Lately, the IT market has been overloaded, and it doesn't play into the hands of startups. There is too much hype around blockchain, bitcoin, and other crypto-currencies. These concepts act as a magnet for investors. As a result, startups have to fight hard to obtain financing. They oversimplify their business strategies, make MVP even more unsophisticated, search for the ways to accelerate the proof-of-concept stage, etc. JavaScript UI libraries can help overcome these issues.
Having a UI library at hand offers serious advantages. For example, it is possible to create an app for data storage and management using only 12 lines of code or build a wireframe of your web solution in no time by applying ready-made admin dashboard templates. There is a number of other reasons why employing a UI library boosts startups and makes them stand out:
- Acceleration of the whole development process. It is possible to have a working digital solution in a couple of weeks instead of several months. The creation of an ordinary app still requires time and smart heads. The development team working for months is definitely more costly than buying an individual license of some UI library.
- A unified interface for a number of platforms, e.g., for web, desktop, and mobile. Cross-platform development is a well-known time and money saver. Not so long ago many companies had to spend a fortune on building separate apps for various devices and purposes. Modern UI libraries aggregate the advantages of the cross-platform approach. As a result, even a developer with little experience can build an app with an interface that adapts to any kind of a screen.
- No more hordes of bugs. They are usually inevitable companions of software developers trying to create a working app from scratch in a flash. Fixing errors often requires more time than it takes to create an app itself. This is when development is delayed and, as a result, becomes more expensive. The situation is different with UI frameworks and libraries which are usually brainchildren of dozens of developers. The possibility of bugs is minimal in this case.
- Fewer expenditures on QA. Working with a coding library is like doing a puzzle. A programmer's task is to arrange several previously tested pieces of code into one solution. Obviously, you won't be able to omit the testing stage completely. However, since separate coding elements have been thoroughly checked before sale, you are likely to spend much fewer resources on QA as if compared to creating an app from scratch.
- Further growth prospects. Many startupers fear to back the wrong horse. What if one day their software product outgrows the chosen framework and its purchase would turn into a waste of money? To avoid this nuisance, it's better to think big right from the start and choose a more feature-rich solution.
Nevertheless, there are some minuses
Custom design issues. Libraries contain complex widgets with a large number of controls. There is always a strong possibility of breaking something while setting up a non-standard design. So, take a balanced look at the default design so that you don’t have to modify it too much.
Integration issues. It's not every library that has enough examples of integration with other libraries and systems. If you are planning to utilize several libraries at a time, you may face some difficulties. This kind of problems can be offset by helpful support service specialists.
Compatibility with mobile devices. Sometimes standard design adaptability is not enough to make elements from a library work on mobile devices properly. Developers can encounter problems related to app performance and HTML5 UI compatibility.
The takeaways
UI libraries significantly facilitate startup projects. It's not necessary to employ a big team of developers since half of the work has already been done by the libraries' creators. As a consequence, startupers can save a lot of resources, and their revenues start growing by leaps and bounds. However, one should keep in mind the possibility of issues arising during UI library implementation. So, it would be wise to bet on a framework with a strong support service.
