The State of JavaScript survey is a comprehensive yearly examination of the JavaScript ecosystem, highlighting the language’s features, tools, libraries, and frameworks that developers use and how they are utilized. This survey draws responses from thousands of JavaScript developers and enthusiasts, providing a rich, empirical snapshot of current trends, challenges, and the overall landscape of JavaScript development.
The State of JavaScript survey offers a detailed overview of JavaScript, portraying it as a dynamic and ever-evolving language with a vast and complex ecosystem. This survey’s strength lies in its ability to attract a broad spectrum of active developers, making it a valuable resource for understanding prevailing trends, developer preferences, and the adoption of new tools and features. The 2024 edition of the survey sheds light on several key areas, including the rise of AI code generators, ongoing pain points within JavaScript, the adoption of new language features, and preferences regarding various libraries and frameworks.
AI Code Generators: Adoption and Usage
Growing Influence of AI in Programming
A significant trend highlighted in the 2024 survey is the adoption of AI code generators. Despite the growing influence of AI in programming, a notable 14% of respondents indicated they do not use any AI code generator at all. Among those who do utilize AI assistants, ChatGPT emerged as the most popular choice, garnering 67% of respondents’ usage. Following ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot is used by 48%, Claude by 23%, and Gemini by 14%. This reflects developers’ increasing reliance on AI to enhance productivity and streamline coding tasks, though a significant minority still eschews these tools.
Impact on Developer Productivity
The integration of AI code generators into the development workflow has had a profound impact on productivity. Developers are leveraging these tools to automate repetitive tasks, generate boilerplate code, and even assist in debugging. The survey indicates that while AI tools are becoming more prevalent, there is still a learning curve and a level of trust that developers need to build with these technologies. The varied adoption rates also suggest that while some developers are quick to embrace AI, others remain cautious, preferring traditional coding methods.
JavaScript Pain Points
Desire for Static Types
JavaScript, despite its popularity, continues to pose certain challenges for developers. A recurring pain point is the lack of static types, with 32% of respondents expressing a desire for this feature. While TypeScript currently addresses this need by adding static types to JavaScript, there’s interest in integrating static types directly into the JavaScript language. This move could potentially eliminate the compilation step required by TypeScript, providing a more seamless experience for developers. However, the gradual pace of this development suggests that many developers are currently content with TypeScript as a solution.
Other Missing Features and Difficulties
Developers also noted other missing features and areas of difficulty. For instance, 43% of respondents would like a standard library, 39% miss Signals, and 23% would like a pipe operator. Additionally, various usage-related pain points emerged, such as deficiencies in architecture (35%), state management (31%), dependency management (29%), build tools (28%), and performance (24%). These challenges highlight the areas where JavaScript could improve to better meet the needs of its developer community.
Newer JavaScript Language Features
Adoption of New Syntax Features
JavaScript is continuously evolving, and developers are quick to adopt new syntax features that enhance coding efficiency and readability. Among the newer features, the nullish coalescing operator (??), introduced in ECMAScript 11, is a standout, with 85% of respondents indicating they have adopted it in their code. This operator provides a concise way to handle null or undefined values, significantly simplifying code logic.
Promise-Related Methods and Array.toSorted()
The survey also explored the adoption of Promise-related methods. Promise.allSettled() and Promise.any() have gained traction, with 47% and 43% of respondents using them, respectively. These methods cater to common asynchronous programming needs by allowing developers to wait for all or any of a set of Promises to settle, streamlining asynchronous operations management. Another notable addition is the Array.toSorted() method, which 40% of respondents have started using. This method simplifies array sorting by providing a natural order sorting mechanism, while also allowing for custom sort functions.
Set Methods and Object.groupBy()
Set methods such as union, intersection, and difference, stemming from set theory, are still relatively niche, with only 16%, 15%, and 15% of respondents respectively using them. However, these methods offer powerful and efficient ways to handle unique items and perform set operations, making them valuable for specific scenarios. Object.groupBy(), another new feature, organizes objects according to specific properties, and 33% of respondents have found it useful. This feature simplifies data grouping tasks, making it easier to work with collections of objects.
Libraries and Frameworks
Front-end Frameworks
Front-end frameworks continue to be a pivotal part of the JavaScript ecosystem, witnessing notable shifts in developer preferences and usage patterns. Angular, for instance, has seen a remarkable resurgence after a prolonged period of declining popularity. This revival is evident in the increased positive opinion and usage of Angular, indicating that developers may be revisiting and finding new value in its comprehensive structure and robust tooling.
Svelte and Vue persist as highly favored options within the developer community, with impressive “would use again” sentiments of 88% and 87%, respectively. These frameworks are praised for their simplicity and performance, making them top choices for developers looking for efficient and intuitive options. React, another major player in the front-end landscape, maintains a substantial presence with a “used it and liked it” rating of 43%. Interestingly, 24% of respondents reported using React without a strong sentiment, underscoring its status as an entrenched standard in the JavaScript ecosystem despite mixed feelings.
Build and Repository Tools
The 2024 survey underscores the significance of build and repository tools in enhancing development workflows. Vite has emerged as a standout among build tools, earning an impressive 51% positive user sentiment. Its innovative approach to the build-chain experience, characterized by speed and simplicity, has resonated deeply with developers. This is reflected in Vite’s 98% retention rate, the highest among ranked build tools, indicating a strong preference for this modern tool.
In the realm of repository tools, pnpm has garnered significant attention. As a faster alternative to npm, with built-in support for monorepos, pnpm enjoys a 93% positive sentiment. Notably, 42% of respondents have used pnpm and liked their experience, showcasing its effectiveness in streamlining dependency management and improving efficiency. Another notable tool is esbuild, which is celebrated for its exceptional speed and support for multiple languages, earning a 91% user approval rating. SWC, a Rust-based tool focused on speed and comprehensive builds, also boasts a high 86% positivity rating, reflecting its growing popularity among developers.
Testing Tools
Testing remains an essential, yet often tedious, aspect of the development process. The survey reveals that among testing frameworks, Vitest stands out with exceptionally high retention at 98%. This indicates that developers who have tried Vitest overwhelmingly choose to continue using it, highlighting its effectiveness and ease of use.
Playwright is another popular choice, boasting a 94% “would use again” rating. This points to its robustness in automating web tests and its versatility across various browsers. The Testing Library also garners a strong positive sentiment at 91%, reflecting its prominence in the development community. These tools collectively underscore the ongoing importance of reliable and efficient testing frameworks in the JavaScript ecosystem.
Meta-frameworks
Meta-frameworks, which extend the capabilities of core frameworks like React, Vue, or Svelte, have seen subtle shifts in sentiment. Astro.js, in particular, has experienced rapid growth in usage, boasting a 94% “would use again” rating. Despite a slight dip in positive sentiment, its rising popularity indicates that developers find its approach to enhancing static site generation and multi-framework support compelling.
SvelteKit continues to be a favored choice among meta-frameworks, with a solid 90% “would use again” rating. Its seamless integration with Svelte and its intuitive design make it a preferred option for many developers. On the other hand, Next.js, a pioneer in the meta-framework space, maintains steady usage but has seen a decline in sentiment to 68%. This suggests that while Next.js remains widely used, developers are increasingly exploring alternatives that may better meet their specific needs and preferences.
Other Notable Libraries
The survey also sheds light on various other libraries that play a significant role in the JavaScript ecosystem. Lodash, known for its extensive utility functions, continues to be a staple in many developers’ toolkits, with regular usage by 43% of respondents. Its comprehensive suite of functions simplifies complex operations and enhances productivity.
Three.js, a premier 3D library, stands out for its impressive demo capabilities and high regard within the community. Its ability to create immersive 3D experiences in the browser makes it a powerful tool for developers looking to push the boundaries of web development. These libraries, along with others highlighted in the survey, underscore the diverse range of tools available to JavaScript developers, each catering to specific needs and use cases.
Hosting Services
The preference for hosting services among JavaScript developers has remained competitive, with AWS leading the pack at 44%. Despite this dominant position, other providers like Vercel (40%), GitHub Pages (38%), and Netlify (38%) are not far behind. This illustrates a diverse landscape where multiple hosting solutions are viable options depending on the developers’ specific requirements and preferences.
Cloudflare and Heroku, with 21% and 19% respectively, also hold their ground, highlighting a clear preference for top-tier providers. AWS’s comprehensive infrastructure and global reach make it a popular choice, while Vercel’s focus on front-end developers and seamless integration with JavaScript frameworks has earned it significant favor. GitHub Pages and Netlify’s ease of use and free tier options make them accessible choices for individual developers and small projects. The competitive nature of hosting services reflects the broad spectrum of needs and the variety of robust solutions available to meet those needs in the JavaScript community.
Conclusion
A notable trend in the 2024 survey is the use of AI code generators. Despite AI’s growing role in programming, a significant 14% of respondents revealed they do not use any AI code generator at all. For those who do engage with AI tools, ChatGPT is the most favored, with 67% of developers opting for it. GitHub Copilot follows at 48%, then Claude at 23%, and finally Gemini at 14%. This data showcases a shift towards increased reliance on AI assistants to boost productivity and ease coding tasks. However, it’s important to acknowledge that a substantial minority of developers still avoid these AI tools.
The 2024 survey underscores the mixed feelings within the developer community towards AI code generators. Despite the evident advantages in terms of efficiency and streamlined coding processes that these AI tools offer, some developers remain hesitant or choose to work without them. This split reflects the diverse approaches and comfort levels in adapting to new technology. While the likes of ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot gain significant traction, the resistance by a portion of the community suggests a balancing act between innovation and tradition in the coding world.