In this episode, Scott and Wes discuss the libraries that are no longer needed due to built-in browser features. They talk about the history and advantages of using jQuery, the challenges of migrating away from it, and creating jQuery plugins. They also explore the transition from Underscore to vanilla JavaScript, the trend of creating additional grid systems, and the evolution of web sockets with a focus on socket.io.
Read more
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Built-in browser features like getElementById, getElementsByClassName, and querySelector have made selecting DOM elements more elegant and efficient, reducing the need for jQuery.
The introduction of the fetch API and evolving web standards have made frameworks like Express less essential, with Next.js and Svelte Kit gaining popularity for server functionality.
Deep dives
Eliminating the Need for jQuery
In the past, people heavily relied on jQuery for browser compatibility and ease of use in selecting DOM elements. However, with the introduction of built-in browser features such as getElementById, getElementsByClassName, and getElementsByTagName, the need for jQuery has diminished. The addition of browser standards, like querySelector and querySelectorAll, has made selecting DOM elements more elegant and efficient. Additionally, modern browsers now have built-in support for event listeners, event delegation, and animations, reducing the reliance on jQuery for these functionalities.
The Evolution of Express
Express, the popular Node.js server framework, has been widely used for a long time. While Express 5 has been in beta since 2014, many developers still prefer using Express 4. Express 4 offers robust features for handling requests, routing, and sending JSON responses. However, as web standards have evolved, many of the functionalities provided by Express have been integrated into the fetch API, making it easier to create requests and handle responses on both the client and server sides. As a result, frameworks like Next.js, Svelte Kit, and other meta frameworks that provide server functionality have gained popularity, offering a more seamless integration with web standards.
The Decline of jQuery Plugins and Other Libraries
Libraries like Underscore.js and Lodash were widely used in the past for their utility functions and additional features like event handling and cloning objects. However, with the introduction of modern JavaScript features like array methods (map, reduce, filter) and built-in objects like Map and Set, the need for these libraries has diminished. Additionally, the widespread usage of ECMAScript modules and the ability to create custom grids using CSS Flexbox and Grid have replaced the necessity for grid systems like 960 GS or Bootstrap. SASS and Less, once popular for their nesting and variable features, are becoming less essential as CSS evolves and provides similar functionalities. Similarly, the rise of web fonts has made flash-based font replacement libraries like Cufón obsolete. As JavaScript continues to evolve, we can expect further consolidation of functionalities and a reduced reliance on specialized libraries.
In this Hasty Treat, Scott and Wes talk about all the libraries we don’t need to use anymore thanks to their features being built into the browsers now.