In the last few years, we have seen how much front-end stacks have grown. So that has required us to have been trying to catch up on all new frameworks, libraries, or new tools in this really fascinating industry. So knowing what we now know about JavaScript and front-end stuff, we need to be one step ahead and see the top 5 front-end predictions and trends we should keep an eye on in 2020 as well as what tools and resources we will need to master, refine, or catch up with this train that is moving so fast.

This will give you an idea of what skills you already have and which ones you need to be prepared for, to continue to be part of the front-end developer elite.

Where These Prediction and Trends Come From

The next predictions are based on all the things I have seen throughout the year; during research, surveys, and from reliable sources.

Some of these predictions could be true and others may not be true. It’s just a prediction! The reality is that we need to keep an eye on them, and have the right resources to master and prepare for them.

Micro Front Ends — An Extension of Microservices

This is probably the newest matter in the front end in recent years. This year, it really gained traction.

An unopinionated prediction is that, for 2020, it will be embraced and used for more developers and companies. But what are micro-fronts? The idea is simple. Avoid the continuing struggle with monolith front-end codebases. So, based on Cam Jackson, writer on the Martin Fowler blog, he defines it as:

“An architectural style where independently deliverable front-end applications are composed into a greater whole” — Cam Jackson-Martin Fowler

As you can see, this front-end architecture will continue getting traction because it helps and solves big problems in complex and modern applications, and organizational complex structures as well.

Web Components

“Web Components is a suite of different technologies allowing you to create reusable custom elements — with their functionality encapsulated away from the rest of your code — and utilize them in your web apps” — MDN

The idea behind web components is to work in an agnostic way. This means that they have the ability to work without a framework or with any framework standardization.

They provide you with a set of JavaScript APIs that allow you to define custom elements and behaviors. Additionally, Shadow DOM and HTML templates.

ES Modules and Dynamic Imports

ES Modules

Currently, most of the browsers already support the use of ES modules.

And, of course, Node.js couldn’t stay back and now fully supports ECMAScript modules as they are currently specified and provides limited interoperability between them and the existing module format, CommonJS.

ECMAScript modules are the official standard format to package JavaScript code for reuse. Modules are defined using a variety of import and export statements.

Dynamic imports

This feature solves a lot of headaches and waste of money related to the app’s performance.

It helps to and allows to, load modules dynamically. In other words, on-demand by using promises or the async/await syntax. A shot of this would be:

import("./math").then(math => {
  console.log(math.add(16, 26));
});

Really awesome, isn’t it?

JavaScript Will Be Unstoppable

This is obvious. JavaScript will continue its reign in 2020 due to all features and stuff we have seen above and because of the incoming features and releases as well.

Other approaches and features to watch are:

• Composing software.
• Functional programming.
• Promise.allSettled, optional chaining for JavaScript, Object.fromEntries().