Framework Versus Javascript

It has become a very serious debate whether the developers should use a framework which provides ready to use functionality and robustness of a tested system or whether they should use bare bones javascript and CSS to accomplish their tasks.

Using framework has its own merits. You get a runtime which includes tons of functionality and ready made APIs which can be used with the preferred programming language and moreover, these runtimes are professionally developed and are tried and tested and thus can be used right out of the box without breaking the existing code. There are many runtimes available which are suitable for different kinds of functionalities. The most popular runtime is from Sun Microsystems for Java Technology also known as Java Virtual Machine. JVM has the largest installed base and is around for 10 to 12 years. Microsoft's .Net framework is another popular framework if you want to go for Microsoft camp. .Net is relatively new but gaining ground fast. Adobe has launched yet another framework known as Adobe Integrated Runtime or AIR which is used to create rich internet applications. Sun Microsystems also has a runtime for Mobile platform known as KVM . This is just the tip of iceberg. Google has released its own framework for mobile known as Android. Likewise, there Ruby On Rails web framework.

These technologies do a lot to ease the life of a software developer. But there are limitations too. The framework itself is a necessity. It has to be on the machine on which application executes. The framework is very bulky and takes long to download. The developers become limited by the functionalities provided by the framework.

While frameworks are popular , there are many companies who prefer to work on the browser technologies with no framework. This way they do not depend on the framework or platform. Using ubiquitous Javascript and CSS from developing rich and interactive applications has many merits. That is why, Google itself has taken that route. All of the Google Applicatons like GMail, Google Spreadsheets are built on the Javascript and CSS and work marvelous.

It is not easy to decide whether to go for framework technology or javascript technology, but one can take decision based on the circumstances and the nature of applications being developed.