Introduction
Salesforce is a leading platform for building corporate mobile and web apps. In recent years, they have provided a wide range of tools for developers of all skill levels to take advantage of the platform. Their latest announcement, Lightning Web Components, is a programming model designed for the over 7 million developers who already know JavaScript to develop apps on the Salesforce platform using the language they already know.
The Problem with Fragmentation
Previously, companies that wanted to develop apps for Lightning had to hire specialized profiles in the Aura programming model, which was exclusive to Salesforce. However, this caused a problem of fragmentation as developers had to learn multiple languages, and the code created with one framework was not compatible with the rest. This meant that work done in the React or Angular community was not applicable to the Lightning platform.
The Benefits of Lightning Web Components
With Lightning Web Components, Salesforce is now able to offer the best of modern JavaScript (supporting ES6+) and the best of the already extensive catalog of developer services that includes the Lightning platform. This includes access to data services and security measures through Locker.
Support for modern JavaScript: Lightning Web Components supports the latest version of JavaScript, ES6+, which allows developers to use the latest features and syntax. This makes it easier for developers to write and maintain code, and to take advantage of the latest advancements in the language.
Access to developer services: Lightning Web Components provides access to a wide range of developer services offered by the Lightning platform. This includes data services, security measures, and other tools that make it easy for developers to create powerful and robust apps.
Reusable code: Components are the key to Lightning. Working with these reusable blocks of code makes it easier for developers to create and maintain apps, and allows for code to be reused across multiple applications and websites.
Access to Salesforce Einstein and IoT: Lightning Web Components allows developers to take advantage of the power of Salesforce Einstein and IoT to create intelligent and connected apps. This includes access to machine learning, natural language processing, and other advanced technologies.
Easier to find developers: The use of JavaScript as a programming model makes it easier for Salesforce customers to find developers who are already familiar with the language, and eliminates the need to hire specialized profiles in the Aura programming model.
Coexistence and Migration: Components created with Aura and Lightning Web Components will be able to coexist and cooperate across websites and applications. This allows companies to gradually migrate their components to Lightning Web Components to benefit from the performance improvements without having to abandon their existing work.
Future developments and plans for Lightning Web Components
In the future, Salesforce plans to continue to improve and develop Lightning Web Components, with a focus on:
- Improved performance and scalability: Salesforce is committed to making Lightning Web Components perform faster and scale better to handle large data sets and complex apps.
- Improved developer experience: Salesforce is working to make it easier for developers to use Lightning Web Components, including providing better documentation, tutorials, and sample code.
- Improved integration with other technologies: Salesforce is working to make it easier for developers to integrate Lightning Web Components with other technologies, such as React and Angular.
Resources for Lightning Web Components
There are a number of resources available for developers who want to learn and get started with Lightning Web Components, including:
- Salesforce Developer documentation: Salesforce provides extensive documentation on how to use Lightning Web Components, including tutorials and sample code. Lightning Web Components foundation - OSS Documentation (lwc.dev)
- Salesforce Developer Community: The Salesforce Developer Community is a great place to ask questions and get help from other developers who are using Lightning Web Components.
- Salesforce Developer Events: Salesforce hosts a number of events, such as webinars and meetups, that provide training and information on Lightning Web Components.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Lightning Web Components is a modern JavaScript programming model for building apps in Lightning that makes it easier for Salesforce customers to find programmers and allows for the coexistence and migration of components created with Aura. This allows for the use of modern JavaScript and the best of the developer services offered by the Lightning platform.
