Why do Upgrade to Angular 2
by Dipanjan Saha Mobile Application & Web DeveloperIntroduction of
Angular 2
Angular 2 is one of the most popular platforms which are a
successor to Google Angular 1 framework. With its help, Angular JS developers
can build complex applications in browsers and beyond. Angular 2 is not only
the next or advanced version of Angular 1, it is fully redesigned and
rewritten. Thus, the architecture of Angular 2 is completely different from
Angular 1. This tutorial looks at the various aspects of Angular 2 framework
which includes the basics of the framework, the setup of Angular and how to
work with the various aspects of the framework. Unlike its predecessor, Angular
2 is a TypeScript-based, web application development platform that makes the
switch from MVC (model-view-controller) to a components-based approach to web
development.
Benefits of Angular 2
Mobile Support: Though the Ionic framework has always worked well
with Angular, the platform offers better mobile support with the version 2. The
1.x version compromised heavily on user experience and application performance
in general. With its built-in mobile-orientation, Angular 2.0 is more geared
for cross-platform mobile application development.
Faster and Modern
Browsers: Faster and modern browsers are demanded by developers today.
Developers want Angular 2 stress more on browsers like IE10/11, Chrome,
Firefox, Opera & Safari on the desktop and Chrome on Android, Windows Phone
8+, iOS6 & Firefox mobile. Developers believe that this would allow
AngularJS codebase to be short and compact and AngularJS would support the
latest and greatest features without worrying about backward compatibility and
polyfills. This would simplify the AngularJS app development process.
High Performance: Angular2
uses superset of JavaScript which is highly optimized which makes the app and
web to load faster. Angular2 loads quickly with component router. It helps in
automatic code splitting so user only load code required to vendor the view.
Many modules are removed from angular’s core, resulting in better performance
means you will be able to pick and choose the part you need.
Changing World of
Web: The web has changed noticeably and no doubt it will continue changing
in the future as well. The current version of AngularJS cannot work with the
new web components like custom elements, HTML imports; shadow DOM etc. which
allow developers to create fully encapsulated custom elements. Developers
anticipate with all hopes that Angular 2 must fully support all web components.
Component Based
Development: A component is an
independent software unit that can be composed with the other components to
create a software system. Component based web development is pretty much future
of web development. Angular2 is focused on component base development.
Angularjs require entire stack to be written using angular but angular2
emphasis separation of components /allow segmentation within the app to be
written independently. Developers can concentrate on business logic only. These
things are not just features but the requirement of any thick-client web
framework.
Why to upgrade to Angular
2 ?
Angular 2 is entirely component-based and even the final
application is a component of the platform. Components and directives have
replaced controllers and scopes. Even the specification for directives has been
simplified and will probably further improve. They are the communication
channels for components and run in the browser with elements and events. Angular
2 components have their own injector so you no longer have to work with a
single injector for the entire application. With an improved dependency
injection model, there are more opportunities for component or object-based
work.
Optimized for Mobile-
Angular 2 has been carefully optimized for boasting improved memory
efficiency, enhanced mobile performance, and fewer CPU cycles. It’s as clear of
an indication as any that Angular 2 is going to serve as a mobile-first
framework in order to encourage the mobile app development process. This
version also supports sophisticated touch and gesture events across modern
tablet and mobile devices.
Typescript Support- Angular
2 uses Typescript and variety of concepts common in back-end. That is why it is
more back-end developer-friendly. It's worth noting that dependency injection
container makes use of metadata generated by Typescript. Another important
facet is IDE integration is that it makes easier to scale large projects
through refactoring your whole code base at the same time. If you are
interested in Typescript, the docs are a great place to begin with. Moreover,
Typescript usage improves developer experience thanks to good support from text
editors and IDE's. With libraries like React already using Typescript,
web/mobile app developers can implement the library in their Angular 2 project
seamlessly.
Modular Development- Angular
1 created a fair share of headaches when it came to loading modules or deciding
between Require.js and Web Pack. Fortunately, these decisions are removed
entirely from Angular 2 as the new release shies away from ineffective modules
to make room for performance improvements. Angular 2 also integrates System.js,
a universal dynamic modular loader, which provides an environment for loading
ES6, Common, and AMD modules.
$scope Out,
Components in- Angular 2 gets rid of controllers and $scope. You may wonder
how you’re going to stitch your homepage together! Well, don’t worry too much −
Angular 2 introduces Components as an easier way to build complex web apps and
pages. Angular 2 utilizes directives (DOMs) and components (templates). In
simple terms, you can build individual component classes that act as isolated
parts of your pages. Components then are highly functional and customizable
directives that can be configured to build and specify classes, selectors, and
views for companion templates. Angular 2 components make it possible to write
code that won’t interfere with other pieces of code within the component
itself.
Native Mobile
Development- The best part about Angular 2 is “it’s more
framework-oriented”. This means the code you write for mobile/tablet devices
will need to be converted using a framework like Ionic or Native Script. One
single skillset and code base can be used to scale and build large
architectures of code and with the integration of a framework (like, you
guessed it, NativeScript or Ionic); you get a plethora of room to be flexible
with the way your native applications function.
Code Syntax Changes- One
more notable feature of Angular 2 is that it adds more than a few bells and
whistles to the syntax usage. This comprises (but is not limited to) improving
data-binding with properties inputs, changing the way routing works, changing
an appearance of directives syntax, and, finally, improving the way local
variables that are being used widely. One more notable feature of Angular 2 is
that it adds more than a few bells and whistles to the syntax usage. This
comprises improving data-binding with properties inputs, changing the way
routing works, changing an appearance of directives syntax, and, finally,
improving the way local variables that are being used widely.
Comparison between
Angular 1 and Angular 2
Angular 1
·
In order to create service use provider, factory,
service, constant and value
·
In order to automatically detection changed use
$scope, $watch, $scope, $apply, $timeout.
·
Syntax event for example ng-click
·
Syntax properties for example ng-hid, ng-checked
·
It use Filter
Angular 2
·
In order to create service use only class
·
In order to automatically detection changed use
Zone.js.
·
Syntax event for example (click) or (dbl-click)
·
Syntax properties for example [class: hidden]
[checked]
·
It use pipe
How to migrate
Angular 1 to Angular 2
It is a very simple and easy task to upgrade Angular 1 to
Angular 2, but this has to be done only if the applications demand it. In this
article, I will suggest a number of ways which could be taken into
consideration in order to migrate existing applications from Angular 1.x to 2.
Therefore, depending on the organizational need, the appropriate migration
approach should be used.
ngForward
ngForward is not a real upgrade framework for Angular 2 but
instead we can use it to create Angular 1 apps that look like Angular 2.
If you still feel uncomfortable upgrading your existing
application to Angular 2, you can fall to ngForward to feel the taste and
sweetness of the good tidings Angular 2 brings but still remain in your comfort
zone.
You can either re-write your angular app gradually to look
as if it was written in Angular 2 or add features in an Angular 2 manner
leaving the existing project untouched. Another benefit that comes with this is
that it prepares you and your team for the future even when you choose to hold
onto the past for a little bit longer.
I will guide you through a basic setup to use ngForward but
in order to be on track, have a look at the Quick Start for Angular 2.
If you took time to review the Quick Start as I suggested,
you won't be lost with the configuration. SystemJS is used to load the Angular
application after it has been bootstrapped as we will soon see. Finally in our app.ts
, we can code like its
Angular 2.
ngUpgrade
Writing an Angular 1.x app that looks like Angular 2 is not
good enough. We need the real stuff. The challenge then becomes that with a
large existing Angular 1.x project, it becomes really difficult to re-write our
entire app to Angular 2, and even using ngForward would not be ideal. This is
where ngUpgrade comes to our aid. ngUpgrade is the real stuff.
Unlike ngForward, ngUpgrade was covered clearly in the
Angular 2 docs. If you fall in the category of developers that will take this
path, then spare few minutes and digest this.
We'll also be writing more articles on upgrading to Angular
2 and we'll focus more on ngUpgrade in a future article.
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Created on Oct 9th 2018 01:34. Viewed 448 times.