A Comparative Analysis of Modern Frontend Frameworks from a Developer Experience Perspective

Abstract

In recent years, frontend development has become increasingly diverse, with numerous frameworks emerging to support the creation of interactive and scalable web applications. This thesis presents a comparative analysis of three modern frontend frameworks, which are Angular, React and Vue.js, with the aim of identifying which framework offers the best balance between learning curve and development speed for small-scale applications. The evaluation is conducted from a developer experience perspective. To achieve this, three small-scale applications were developed using each framework, and development time was manually measured across different phases, including setup, learning, and implementation. The results indicate that Angular required the longest development time, primarily due to its complex architecture and steep learning curve. In contrast, React enabled a more flexible and faster development process, while Vue.js demonstrated the shortest overall development time and the most accessible learning experience. These findings suggest that although Angular may be less suitable for small-scale projects with limited time constraints. On the other hand, React and Vue.js offer clear advantages in rapid development and ease of use, particularly for smaller projects. Overall, the findings provide valuable insights to help developers understand the strengths of each framework and make informed decisions when selecting a framework for small-scale application development.