With AngularJS having reached end of life in December 2021, organizations using this popular web framework are looking for a new path forward.
In this short guide, we provide background on AngularJS end of life, top AngularJS alternatives, and long-term support options for teams who need to stay on AngularJS a while longer.
December 2021: AngularJS Reaches End of Life
After 11 years, AngularJS reached end of life on December 31, 2021. This came after three and a half years in community long-term support (including a Covid-related extension of long-term support by six months.
Why Was AngularJS Discontinued?
AngularJS was discontinued in favor of Angular, a typescript-based rebuild of the AngularJS framework. This switch was made in order to preserve the viability of Angular as a modern web framework, with a long list of improvements that make it a better fit for many web applications.
What Does End of Life Mean for AngularJS Users?
Now that AngularJS has reached end of life, AngularJS is no longer supported by the community. That means that any newfound vulnerabilities for the framework will go unpatched, and because the community isn’t issuing new releases, AngularJS apps might break when used with new browser versions.
From a practical point of view, patching these breakages or CVEs in-house will require a lot of time and expertise – a requirement that many organizations aren’t equipped to handle.
What You Need to Know About AngularJS EOL
In this free white paper, we detail the paths forward for enterprise companies still using AngularJS and the support options available to help keep CVEs at bay in end of life.
Related Resources
Blog - What Is AngularJS?
Blog – Planning for AngularJS EOL
White Paper – What Teams Need to Know About AngularJS End of Life
On-Demand Webinar – What You Need to Know About AngularJS EOL
On-Demand Webinar – How to Survive AngularJS EOL
AngularJS Alternatives
For organizations still using AngularJS, understanding available AngularJS alternatives and support options in critical. Luckily, there are several good open source frameworks for teams to choose from – including Angular, ReactJS, VueJS, and others.
Angular
Angular is the TypeScript-based rewrite of AngularJS. However, because it was written in TypeScript instead of JavaScript, there are a number of differences that teams need to account for before performing a migration.
Language aside, Angular also differs in how it approaches application architecture. AngularJS followed an MVC approach, while Angular follows a more modern, component-based architecture. This changes allows Angular to better align with modern development practices (including mobile-native applications).
Because of these changes, an AngularJS to Angular migration is more akin to a rewrite than a classic upgrade.
Related Reading: Angular vs. AngularJS: Exploring the Key Differences
ReactJS
ReactJS is another popular AngularJS alternative. However, despite being JavaScript-based, AngularJS and ReactJS are fundamentally different frameworks.
The biggest difference between the two databases lies within their scope. AngularJS is much more fully-featured, providing an MVC approach. ReactJS, on the other hand, is much more lightweight – focusing primarily on the “View” aspect of the Model-View-Controller architecture used by AngularJS.
For organizations who need a lightweight AngularJS alternative ReactJS will likely be near the top of the list.
Related Reading: AngularJS vs. ReactJS: Key Differences and Migration Considerations
VueJS
Another JavaScript-based AngularJS alternative to consider is VueJS. VueJS is similar to ReactJS in that it is lightweight and focused on the “view” portion of the typical MVC architecture. VueJS is extensible, and is able to fit a number of use cases thanks to a number of bolt-on libraries and functionalities.
For those considering a migration to VueJS, be sure to consider how your AngularJS deployments are using behaviors found in the AngularJS ecosystem (like two-way data flow).
Related Reading: AngularJS vs. VueJS: Key Similarities and Differences
Other AngularJS Alternatives
Aside from Angular, ReactJS, and VueJS, there are a handful of other AngularJS alternatives worth considering, including:
- Ember.js
- Aurelia
- Backbone.js
- Lit
- Meteor
- Knockout
- Riot.js
With so many options available, organizations need to ensure they are picking a framework that both aligns with their current needs, and supports their long-term vision.
AngularJS Long-Term Support Options
Teams still using AngularJS that need more time to migrate must find an alternative means of long-term support, or face the consequences of potential app breakages and critical vulnerabilities. OpenLogic by Perforce offers AngularJS LTS, which includes security patches and fixes for breaking web browser updates.
Related Resources
Datasheet – About OpenLogic AngularJS LTS
Product Page – OpenLogic AngularJS Long Term Support