State of JavaScript 2018: Trends in Frontend Frameworks, Flavors, and the JavaScript Ecosystem

The State of JavaScript (StateOfJS) project, created by Raphaël Benitte, Sacha Greif, and Michael Rambeau, surveys developers to identify which JavaScript technologies are being used, liked, and anticipated. The 2018 report gathered over 20,000 responses from 153 countries, with China contributing 75 participants.

Flavors : The term “flavors” refers to languages that compile to JavaScript. TypeScript is the clear leader, far surpassing other options, and more than 40% of developers have used it and would use it again, with some regions exceeding 50%.

Front‑end Frameworks : React remains the most popular front‑end library, with Vue in second place. While Vue’s usage is high, the “used and would use again” metric shows a gap. Angular has a large user base but lower satisfaction.

Data Layer : Data‑layer technologies are grouped by their role in data transport and management. Redux leads in raw usage numbers, but the trend is shifting toward GraphQL and related tools such as Apollo. Combining Redux with GraphQL is possible, yet GraphQL‑specific state management may eventually replace Redux.

Backend Frameworks : Express is the most favored server‑side framework, followed by Next.js and Koa. Although Express and Koa share the same creator (TJ), Express scores higher on the “used and would use again” metric.

Testing Frameworks : Jest and Mocha have similar popularity, but Jest edges ahead, likely due to its close association with React and Facebook. About 8.4% of developers have used Mocha, many of whom do not plan to continue.

Mobile & Desktop : JavaScript now powers applications beyond browsers. Electron tops the list for desktop, while React Native follows closely, representing the mobile side.

Developers’ Opinions : From 2016 to 2018, an increasing number of developers feel JavaScript is moving in the right direction. The perception that building JavaScript apps is “too complex” has slightly decreased but remains prevalent. Over 50% think the ecosystem evolves too quickly, though this sentiment is also easing. Nearly 70% intend to keep JavaScript as their primary language.

Highlights & Awards : Jest was named the most satisfying framework (96.5% would reuse). GraphQL earned the “most interesting” title, with 87.7% of developers wanting to learn it. VueX received the most mentions from open‑ended responses. React is the most commonly used framework (14,417 developers). The “Most Promising” award went to Reason, and VS Code received a special award as the leading JavaScript editor.

For the full detailed report, visit https://2018.stateofjs.com. The article also links to related posts about HTTP/3 and a comparison of React vs. Vue.