Technologies that will be popular in 2020

Although it seems unbelievable, 2020 is about to begin. We still perceived this date as something that descended from the pages of science fiction novels, and nevertheless, this is exactly the case - until 2020 it is just around the corner.



If you are curious about what the future may be for the programming world, then you are at. Perhaps I am mistaken on every point - do not consider my words an infallible truth - but below I will state my thoughts about what awaits us. I do not have the gift of providence, but I can make some assumptions based on the available data.

Rust will become mainstream

Rust is a multi-paradigmatic system programming language that prioritizes security; first of all, security in parallel computing. In terms of syntax, Rust is similar to C ++, only sharpened to provide greater security when working with memory, while maintaining high performance.



For four years now, we have been witnessing a rapid development of this programming language. I think that in 2020 Rust will officially become mainstream. Everyone understands the word “mainstream,” but I believe that educational institutions will begin to include it in their programs. Thus, over time, a new wave of programmers writing in Rust will appear.







Top Favorite Programmer Languages According to 2019 Stack Overflow Survey



Rust has already shown itself to be a good language with a very active and dynamic community. It is his Facebook that is used in Libra , the largest project in the history of the company, so soon we will see what Rust is really capable of.



If you are looking for a new language that is worth learning, I highly recommend staying at Rust. For those who are interested in a more detailed plan of action, I advise this book here - I myself started with it. Go ahead, Rust!

GraphQL will continue to grow in popularity

GraphQL on Google Trends



As our applications become more complex, so does the need for data processing. Personally, I am a big fan of GraphQL, which I used more than once. In my opinion, in terms of receiving data, this solution is a cut above the traditional REST API.



The REST API in its standard form requires loading data from several URLs, while the GraphQL API receives all the data your application needs through a single request.



GraphQL uses commands of all sizes, working in different environments and with different languages, creating mobile applications, sites and APIs. If you are interested in learning GraphQL, check out my authorship tutorial .

Progressive web applications to be reckoned with

Progressive web applications (or PWA) represent a new approach to application development: they combine all the strengths of the web with the best features of mobile solutions.



There are many more web developers in the world than native developers who write for a specific platform. I suspect that as soon as large corporations realize that you can use the skills of web developers to create advanced web applications, we are waiting for a massive influx of products of this type.



However, large corporations will need some time to rebuild - this is usually the case with any technology. The task of making web applications progressive will fall on the shoulders of front-end development, since all the salt is there in interaction with the Web Workers API (native browser API).



Web applications are not going anywhere. More and more people are picking up the idea that creating one progressive web application with universal compatibility will require less resources and better pay off time.







PWA on Google Trends



Now is the time to start getting acquainted with progressive web applications - you can start here .

Web Assembly will be released

Web Assembly (abbreviated wasm) is a binary instruction format for a stacked virtual machine. It plays the role of a portable compilation target for high-level languages ​​(C, C ++, Rust) and can be deployed to the web for client and server applications. Progressive web applications also work with wasm.



In other words, Web Assembly lays the bridge between JavaScript and other technologies of different levels. Imagine that you need to use a library to process images in Rust in an application written in React. Web Assembly will make this possible.







Recording of a speech on the role of wasm in the web segment from a conference with JSConf.Asia 2019



Performance is the main thing, and data volumes are constantly growing, so maintaining it at altitude is becoming increasingly difficult. This is where low-level libraries from C ++ or Rust come into play. Soon we will see how large companies add Web Assembly to their arsenal, and then everything will go on increasing.

React will hold on top

JavaScript Front-end Library



React is by far the most popular JavaScript library for front-end development, and rightly so. Making applications on React is easy and fun. The team that created this library, together with the community, did an excellent job of providing developers with a good experience.



I worked with Vue, and with Angular, and with React, and they all seemed to me great frameworks. Here you need to remember: the goal of any library is to perform a specific task. So, you need to think less about taste preferences and more about how to solve this specific problem. To argue about which framework is “best of all” is absolutely pointless. Simply choose one for yourself and direct all the energy to development. Have you been inspired? Select a project from the list and get started!

Always bet on JavaScript

You can safely call the 2010 decade of JavaScript. Its popularity has skyrocketed over the years and it seems the process is not going to slow down.



JavaScript developers have to endure attacks - they are often referred to as "fake developers." But JavaScript is an integral component of the products of any technology giant: Netflix, Facebook, Google and many others. Already on this basis, it should be considered the same legitimate programming language as all others. Carry the title of JavaScript developer with dignity - after all, this community has created many of the coolest, most innovative solutions. Almost all websites use this language to one degree or another. And there are millions of them!



So the time for JavaScript developers is now very favorable. Salaries are growing, the community is livelier than all living ones, the job market is huge. If you're considering learning to write in JavaScript, try the series of books You Don't Know JS - great stuff. In the past, I already talked about the reasons for the popularity of JavaScript, maybe you should read this article .







Dynamics of popularity of programming languages according to GitHub statistics



Thank you for reading! If I missed something cool, write in the comments about projects and technologies that deserve attention and interest.