How we should probably program on the web in 2012 and after?

Web development in 2000 and 2012 is surely not the same. Today, when we develop on the web, we need to consider many aspects which we wouldn’t do 12 years back. Modern Web Development techniques and technologies have had lots of implications.  Some of the aspects which are considered to be very important are:

1. Don’t forget Mobiles

Image obtained here

I was googling and it happened that I landed on a very interesting article containing lots of statistics. In it, you’ll notice one very interesting prediction which I believe to be true. Mobile has currently a great share in the Modern Web Development World. This will intensify….

By 2014, mobile internet gonna take over desktop internet.

By that, if you are developer, you’ll surely understand the implications. So for every website/web application you are developing, ensure you have it’s mobile alternative. The big boss Google/Facebook….. are doing this, so don’t diverge from the best practice.

But how to develop a mobile browser version for each desktop browser version? The next one answers it

2. Develop an API

Strive to build a web service for your web application. By doing so, sky is the limit. Because, you can easily build a mobile version of your application in either native/web view easily just making your web application inter-operating with the web service.. Again, the big boss Google/Facebook, so …..

Read this and notice how developers are making their web application using web services to reflect Modern Web Development practices.

2. Be fair to all browsers’ users

Statistics obtained here

You cannot tell everyone to use Google Chrome just because it’s the best.  Just ensure that your web app is as beautiful and functional on all browsers as it is on Google Chrome

3. Use a framework

Sometimes, it’s a bit difficult to use a different framework because that changes the way we program. But it’s important. The fact is that framework (be it a server-side for PHP, Ruby,Java…., client-side for JavaScript such as jQuery or for CSS such as BluePrint), regroups set of best practices that it is difficult to apply when writing raw codes. e.g. When writing raw SQL in PHP, you might create holes for SQL injection or when using raw JavaScript, you might write codes that may not be compatible for all browsers. So, check out a good framework and use it.

Now, what’s a good framework?
a. One which is “non-authoritative” will make it. That is, it doesn’t forces any convention on you, if you use it’s great and if you don’t, it doesn’t bother.

If you check Fat Free, I’ve never use it, but reading it’s documentation tell me one thing, you just include the base.php file and use whatever features you like. You can use its ORM, MVC structure or also implement your own application level conventions.

b. Secondly, choose a framework that utilizes open source tools so that tomorrow, if you want to use these tools in isolation in a different environment, you already have the expertise. e.g. Symfony 2 clearly lists in its documentation that it uses external software as its building block such as Twig as templating engine or Doctrine as ORM.

5. Don’t forget Social Networks

Obtained here

If you forget social network, you are implicitly telling 2 billion users to forget you. Modern Web Development advises you to integrate your site with social networks just to make people aware that you exist. Then, if your content is of value to them, they’ll come like swarm of bees.

Here are some convincing articles I found concerning social networks:

1. http://www.jeffbullas.com/2011/09/02/20-stunning-social-media-statistics/
2. http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/5965/The-Ultimate-List-300-Social-Media-Statistics.aspx

6. Be SEO Friendly & Google Friendly at the same time

You are doing a website and you want to have traffic on it. So, first, learn how to create traffic. Learn the best practices for making your websites SEO friendly. If you are using CMSs, make sure you use the proper plugins to increase traffic and adhere to SEO practices. Also, ensure you’re site is Google Friendly because currently Google is leading, so lead with him. Ensure to properly spoon-feed Google Spiders so that they choose to build their “web” on your site. My blog is very new & “premature”, still my statistics says this: