5 - A magical revolution

Website hacks can devastate your business. Understand the reasons behind hacks, learn about secure content management systems, and discover practical steps to prevent attacks. This guide provides essential knowledge to keep your website safe and your data secure.

Why Websites Are Hacked and How to Protect Yours

Website security is crucial for any business or individual with an online presence. Knowing the risks and how to protect against them is essential today. This article explores why websites get hacked, how it happens, and what steps you can take to keep your site secure.<h2>Why Websites Become Targets</h2>Hackers target websites for several reasons:<ul><li>Stealing valuable data like customer information and financial details</li><li>Using server resources for activities like cryptocurrency mining</li><li>Damaging reputation by defacing websites or spreading malware</li><li>Automated attacks by bots scanning for weaknesses</li></ul>Many website owners are surprised to learn that many hacks are done by automated bots constantly scanning the internet for vulnerable sites.<h2>Common Vulnerabilities</h2>Several weaknesses make websites easy targets for hackers. Key vulnerabilities include:<ul><li>Outdated software, including CMS, plugins, and themes</li><li>Weak passwords</li><li>Insecure hosting environments</li><li>Lack of SSL/TLS encryption</li><li>Unpatched security holes in custom code</li></ul>Addressing these common issues can significantly improve your site&#039;s security.<h3>Specific Threats and How to Handle Them</h3>SQL Injection VulnerabilitiesSQL injection occurs when attackers insert harmful SQL code into application queries, potentially gaining unauthorized access to the database. To prevent this, always use parameterized queries and validate user inputs.Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) WeaknessesXSS attacks involve injecting harmful scripts into web pages viewed by other users. Implement proper input validation and use Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to reduce this risk.Broken Authentication and Session ManagementWeak authentication mechanisms can lead to account compromises. Implement strong password policies, use secure session management, and consider multi-factor authentication.Regularly updating your content management system (CMS) or plugins often includes critical security patches, not just new features. Keeping your software up-to-date is a fundamental security step.<h2>Choosing a Secure CMS</h2>When selecting a content management system, security should be a top consideration. Popular options include:<ul><li>WordPress: Large community, frequent updates, extensive plugin ecosystem</li><li>Craft CMS: Known for its flexibility and strong security features, suitable for a wide range of projects</li><li>TYPO3: A robust CMS with advanced security features, often used for enterprise-level websites</li><li>Static site generators (e.g., Hugo, Jekyll): More secure due to the lack of a database</li></ul>However, remember that no CMS is inherently secure - proper maintenance and configuration are key.<h2>Essential Security Measures</h2>Preventing website hacks involves several key practices:<ul><li>Regular software updates</li><li>Strong, unique passwords (consider using a password manager)</li><li>Two-factor authentication</li><li>Regular backups</li><li>SSL/TLS encryption (HTTPS)</li><li>Web Application Firewall (WAF)</li><li>Security plugins or services</li></ul>Implementing these measures can significantly reduce the risk of your website being compromised. Regular backups ensure you can quickly restore your site if a breach occurs, while HTTPS encrypts data transferred between your server and visitors, improving security and visitor confidence.<h2>Advanced Security Strategies</h2>For those looking to further enhance their website&#039;s security, consider these advanced measures:<ul><li>File integrity monitoring</li><li>Intrusion detection systems</li><li>Regular security audits and penetration testing</li><li>IP whitelisting for admin access</li><li>Content Delivery Network (CDN) with security features</li><li>Database encryption</li></ul>These strategies provide additional layers of protection and can help detect and prevent sophisticated attacks.<h2>The Importance of Regular Maintenance</h2>Maintaining website security is an ongoing process. Here&#039;s a recommended maintenance routine:<ul><li>Set aside time each month for updates</li><li>Test updates on a staging site before applying to the live site</li><li>Subscribe to security notifications for your CMS and plugins</li><li>Regularly review and update user permissions</li><li>Monitor website logs for suspicious activity</li><li>Keep your local development environment secure</li></ul>By following these steps, you can stay ahead of potential security threats and ensure your website remains protected.<h2>Getting Started with Website Security</h2>For those new to website security, start with these basics:<ul><li>Keep all software updated</li><li>Use strong, unique passwords</li><li>Perform regular backups</li><li>Install a reputable security plugin</li><li>Enable HTTPS</li></ul>From there, you can gradually implement more advanced security measures. Each step taken improves your site&#039;s overall security posture.<h2>The Role of Compliance in Website Security</h2>Website security isn&#039;t just about protecting against attacks; it&#039;s also about complying with regulations:<ul><li>GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): Ensures the protection of EU citizens&#039; data. Implement proper data handling procedures and obtain explicit consent for data collection.</li><li>CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act): Similar to GDPR but for California residents. Ensure transparency in data collection and provide options for users to opt out of data sharing.</li></ul>Compliance with these regulations not only avoids hefty fines but also builds trust with your users.

Concerned About Your Website’s Security? Let Us Help You Protect It Before It’s Too Late.

<h2>Conclusion</h2>Website security is essential for protecting your business and maintaining customer trust. By understanding why websites get hacked and addressing common vulnerabilities, you can significantly improve your site&#039;s security. Key practices like regular software updates, strong passwords, and two-factor authentication are foundational. Choosing a secure CMS, such as WordPress, Craft CMS, TYPO3, or static site generators, and implementing advanced security strategies, further enhances protection.Regular maintenance and staying informed about new threats are crucial for ongoing security. Compliance with regulations like GDPR and CCPA not only protects user data but also builds trust.Adopting these practices ensures your website remains secure, safeguarding your data and reputation. Prioritize security to contribute to a safer online environment for everyone.

website-hacker

Discover why websites get hacked and how to prevent it. Learn about secure CMS options, best practices for website protection, and ongoing security measures.

Why Websites Are Hacked and How to Protect Yours

Explore the leading Node.js frameworks for backend development in 2024. Learn about their features, benefits, and best use cases to make an informed choice for your next project.

Popular Node.js Backend Frameworks in 2024

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime built on Chrome&#039;s V8 engine, allowing developers to build scalable network applications. Node.js frameworks provide a structured and streamlined way to develop applications, offering various tools and features to enhance productivity and maintainability.<h2>Express.js</h2>Express.js is a minimalist framework that provides a flexible foundation for building web applications and APIs. Known for its simplicity and extensive ecosystem, it&#039;s ideal for both beginners and experienced developers.<ul><li>Advantages:<ul><li>It is lightweight and flexible, making it easy to build various applications.</li><li>Beginners find it easy to learn and use.</li><li>It has a large ecosystem with a wide range of middleware and tools.</li></ul></li><li>Disadvantages:<ul><li>Requires more manual coding for complex applications.</li><li>Small projects may lack built-in features, often needing middleware to address this.</li></ul></li><li>Best Suited For:<ul><li>RESTful APIs</li><li>Microservices</li><li>Single-page applications (SPAs)</li><li>Real-time applications (with additional libraries)</li></ul></li><li>Official Website: <a rel="noreferrer" target="_new" href="https://expressjs.com/">Express.js</a></li></ul><h2>Nest.js </h2>Nest.js builds on top of Express.js, providing a more structured and scalable approach with TypeScript support. It is designed for building efficient, reliable, and scalable server-side applications.<ul><li>Advantages:<ul><li>Offers a scalable and structured approach.</li><li>Built with TypeScript, enhancing code maintainability.</li><li>Modular architecture promotes better organization and code reuse.</li></ul></li><li>Disadvantages:<ul><li>Has a steeper learning curve.</li><li>May be excessive for smaller projects.</li></ul></li><li>Best Suited For:<ul><li>Enterprise-level applications</li><li>Complex APIs</li><li>Microservices architecture</li></ul></li><li>Official Website: <a rel="noreferrer" target="_new" href="https://nestjs.com/">Nest.js</a></li></ul><h2>Koa.js </h2>Koa.js is a modern, minimalist framework created by the same team behind Express.js. It focuses on providing a more expressive and robust foundation for web applications and APIs.<ul><li>Advantages:<ul><li>Highly customizable and performance-focused with a smaller footprint.</li><li>Encourages modern asynchronous programming techniques.</li></ul></li><li>Disadvantages:<ul><li>Requires a deep understanding of Node.js and asynchronous programming.</li><li>Smaller community support compared to other frameworks.</li></ul></li><li>Best Suited For:<ul><li>Custom web servers</li><li>Performance-sensitive applications</li><li>Projects requiring fine control over request handling</li></ul></li><li>Official Website: <a rel="noreferrer" target="_new" href="https://koajs.com/">Koa.js</a></li></ul><h2>Adonis.js </h2>Adonis.js is a full-stack, TypeScript-first framework that offers a comprehensive set of tools for backend and frontend development. It provides a structured approach with built-in features for common tasks.<ul><li>Advantages:<ul><li>Full-stack MVC framework with many built-in features.</li><li>Promotes code reusability and maintainability.</li></ul></li><li>Disadvantages:<ul><li>Larger footprint compared to some frameworks.</li><li>Less flexible for projects that don&#039;t follow the MVC pattern.</li></ul></li><li>Best Suited For:<ul><li>Rapid application development</li><li>Projects needing both backend and frontend components</li><li>Structured MVC projects</li></ul></li><li>Official Website: <a rel="noreferrer" target="_new" href="https://adonisjs.com/">Adonis.js</a></li></ul><h2>LoopBack 4 </h2>LoopBack 4 is an API-centric framework designed for building robust APIs and integrations. It supports various data sources and provides tools for API documentation, security, and scalability.<ul><li>Advantages:<ul><li>Highly extensible and API-centric.</li><li>Supports multiple data sources.</li><li>Includes built-in tools for documentation and security.</li></ul></li><li>Disadvantages:<ul><li>More complex setup and learning curve.</li><li>Overkill for simpler projects.</li></ul></li><li>Best Suited For:<ul><li>Complex, data-driven APIs</li><li>Microservices architecture</li><li>Applications integrating multiple data sources</li></ul></li><li>Official Website: <a rel="noreferrer" target="_new" href="https://loopback.io/">LoopBack 4</a></li></ul><h2>Fastify </h2>Fastify is known for its high performance and low overhead. It is designed to provide the best developer experience with the least overhead and is optimized for speed.<ul><li>Advantages:<ul><li>Extremely fast and lightweight.</li><li>Built-in validation and serialization.</li><li>Focuses strongly on performance.</li></ul></li><li>Disadvantages:<ul><li>Smaller ecosystem compared to Express.js.</li><li>Less intuitive for developers used to more traditional frameworks.</li></ul></li><li>Best Suited For:<ul><li>Performance-critical applications</li><li>High-speed APIs</li></ul></li><li>Official Website: <a rel="noreferrer" target="_new" href="https://www.fastify.io/">Fastify</a></li></ul><h2>Hapi.js </h2>Hapi.js is a rich framework for building applications and services, enabling developers to focus on writing reusable application logic.<ul><li>Advantages:<ul><li>Highly configurable and extensible.</li><li>Strong focus on security and input validation.</li><li>Large set of plugins and built-in features.</li></ul></li><li>Disadvantages:<ul><li>More complex configuration setup.</li><li>Steeper learning curve compared to Express.js.</li></ul></li><li>Best Suited For:<ul><li>Secure and configurable applications</li><li>Applications requiring extensive plugin support</li></ul></li><li>Official Website: <a rel="noreferrer" target="_new" href="https://hapi.dev/">Hapi.js</a></li></ul><h2>Sails.js </h2>Sails.js is inspired by frameworks like Ruby on Rails and follows the MVC pattern, making it ideal for data-oriented development and real-time applications.<ul><li>Advantages:<ul><li>Code generators for rapid development.</li><li>Excellent support for data-oriented development.</li><li>Seamlessly integrates with databases.</li></ul></li><li>Disadvantages:<ul><li>Can be complex for beginners.</li><li>Overkill for simple projects.</li></ul></li><li>Best Suited For:<ul><li>Enterprise-scale applications</li><li>Real-time applications</li></ul></li><li>Official Website: <a rel="noreferrer" target="_new" href="https://sailsjs.com/">Sails.js</a></li></ul><h2>Feathers.js </h2>Feathers.js is a microservices framework that simplifies modern application development with built-in real-time functionality.<ul><li>Advantages:<ul><li>Simplifies backend processes.</li><li>Built-in real-time functionality.</li><li>Lightweight and highly performant.</li></ul></li><li>Disadvantages:<ul><li>Smaller community compared to larger frameworks.</li><li>Requires knowledge of microservices architecture.</li></ul></li><li>Best Suited For:<ul><li>Real-time applications</li><li>Rapid prototyping and deployment</li></ul></li><li>Official Website: <a rel="noreferrer" target="_new" href="https://feathersjs.com/">Feathers.js</a></li></ul><h2>Meteor.js </h2>Meteor.js is an isomorphic JavaScript framework that allows for the development of web and mobile applications using the same codebase.<ul><li>Advantages:<ul><li>Isomorphic framework for seamless development.</li><li>Cross-platform capabilities.</li><li>Rapid prototyping with CLI tools.</li></ul></li><li>Disadvantages:<ul><li>Smaller community.</li><li>May not be suitable for highly complex applications.</li></ul></li><li>Best Suited For:<ul><li>Real-time applications</li><li>Cross-platform web and mobile applications</li></ul></li><li>Official Website: <a rel="noreferrer" target="_new" href="https://www.meteor.com/">Meteor.js</a></li></ul>

<h2>Conclusion</h2>Choosing the right Node.js framework is crucial for the success of your backend development projects. Each framework has its strengths and ideal use cases, so assess your project needs and team capabilities to make an informed decision. Here are some key points to consider:<ul><li>Most Popular: Express.js is the most widely used and has an extensive ecosystem and community support​ (<a rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.kindacode.com/article/best-node-js-frameworks-to-build-backend-apis/">Kinda Code</a>)​​ (<a rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.simform.com/blog/best-nodejs-frameworks/">Simform</a>)​.</li><li>Best Community Support: Express.js and Nest.js have the largest and most active communities, providing extensive resources and third-party integrations​ (<a rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.kindacode.com/article/best-node-js-frameworks-to-build-backend-apis/">Kinda Code</a>)​​ (<a rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.simform.com/blog/best-nodejs-frameworks/">Simform</a>)​.</li><li>Trending Framework: Fastify is gaining popularity due to its performance-focused design and low overhead​ (<a rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://devtoys.io/2024/06/25/top-node-js-backend-frameworks-for-2024/">DevToys</a>)​​ (<a rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://uideck.com/blog/best-nodejs-frameworks">UIDeck</a>)​.</li><li>Best for Large-Scale Apps and Enterprises: Nest.js is ideal for large-scale applications and enterprise solutions due to its modular architecture and TypeScript support​ (<a rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://devtoys.io/2024/06/25/top-node-js-backend-frameworks-for-2024/">DevToys</a>)​.</li><li>Best for Smaller Projects: Express.js and Koa.js are well-suited for smaller projects and rapid prototyping due to their simplicity and flexibility​ (<a rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.kindacode.com/article/best-node-js-frameworks-to-build-backend-apis/">Kinda Code</a>)​​ (<a rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.simform.com/blog/best-nodejs-frameworks/">Simform</a>)​.</li><li>Fastest Framework: Fastify is known for its high performance and speed, making it suitable for performance-critical applications​ (<a rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://devtoys.io/2024/06/25/top-node-js-backend-frameworks-for-2024/">DevToys</a>)​​ (<a rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.simform.com/blog/best-nodejs-frameworks/">Simform</a>)​.</li><li>Most Extensible for APIs: LoopBack 4 is highly extensible and designed specifically for building robust APIs and integrations​ (<a rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://www.simform.com/blog/best-nodejs-frameworks/">Simform</a>)​.</li></ul>

computer-code-editor

Learn about the best Node.js backend frameworks in 2024. Discover their features, benefits, and ideal use cases to choose the right one for your project.

Popular Node.js Backend Frameworks in 2024

Slow website costing you customers? Discover 10 practical ways to enhance your site&#039;s performance and keep visitors engaged.

Speed Up Your Website in 10 Easy Steps

A swift website is key to keeping visitors on your page and turning them into customers. We recently helped a client improve their site&#039;s speed, which led to better Google rankings and more satisfied users. Here&#039;s what we learned, broken down into 10 actionable steps:<ol start="1"><li>Streamline Your ImagesLarge images can slow down your site significantly. Use the right format for each image: JPEG for photos, PNG for graphics with transparent areas. Don&#039;t overlook newer formats like WebP and AVIF, which offer better compression. For logos and icons, SVG is ideal as it stays sharp at any size.For images further down the page, use &quot;lazy loading.&quot; This technique tells the browser to load these images only when they&#039;re about to come into view. Here&#039;s a simple way to add lazy loading to your images:<pre><code>&lt;img src=&quot;image.jpg&quot; loading=&quot;lazy&quot; alt=&quot;Product showcase&quot;&gt;</code></pre></li><li>Use Browser CachingBrowser caching lets visitors&#039; browsers save parts of your site, so it loads faster on repeat visits. Set up your server to tell browsers which files to save and for how long. If you&#039;re using WordPress, the W3 Total Cache plugin can help you implement this easily.</li><li>Simplify Your CodeRemoving extra spaces and characters from your site&#039;s code can make a big difference. This process, called minification, can be done with tools like UglifyJS for JavaScript and cssnano for CSS. WordPress users can try the Autoptimize plugin to handle this automatically.</li><li>Enable CompressionGzip compression squeezes your web pages to make them smaller before sending them to visitors. This means faster load times. Turn on Gzip on your web server, or ask your hosting company for help if you&#039;re not sure how to do this. Here&#039;s a simple configuration for Apache servers: <pre><code>&lt;IfModule mod_deflate.c&gt; 
 AddOutputFilterByType DEFLATE text/html text/plain text/xml text/css text/javascript application/javascript
&lt;/IfModule&gt;</code></pre>While Gzip is still relevant, also look into Brotli compression, which offers better compression ratios for text-based resources. Some CDNs now offer automatic Brotli compression.</li><li>Utilize Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)A CDN puts copies of your site on servers around the world, so it loads faster for everyone, regardless of their location. Services like Cloudflare, Amazon CloudFront, or StackPath can help you set this up. Use a CDN especially for static content like images, CSS, and JavaScript files.</li><li>Load Important Things FirstEnsure the top part of your page loads quickly by prioritizing critical content. Put essential CSS directly in the HTML file and load less important scripts later. For crucial images at the top of the page, use the fetchpriority attribute:<pre><code>&lt;img src=&quot;main-image.jpg&quot; fetchpriority=&quot;high&quot; alt=&quot;Main Image&quot;&gt;</code></pre></li><li>Improve Server Response TimeA fast server means faster response times. Improve how your site talks to its database, use server caching, and consider upgrading your hosting plan if needed. These backend optimizations can significantly impact your site&#039;s overall speed.</li><li>Reduce File RequestsCut down on the number of separate files your page needs to load. Combine multiple CSS or JavaScript files where possible. For small, repeated images, consider using CSS sprites. Fewer requests mean faster load times.</li><li>Handle JavaScript EfficientlyPrevent JavaScript from slowing down your page load by using &quot;async&quot; or &quot;defer&quot; attributes on script tags. Load non-critical scripts after the main page content. This ensures that important content is displayed quickly, even if some features take a bit longer to become active.</li><li>Break Up Complex TasksHelp your site stay responsive by splitting up big jobs. Use the &quot;yield&quot; keyword in JavaScript to let the browser handle other tasks in between parts of a big job. For really heavy tasks, consider using web workers. Here&#039;s a simple example of breaking up a big task:function* <pre><code>bigTask() {
 for (let i = 0; i &lt; 1000000; i++) {
 if (i % 1000 === 0) yield;
 // Do work here
 }
}

function runTask() {
 const iterator = bigTask();
 function keepGoing() {
 const result = iterator.next();
 if (!result.done) {
 requestIdleCallback(keepGoing);
 }
 }
 requestIdleCallback(keepGoing);
}</code></pre></li></ol>

Want to stop losing customers to a slow website?

<h2>Conclusion</h2>Implementing these steps isn&#039;t just about technical improvements—it&#039;s about enhancing your business&#039;s digital presence. A faster website can lead to:<ol start="1"><li>Improved User Satisfaction: When your site loads quickly, visitors are more likely to stay and engage with your content or products.</li><li>Higher Conversion Rates: Speed directly impacts sales. Studies show that even a one-second delay in page load time can result in a 7% loss in conversions.</li><li>Better Search Engine Rankings: Search engines favor faster websites, potentially improving your visibility to potential customers.</li><li>Reduced Bounce Rates: Visitors are less likely to leave your site if pages load swiftly, giving you more opportunities to convey your message or showcase your offerings.</li><li>Mobile User Retention: With more users accessing sites via mobile devices, a fast-loading mobile site is crucial for retaining this growing audience.</li><li>Cost Efficiency: Optimized sites often require less bandwidth and server resources, potentially reducing hosting costs.</li></ol>Remember, website speed optimization is an ongoing process. As technologies evolve and user expectations change, regularly revisiting these strategies will help ensure your site continues to perform at its best.By prioritizing your website&#039;s performance, you&#039;re not just improving a technical aspect of your business - you&#039;re enhancing the overall experience for your customers and setting a strong foundation for your online success.

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Discover 10 practical steps to enhance your website's speed and performance. Learn how faster load times can improve user experience and drive business growth.

10 Ways to Speed Up Your Website and Boost Business

Speed Up Your Website in 10 Easy Steps

What is Google reCAPTCHA? It is a free service provided by Google to prevent bots from abusing websites. If you have a form on your website and the user needs to fill in data, it is always a good idea to implement some kind of detection between bots and real users.

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How to get Google reCAPTCHA keys

Google reCaptcha helps you with that and getting Google reCAPTCHA key is really simple by following this text. All you need is to login to Google reCaptcha Admin and create keys for your domain.<h3 style="text-align: center;"> <img src="https://cdn.simple-code.agency/articles/image8-recaptcha.png"></h3><h3>What does it look like?</h3>Google reCAPTCHA has evolved through several versions to enhance website security while minimizing user inconvenience. Here is a summary of its different versions:<ul><li>reCAPTCHA v1: The initial version, launched in 2007, required users to decipher distorted text or solve simple image-based puzzles to prove they were human. This version is now deprecated and no longer in use.</li></ul><img src="https://cdn.simple-code.agency/articles/image1-recaptcha.png"><ul><li>reCAPTCHA v2: Introduced a simple &quot;I am not a robot&quot; checkbox, which most users just need to click. For those flagged as suspicious, additional image-based challenges (e.g., selecting pictures of traffic lights) are presented. This version balances security with user experience and remains widely used​.</li></ul><img src="https://cdn.simple-code.agency/articles/image3-recaptcha.png"><ul><li>Invisible reCAPTCHA v2: This variant of v2 removes the need for the checkbox. The CAPTCHA challenge is executed automatically based on user behavior on the page. If the behavior is deemed suspicious, a challenge appears, reducing friction for most users​​</li></ul><img src="https://cdn.simple-code.agency/articles/image13-recaptcha.png"><ul><li>reCAPTCHA v3: The latest version, which operates entirely in the background, assigns a risk score to each user interaction. This score helps determine whether the user is likely a human or a bot. Site administrators can set thresholds to decide when to take action, such as requiring additional verification steps. This version aims to provide seamless user experience with enhanced security.</li></ul><h3>When and Why did it start?</h3>Google reCAPTCHA was introduced in 2007 as a tool to protect websites from malicious bots and automated attacks. It was initially developed by a team at Carnegie Mellon University and later acquired by Google in 2009.The reason for introducing reCAPTCHA was to combat the problem of automated programs abusing web forms, such as registering fake accounts, sending spam messages, or attempting to crack passwords. reCAPTCHA was designed to distinguish real users from bots by using simple tasks that humans can easily solve but are difficult for bots.Over time, reCAPTCHA has evolved and become more sophisticated. From simple text tests to more complex methods like analyzing user behavior on the page, all aimed at improving security and reducing inconvenience for real users. Today, reCAPTCHA uses advanced algorithms and machine learning to effectively protect websites with minimal disruption to the user experience.<h3>Why use it?</h3>Websites should use Google reCAPTCHA for several important reasons:<ul><li>Security: reCAPTCHA helps protect websites from malicious activities, such as automated bots trying to spam, hack, or scrape data.</li><li>Preventing Spam: By filtering out automated submissions, reCAPTCHA helps reduce the amount of spam sent through contact forms, comment sections, and registration pages.</li><li>Protecting User Accounts: It adds an extra layer of security to login pages, preventing bots from attempting brute-force attacks to crack passwords.</li><li>Improving Data Quality: Ensuring that form submissions are from real users helps maintain the quality and integrity of the data collected from visitors.</li><li>User-Friendly Security: Modern versions of reCAPTCHA, like reCAPTCHA v3, provide security with minimal disruption to genuine users by analyzing user behavior in the background.</li><li>Using reCAPTCHA enhances the overall security and reliability of a website, making it a crucial tool for any online service that wants to protect itself and its users from malicious activity.</li></ul><h3>How to get Google reCAPTCHA keys?</h3>What do I need to know before I start creating keys?Before even starting you need to have a domain and know which version(type) of reCAPTCHA will be implemented on your website.What should the domain look like?As you can check in the screenshot below, the domain will be used without any protocol, path,port, query or fragment. Valid example: “example.com”.<img src="https://cdn.simple-code.agency/articles/image12-recaptcha.png">There are 3 different reCaptcha versions?Make sure you know exactly which version(type) you will use, because keys created are paired to only one version.<img src="https://cdn.simple-code.agency/articles/image11-recaptcha.png">You can create keys for one of the following version(types):V2 I’m not a robot<img src="https://cdn.simple-code.agency/articles/image9-recaptcha.png">V2 Invisible<img src="https://cdn.simple-code.agency/articles/image5-recaptcha.png">V3 “reCAPTCHA v3 allows you to verify if an interaction is legitimate without any user interaction.” more information <a href="https://developers.google.com/recaptcha/docs/versions">here</a><h3>How to create?</h3>Login to <a href="https://www.google.com/recaptcha/admin/">Google reCaptcha Admin</a> with your Google account.Click on “+”(plus) sign in the right top corner<img src="https://cdn.simple-code.agency/articles/image6-recaptcha.png">Fill in the data and click on the submit button after that.<img src="https://cdn.simple-code.agency/articles/image8-recaptcha.png">Copy “Site Key” and “Secret Key” and use it as you need.<h3> How to access it any time?</h3>Do not worry about storing keys to some document, you can always access them:In the top left corner select your set of keys by “Label” you have entered.<img src="https://cdn.simple-code.agency/articles/image7-recaptcha.png">Then click on the “settings” icon in the top right corner.<img src="https://cdn.simple-code.agency/articles/image2-recaptcha.png">All information will be visible<img src="https://cdn.simple-code.agency/articles/image15-recaptcha.png">At the end, click on “reCAPTCHA keys” to expand that section<img src="https://cdn.simple-code.agency/articles/image4-recaptcha.png">And your keys are visible<img src="https://cdn.simple-code.agency/articles/image10-recaptcha.png">

<h2>Conclusion</h2>Using Google reCAPTCHA is beneficial because it significantly enhances website security by preventing malicious bots and automated attacks while ensuring a smooth user experience. It helps maintain data integrity, reduces spam, and protects user accounts with minimal disruption to genuine users.

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A new project on the way? We’ve got you covered.

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Need Google reCAPTCHA keys? Learn how to generate and use them for your website to improve security and prevent spam with this easy guide.

How to Set Up Google reCAPTCHA Keys for Your Site

Google reCAPTCHA is a free service provided by Google to prevent bots from abusing websites. If you have a form on your website and the user needs to fill in data, it is always a good idea to implement some kind of detection between bots and real users.

recaptcha-feature

How to get Google reCAPTCHA keys

In this article, we compare WordPress, TYPO3, and Craft CMS - platforms that allow you to manage and customize your website. We help you decide which CMS is the most suitable for your business and use case.

WordPress vs TYPO3 vs Craft CMS

WordPress, TYPO3, and Craft are Content Management Systems(CMS). CMS helps you create manage, and organize content on your website, allowing you to easily add, edit, and delete text, images, videos, and other elements on your website. With a CMS you don’t have to manually code each webpage or update content directly in the website’s code. Instead, you use a simple dashboard or editor to make changes, and the CMS takes care of the rest, automatically updating your site’s design and layout. CMS platforms come with various features and functionalities that offer flexibility and different website needs.<h2>Overview</h2><h3>WordPress</h3>WordPress is an open-source, user-friendly CMS made for blogging. WordPress boasts a simple and intuitive interface, making it accessible to users with limited technical expertise. It offers an extensive library of themes and plugins, allowing users to customize their websites without the need for extensive coding knowledge.<h3>TYPO3</h3>TYPO3 is an enterprise-level CMS known for its robustness, scalability, and flexibility. It provides a comprehensive set of features, making it suitable for large-scale websites and complex web applications. TYPO3 offers advanced content management capabilities, including powerful workflow management, sophisticated access control, and multilingual support. It is highly customizable, allowing developers to create tailored solutions for specific business requirements. It’s built for more experienced users with coding expertise.<h3>Craft</h3>Craft emerged as a solution that was intended from the start to be an advanced and flexible content management system (CMS), a popular alternative to WordPress. The system is built on a foundation in the form of a PHP framework called Yii, mostly focused on technically experienced users because it comes without themes or blocks.<h2>Ease of Use</h2>Looking from a technical perspective WordPress was designed with beginners in mind, earning it a reputation for user-friendliness over the years. Users don’t need coding knowledge or previous experience to create a website. It offers a simple easy-to-use interface, an intuitive content management system with a block-based editor, and an extensive theme &amp; plugin library. Due to its popularity, it has very large community support.

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TYPO3 on the other hand has a steeper learning curve because out of the box it comes with more features and advanced functionalities. User interface is much more complex, so you may need some technical expertise to navigate efficiently. It also comes with an intuitive content management system that uses a block-based editor.

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CraftCMS like TYPO3 isn’t tailored for users with no programming experience. It offers a relatively straightforward learning curve, with an intuitive interface for content creators.Developers may need some familiarity with its structure for optimal usage because it comes without themes and with a very simple editor that offers almost no blocks.

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<h2>Themes &amp; templates</h2>Themes &amp; templates offer the visual appearance and functionality of a website. By changing the theme user can easily update the appearance of the content. Both TYPO3 and WordPress come with preinstalled themes, unlike Craft which after installation comes without any themes or templates so users need some programming experience to build their themes. WordPress by default doesn’t use any templating engine, just a mixture of HTML and PHP code.

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Craft CMS uses Twig templating language for PHP while TYPO3 uses a Fluid Template Engine.

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Due to its popularity, WordPress has a large collection of free and premium themes and predesigned templates with different customization options. Looking at theme forest there are more than 10000 offered themes and templates. TYPO3 also offers a wide range of templates, but the selection may not be as extensive as WordPress due to not being that popular.Users with some programming knowledge can extend base themes by creating child themes. This feature can be done both in WordPress and TYPO3.<h2>Editor experience</h2>Through the page editor users can manage content, and add different blocks, elements, and lists to build the visual appearance of the page. WordPress uses a Gutenberg block editor that offers a full-page editing experience with a very modern UI. WordPress initially comes with over 40 blocks that have a wide variety of options and settings. Blocks can simply be dragged and dropped anywhere in the editor, and some blocks can be nested. It also provides block patterns that are predefined combinations of blocks. For more experienced users with the ACF plugin (Advanced custom fields), it is easy to extend blocks or create new ones.

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Craft out of the box comes with simpler UI, and no blocks, just field types. So users need to have programming skills to build blocks that will in the end be used in the editor.

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Craft offers matrix fields to easily build flexible pages by creating a collection of block types inside each matrix field.

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In TYPO3 blocks are called content elements that are divided into few groups, like Wordpress comes with few of them out of the box. Editor has a simple UI, editing is a bit different then with Wordress and Craft because each block editing has its own page.

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Blocks also offer lots of customization options, so programming skills are a must like in Craft when it comes to editing and block creation.

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<h2>Plugins</h2>Plugins/extensions are used to extend or add new functionality to CMS, ranging from simple solutions to more advanced ones. WordPress has an extensive plugin repository that offers more than 60000 plugins, free or premium ones. So, the big advantage is in this massive collection where you can find almost any functionality that you need, but also this is a drawback. Plugin code doesn’t have that strict quality control so they may degrade performance, often plugins become abandoned or don’t have regular updates which may cause site crashes or security vulnerabilities.

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Craft also has a built-in repository, but the number is much smaller compared to WordPress due to its popularity. With a smaller repository code quality should be better, and regularly updated, and plugins can be installed and tested before purchase. The disadvantage of a much smaller plugin repository is that you are more likely to have to write the needed functionality yourself.

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Typo3 plugins are called extensions, it has about 1000 extensions in its repository. Like with Craft, its smaller repository is an advantage. Extensions have better code quality and higher standards.

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<h2>E-commerce</h2>WordPress, Craft, and Typo3 offer e-commerce solutions. WordPress does so through a very popular free plugin called WooCommerce, Craft CMS has an e-commerce product called Craft Commerce and Typo3 has an e-commerce extension called Aimeos shop.Unlike Craft and Typo3 which only offer a single solution WordPress as the most popular CMS has multiple e-commerce solutions but most of them are paid premium.<h2>Community and support</h2>WordPress has a massive community, endless guides, and plugins for almost anything. It’s easy to find help, both free and paid. TYPO3 has a smaller but loyal community, often tied to agencies and larger projects. Craft sits somewhere in between – fewer tutorials, but a solid Slack community and official support options if needed. For more complex builds, community size can be less important than having the right partner.<h2>Performance and scaling</h2>All three can handle speed and traffic well if set up right. TYPO3 is built for large, complex sites. Craft is light and clean, great for custom setups. WordPress can be very fast too, especially with caching and a well-optimized theme. The difference usually comes from how the site is built and hosted – not the CMS alone.<h2>SEO features</h2>Each CMS can deliver strong SEO results. WordPress has well-known plugins like Yoast or RankMath that cover everything from meta tags to sitemaps. TYPO3 and Craft take a more technical-first approach. They have built-in tools or extensions, but some features might require a developer to configure properly. Once set up, all three give full control over SEO.<h2>Cost overview</h2>WordPress is free, and you can do a lot with free plugins and themes. TYPO3 is also open-source but tends to require more development work upfront. Craft has a one-time license fee, plus optional plugins. In the long run, WordPress can be the cheapest to start with, but for bigger projects, costs level out. It depends on how much custom work is needed and how much can be reused from existing tools.

Still not sure which CMS is suitable for your business and need help? Book a no-obligation discovery call and let&#039;s find the perfect solution.

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<h2>Conclusion</h2>Each CMS has unique strengths and serves different purposes, meeting different user needs:WordPress: This CMS shines in its affordability and broad feature set, making it ideal for smaller businesses, blogs, or informational websites that require minimal technical expertise. An extensive library of plugins and themes allows for significant customization, but users should be wary of compatibility and quality issues when integrating third-party plugins.TYPO3: Known for its robustness and flexibility, TYPO3 is tailored for enterprise-level projects. It is suitable for large corporations and organizations that need secure, scalable solutions with advanced workflow management. However, the steeper learning curve and complex features require technical expertise to use effectively.Craft CMS: Built for tech-savvy users, Craft CMS is designed for projects that require complete control over content and appearance. It is suitable for creative agencies or companies with unique branding needs. The simplified architecture facilitates sophisticated customization but requires advanced programming skills.

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WordPress, TYPO3, or Craft CMS? Learn the pros and cons of each CMS to find the best fit for your website needs in 2025.

WordPress vs TYPO3 vs Craft CMS: Which CMS Fits Your Needs?

CMS helps you create, manage, and organize content on your website, allowing you to easily add, edit, and delete text, images, videos, and other elements on your website.

WordPress vs TYPO3 vs Craft CMS

In the digital age, images are not just embellishments on your website; they are crucial components that can significantly impact your site&#039;s performance, user experience, and search engine visibility. A well-optimized image can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your website, reduce load times, and improve your search engine rankings. This comprehensive guide will combine insights from leading sources and our expertise to help you master image optimization for your website.

The Ultimate Guide to Optimizing Images for Your Website

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<h3>Understanding Image Optimization</h3>Image optimization involves modifying images to reduce their file size without compromising quality, ensuring they load quickly and look great across all devices. It also includes making your images discoverable by search engines through proper naming and tagging. Optimizing your images can lead to faster page load times, improved user experience, and increased organic traffic.<h3>Choosing the Right Aspect Ratio and Image Format</h3>Aspect RatioThe aspect ratio, the ratio of an image&#039;s width to its height, is pivotal in ensuring your images fit perfectly within your site&#039;s design without looking stretched or compressed. Choose an aspect ratio that complements the content and layout of your website, whether it&#039;s for product photos, banners, or blog post images.The appropriate aspect ratio to use differs from purpose to device to platform, However, there are commonly utilized aspect ratios that are a constant standard web designers, photographers and developers.Aspect ratios are written out as a formula of width to height, such as 4:3. Same aspect ratios for two images doesn&#039;t mean those images would be the same size. For example, a 1:1 ratio would mean the width and height of the image are the same. Image&#039;s dimensions can be 320x320 pixels or 1080x1080 pixels, but the aspect ratio will remain 1:1. As another example, an image could be 1920x1080 pixels or 1280x720 pixels, but noth have a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio in common.For website images the most common aspect ratios are 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9.1:1 ratioImages with this ratio have equal width and height and are squares. 1:1 aspect ratio is commonly used on social media sites, like Instagram photos. In terms of pixels, example dimensions would be 1080x10980.4:3 ratioA 4:3 ratio creates a rectangular shape that&#039;s common on some computer monitors and television displays. In terms of pixels, example dimensions would be 800x600.16:9 ratioThis aspect ratio features panoramic size making it perfect for TV, cinema, and computer screens. You&#039;ll also spot its elongated rectangular shape in presentation slides, widescreen television, computer monitors. Most smartphones record video at 1920x1080 pixels, which is 16&quot;9 aspect ratio. In terms of pixels, example dimensions would be 1920x1080.In order to make content fit a variety of mediums, having an easy-to-use aspect ratio calculator on hand is important. These calculators can help you calculate aspect ratios and pixel dimensions when handing off content for your website:<ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://wistia.com/aspect-ratio-calculator">Wistia</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://toolstud.io">Toolstud.io</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://imageresizer.com/">Image Resizer</a></li></ul>Image Formats and When to Use Them<ul><li>JPEG: Ideal for most websites content, such as photographs and images with gradients. JPEGs offer a good balance between quality and file size. They can be compressed by almost 80% when you use compression tools. Although JPEGs do not support transparency, so you&#039;ll need to pick PNG instead.</li><li>PNG: Best for images requiring transparency or cut out figures, icons and profile images. PNGs provide high-quality images but can have larger file sizes. You can always use the PNG format for icons, but there&#039;s a better format as you want them to stay crisp at any size.</li><li>WebP: A modern format that offers superior compression and quality characteristics compared to PNG and JPEG. WebP is suitable for all types of images and supports transparency.</li><li>SVG: Use for logos, icons, and illustrations. SVG files are vector-based, so they can scale without losing quality and usually have smaller file sizes. With SVG, some amazing on-page animation using code can be done, and they are so light that there won&#039;t even be any changes towards your site performance.</li></ul><h3>Scaling and Compressing Images</h3>Scaling Images to the Correct ResolutionScaling images to the appropriate resolution is crucial. Use image dimensions based on the maximum display size on your site and consider different devices and screen sizes. Retina displays require images to be at least double the standard resolution for crisp display.

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<h3>Compressing Images</h3>Compressing images reduces file size, which in turn improves your website’s loading time. Use tools for PNG and JPEG files, which intelligently compress images without significant quality loss. Always aim to strike a balance between file size and image quality.Among the image compression tools there are a few browser-based tools, like <a target="_blank" href="https://tinypng.com/">TinyPNG.</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://tinypng.com/">TinyPNG</a> optimizes images reducing the file size by decreasing the number of colors used. But don’t worry, It will positively affect your website in a way that the human eye won’t notice. Consider using this free and quick tool for PNGs and JPEGs.If you’re more into apps, there’s a selection of them for different operating systems.<a target="_blank" href="https://imageoptim.com/mac">ImageOptim</a> for Mac compresses images by removing unnecessary embedded metadata. This data, often an artifact of an editing process, bloats the file’s size and slows down your site. Consider using this free app for JPEGs, SVGs and PNGs as well.<a target="_blank" href="https://riot-optimizer.com/">RIOT</a> for Windows reduces image file size using multiple techniques. For example, it visually reduces the number of unique colors for PNG images, removes unsupported metadata and lets you decide whether you want to keep metadata in general or not. Automatic optimization comes in handy selecting the most suitable format and parameters for you, which is a great option for those who are only starting their optimization journey.And last but not least, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.jpegmini.com/">JPEGmini</a> is a powerful paid option that helps you reduce file size by analyzing the input image with a quality detector which imitates the human visual system. You can choose between desktop app and plugins that can be integrated with Photoshop, Lightroom and Capture one. JPEGmini does not alter the quality of your images and they will look exactly the same after optimization.Now, when it comes to WordPress sites there are plenty of image optimization plugins that will compress and resize your images when you upload to your WordPress site. This means the end-users and content creators would be able to keep speed and performance of the site skipping those manual optimization steps.You should already be familiar with TinyPNG, but did you know it is <a target="_blank" href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/tiny-compress-images/">a wordpress plugin</a> too?If you’re a fan of the browser-based tool, streamline the process of optimizing JPEGs and PNGs on upload with this plugin. Being uploaded to TinyPNG or TinyJPG services, an optimal optimization strategy is chosen based on the content of your image. On average JPEGs are compressed by 40-60% and PNGs by 50-80% without visible loss of quality. It can happen that optimization should be performed on existing images too, and <a target="_blank" href="http://kracken.io">Kracken.io</a> is the one capable of optimizing both new and existing images on your WordPress site.Consider using Kracken.io for JPEGs and PNGs with file size not more than 32 MB. The plugin replaces the image files with the optimized ones, so they’re staying on your end even if the plugin was uninstalled. Along with existing and  newly uploaded images any generated thumbnails are optimized too.Another plugin option would be <a target="_blank" href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/imagify/">Imagify</a>. Images will be automatically optimized at the best compression level, leaving you the possibility to restore them to the original version. In case you have many images to optimize, you can resize them in bulk with async bulk optimization option. For high-quality images, Imagify has a setting that allows you to choose a maximum width for all of your images. With this setting applied, uploading images larger than that size won’t cause any issues since the plugin will do a resize during optimization.<h3>Enhancing SEO with Proper Naming and Alt Tags</h3>Naming your image files descriptively and using alt tags not only improves SEO but also accessibility. Include relevant keywords in both your file names and alt tags to make your images more discoverable by search engines and assistive technologies.<ul><li>File Names: Describe what the image is, using dashes to separate words (e.g., red-sports-car.jpg). Using a relevant filename, you’ll give your images a better chance to rank in Google Image Search because Google has extra content to describe the image.</li><li>Alt Tags: Provide a concise description of the image for those who cannot see them and include relevant keywords (e.g., alt=&quot;Red sports car accelerating on track&quot;).</li></ul>The right image name helps search engines understand the content and context of your visuals. There are things to aim and avoid in naming which are the following:Avoid irrelevant filenames, help search engines and users make sense of your images.  Use descriptive and relevant names that accurately depict the content of the image, make sure it provides a clear idea of what the image is about.Good examples of image file names:<ul><li>snowy-mountain.jpeg</li><li>company-logo.svg</li><li>strategy-whiteboard.jpg</li><li>main-office.jpeg</li></ul>Bad examples of image file names:<ul><li>DCS_0645.jpg</li><li>photo0001.jpg</li><li>Img_1542.jpg</li><li>IMG_489E9666EAAB-1.jpeg</li></ul>Carefully include targeted keywords in the image filename. Targeted keywords can further improve your SEO efforts. By incorporating keywords, you signal to search engines that your image is relevant to a particular topic or query.Good examples of image filenames:<ul><li>seo-friendly-url-structure.jpg</li><li>technical-seo-audit-process.jpg</li><li>voice-search-seo-optimization.jpg</li></ul>Bad examples of image filenames:<ul><li>url-url-url-structure.jpg</li><li>technical-seo-seo-seo-process.jpg</li><li>voice-search-seo-seo-seo.jpg</li></ul>

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Avoid generic names and overloading with keywords. Generic names like image6.jpg or pic.svg don&#039;t provide useful information to search engines. For keywords stuffing, it can lead to a negative user experience and may potentially cause your site to be flagged as spam.Good examples of image filenames:<ul><li>seo-content-writing-tips.jpg</li><li>mobile-first-indexing-seo.jpg</li><li>seo-keyword-research-tools.jpg</li></ul>Bad examples of filenames:<ul><li>seo-content-seo-writing-seo-tips-seo.jpg</li><li>mobile-first-seo-seo-seo-indexing.jpg</li><li>Keyword-seo-research-seo-tools-seo.jpg</li></ul>Alt text, also known as alternative text, is dedicated to users who may not be able to see the image. Search engines like Google also use alt text to understand the subject matter of an image, which can help improve your image&#039;s SEO ranking.<ol start="1"><li>Follow this recommendations to achieve the best results:</li><li>Don&#039;t use phrases like &#039;picture of&#039; or &#039;image of&#039; in your alt text, as screen readers already announce the presence of an image</li><li>Aim for alt text of 125 characters or fewer. This ensures that screen readers can easily process the information and users get a clear understanding of the image&#039;s content.</li><li>Use the keywords in a natural and meaningful way to ensure that alt text makes sense to users and search engines.</li><li>Provide essential details describing the content of the images</li></ol><h3>Using Image Sitemaps</h3>If your site uses image pop-ups, JavaScript galleries or other similar ways to improve overall user experience, Google can have trouble finding images not called out specifically on the webpage source code. Image sitemaps will help get your images noticed by search engines by listing their location.<h3>Implementing Advanced Techniques</h3><ul><li>Responsive Images: Use the srcset attribute to allow the browser to choose the most appropriate image size, improving loading times and conserving bandwidth.</li><li>Lazy Loading: Implement lazy loading to defer the loading of images until they are in or near the viewport. This can significantly reduce initial load times and save bandwidth.</li><li>Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): Use CDNs to host your images. CDNs can speed up image loading times by storing copies of your images on servers around the world, closer to where your visitors are.</li></ul>Having one large image may sound like a good idea, a large image won&#039;t lose quality when shrunk. But it&#039;s not that simple when it comes to different viewports.If your image is 800px wide it might look good on a 300px display. But all 800px still has to be processed which is a massive waste of bandwidth. In this case, srcset attribute may come in handy pointing the browser to different image version. From there, the browser decides which one to serve based on the device.For CDN, the greatest advantage of using it is shortening the distance between your visitors and your website. The CDN stores cached versions of your website in different geographical locations. So when visitors from the USA come to your website, the data won&#039;t travel all the way from Europe and vice versa. It&#039;ll come from a location that&#039;s close to them.

<h2>Conclusion</h2>Optimizing images for your website is a multifaceted process that encompasses choosing the right formats and sizes, compressing images without losing quality, and enhancing your site’s SEO through proper image naming and tagging. By following the guidelines outlined in this guide, you can ensure your images are not only visually appealing but also contribute positively to your site’s performance and search engine rankings. Remember, the goal is to create a fast, engaging, and accessible online experience for your visitors.

This comprehensive guide will combine insights from leading sources and our expertise to help you master image optimization for your website.

The Ultimate Guide to Optimizing Images for Your Website

Google Maps is an incredibly powerful tool for businesses worldwide, enabling them to integrate maps, geolocation services, and place searches into their websites and applications. Whether you&#039;re developing a location-based service, enhancing your customer&#039;s user experience, or simply displaying your business location, Google Maps APIs play a crucial role in connecting your services with the vast data Google Maps offers.

How to Setup a New Google Maps API Key

This guide will walk you through creating a new Google Maps API key and adding specific features like Maps, Places, and Geolocation APIs to it. Not all projects require all these features, so we&#039;ll cover how to customize your API key according to your needs.<h3>Step 1: Access the Google Cloud Console</h3>The entire process takes place within Google Cloud Console. To access the Google Cloud Console, you can follow this link: <a target="_blank" href="https://console.cloud.google.com/.">https://console.cloud.google.com/.</a> You will need to log in with your Google account. If you don’t have one, you will need to create it.If you don’t have a Google account and need to create it, you can follow the steps on the following link: <a target="_blank" href="https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/27441?hl=en.">https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/27441?hl=en.</a> When you open the Console, you should see a screen similar to the one below. If you’re opening it for the first time, it might ask you to accept the Terms and cookies.

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<h3>Step 2: Create a New Project</h3>Once logged in, you’ll need to create a new project for your API key.<ul><li>Click on the project dropdown at the top of the page labeled “Select a project”. If you have any projects from before, it might default to it, so instead of seeing “Select a project”, you might see a project name.</li></ul>

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<ul><li>A modal should appear. At the top right corner of the modal, click on NEW PROJECT.</li></ul>

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<ul><li>Give your project a name, select an organization (if you have it) and provide a location. At this stage, the name is the most important part on this screen. After you fill in all the required fields, click on CREATE.</li></ul>

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<ul><li>You should be redirected back to the Console. A notification pop-up should show your project being created and after it’s done, it should show a success. Click on SELECT PROJECT in the pop-up to select the project.</li></ul>

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<ul><li>You should now be redirected to the project screen. If, for some reason, the notification from point 4 didn’t show up, give it a few minutes, reload the page, and select the project from the dropdown from point 1.</li></ul>

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<h3>Step 3: Create the API Key</h3>Now that your project is set up, you can create the API key. It can be created from multiple locations. <ul><li>If you’re on the project screen from Step 2, you can scroll down a bit to the Getting Started section and look for Explore and Enable APIs.</li></ul>

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<ul><li>Another way is to click on the menu in the upper left corner to open the left sidebar. In the sidebar, if it’s not pinned by default under PINNED PRODUCTS, look for APIs &amp; Services under MORE PRODUCTS. Hover over it and click on Enabled APIs &amp; services.</li></ul>

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Either way, you should now be redirected to the APIs screen.

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From this screen, do the following:<ul><li>Click on + ENABLE APIS AND SERVICES. You should be redirected to the API Library screen.</li></ul>

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<ul><li>The essential API for adding maps to web pages is the Maps JavaScript API. Click on it. It should redirect you to the Maps JavaScript API screen.</li></ul>

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<ul><li>Click on ENABLE to enable this API. It will ask you for certain information, like country, etc. After filling all the data, click on AGREE &amp; CONTINUE. Next, it’s going to ask you to provide information about your account type, address, contact info, etc. After filling all the information, click on START FREE. This will ask you for credit card information in order to use the services. Also, you’ll need to verify it’s a legit credit card. Don’t worry, they won’t charge you anything.</li><li>After you complete all the verification steps, go back to the APIs &amp; Services screen. It should look a bit different now. It should show the enabled Maps JavaScript API.</li></ul>

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<ul><li>Click on the Maps JavaScript API in the table. A modal should appear with some questions about your business, development experience, etc. After you fill those fields, another modal should appear with your API key.</li></ul>

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<ul><li>We recommend disabling the first option, Enable all Google Maps APIs for this project, in order to select only the ones you want manually. If you want to use all the APIs out of the box, leave this option selected. Make sure to store the API key somewhere so you can refer to it later. Once you stored your key, click on GO TO GOOGLE MAPS PLATFORM.</li><li>A modal should open with restrictions. We recommend selecting HTTP referrers (web sites) option.</li></ul>

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<ul><li>A modal is going to add another field in which you want to add your website’s URL.</li></ul>That’s it. Your API key is ready. If you didn’t store your API key, don’t worry, you can access it from the Google Maps Platform. On the Google Maps platform, click on Keys &amp; Credentials in the left sidebar and click on SHOW KEY in the table, next to you Maps API Key. A modal is going to open with your key.To quickly access Google Maps Platform, you can try using this link: <a target="_blank" href="https://console.cloud.google.com/google/maps-apis">https://console.cloud.google.com/google/maps-apis</a>

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<h3>Step 4: Enabling different APIs (e.g. Places API, Geolocation API, etc.)</h3>Enabling different Google Maps APIs is relatively simple. In the Google Maps Platform, click on APIs &amp; Services in the sidebar. From here, look for the APIs you want to enable and click on the ENABLE button in the card’s upper right corner. It’s going to take a few seconds and enable the selected API.

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<h2>Conclusion</h2>You&#039;ve now successfully created a Google Maps API key and customized it with the necessary features for your project. Remember to monitor your API usage through the Google Cloud Console to keep track of any potential billing issues.

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This guide will walk you through creating a new Google Maps API key and adding specific features like Maps, Places, and Geolocation APIs to it.

How to Setup a New Google Maps API Key

While you&#039;re reading this article, chances are that a new JavaScript framework or library is being actively developed, or even released. Developers are constantly trying to keep up with different trends, requirements, specifications, APIs, etc. in order to make the available tools (harder) better, faster, stronger.

Evolution of Frontend Technologies Since 2014

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<h3>JavaScript Revolution</h3>The last 10 years represent a transformative period in the world of web development, marked by rapid advancements, the introduction of groundbreaking frameworks, and a paradigm shift in how developers approach building user interfaces and experiences on the web.This era is characterized by the rise of modern JavaScript frameworks, the embracing of new web standards, the focus on mobile-first and progressive web applications, and a growing emphasis on developer experience and tooling.One of the most significant shifts in the frontend landscape has been the evolution of JavaScript into a powerful, first-class language for web development. The emergence of ECMAScript 6 (ES6) in 2015 introduced new syntax and features, such as classes, modules, and arrow functions, that have become foundational to modern web development practices. This evolution has allowed developers to write cleaner, more maintainable code and has paved the way for the development of complex web applications that rival traditional desktop applications in functionality and performance.<h3>TypeScript</h3>TypeScript, developed by Microsoft and released in 2012, started gaining significant popularity around 2014. It is a superset of JavaScript that adds static type definitions. The adoption of TypeScript has grown over the years because it helps developers catch errors early through its type-checking feature, leading to more robust and maintainable codebases. Major frameworks and libraries like Angular, React, and Vue have embraced TypeScript, further cementing its place in the frontend ecosystem.<h3>Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)</h3>Progressive Web Apps have been a game-changer since their inception around 2015. PWAs leverage modern web capabilities to deliver an app-like experience on the web. They are designed to work offline, load quickly, and integrate seamlessly with the device’s operating system. Google has been a strong proponent of PWAs, emphasizing their importance for the future of web applications. This technology has enabled developers to build web applications that can rival native applications in terms of performance and user experience.<h3>Web Components</h3>Web Components are a set of standards that allow developers to create reusable custom elements and widgets with their encapsulated functionality, which can be used in web pages and web applications. The concept of Web Components has been around since 2011, but it gained significant traction after 2014 as browsers started to support these standards natively. This evolution has allowed for the development of more modular, maintainable, and scalable web applications.<h3>Frameworks and Libraries</h3>The period since 2014 has seen the rise and consolidation of several key JavaScript frameworks and libraries, each with its philosophy, strengths, and ecosystem. They offered developers comprehensive solutions for building dynamic, responsive web applications. These tools have introduced concepts such as two-way data binding, virtual DOM, and reactive data systems, revolutionizing how developers manage state and updates in their applications. Some of the most popular frameworks to day are:<ul><li>Angular</li><li>React</li><li>Vue</li><li>Svelte</li><li>... and many more.</li></ul><h3>Server-side Rendering (SSR) and Static Site Generators</h3>The need for faster load times and improved SEO led to the rise of server-side rendering (SSR) and static site generators. SSR frameworks have become popular for their ability to render JavaScript applications on the server, improving the initial load time and SEO. Static site generators have also seen a rise in popularity, offering blazing-fast load times by serving pre-rendered static pages. Some of the most popular are:<ul><li>Next for React</li><li>Nuxt for Vue</li><li>SvelteKit for Svelte</li><li>Astro</li><li>... and others.</li></ul><h3>Deprecations</h3>In the fast-evolving landscape of frontend development, certain technologies, frameworks, and practices that were once popular have seen a decline in use as newer, more efficient solutions have emerged.<ul><li>AngularJS - the original version of Angular released in 2010, has seen a significant decrease in use since the introduction of Angular 2+ in 2016. AngularJS introduced concepts like two-way data binding and declarative templates, but its performance issues and the complexity of large-scale application development led to the complete rewrite of the framework. The Angular team ended long-term support for AngularJS at the end of 2021, pushing developers towards the more modern, component-based Angular framework.</li><li>jQuery - once the cornerstone of frontend development for simplifying DOM manipulation, event handling, and AJAX calls, has seen its necessity diminish with the evolution of vanilla JavaScript (ES6+) and modern frameworks that offer more structured approaches to building web applications. While jQuery is still in use, especially in legacy projects, its importance has significantly decreased as native browser APIs have become more powerful and easier to work with.</li><li>Grunt and Gulp - task runners that automate script minification, compilation, and other repetitive tasks, have seen a decline in favor of npm scripts and more modern tools like Webpack, Parcel, and Vite, which offer more integrated and efficient ways to manage build processes.</li></ul>

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While you're reading this article, chances are that a new JavaScript framework or library is being actively developed, or even released.

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