Your Privacy

This site uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and deliver personalized content. By continuing to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.
COOKIE POLICY

Frameworks: More Crux Than Cure

Frameworks: More Crux Than Cure
Back to insights

Notice: The goal of this post is not to bash specific frameworks1, except “Apache Wicket” (that thing is awful). The author’s intent is to point out how developers are becoming more and more reliant on frameworks, which is limiting growth and understanding of what is happening behind the scenes. In addition to curbing developer growth, some frameworks can eventually become a hindrance when custom functionality is needed.

The newest framework came out; it is so simple to get that “Hello World” example running. Only twelve lines of code and its working! Awesome, except your production application is slightly more complicated than “Hello World”. Now, what? Well, you might be thinking to yourself, “Obviously, there is a learning curve for frameworks”. I understand that (also don’t worry I can’t read minds), but my response would be, I think time spent learning frameworks would be better suited for understanding the problem and trying to solve it within your specific application

I understand why people love frameworks. They eliminate trivial code while allowing for rapid initial development. I also know that understanding how things work from the ground up is a much more powerful tool than plopping a framework down and trusting it will work for your application.

Frameworks Don’t Make the Dream Work

Developing towards a framework is an easy way to limit your usefulness in the technological world. If you do not feel like writing boilerplate code for a certain aspect of your application, perhaps consider using a library. Libraries can be used to help support an application without steering the way a developer writes code and can be swapped for something newer if its usefulness diminishes.

Okay, okay, so you (and your team) are smitten with a set of features a certain geometrical framework offers or maybe you love how simple starting an application is with a resilient metallic coil startup framework (not proud of that thinly veiled reference). A few weeks go by and so far, so good, until its decided you need a new security measure implemented. No big deal, you can just add a hook that will perform the secure operation. Hmm, looks like the framework wraps the interaction you need to customize and there is no entry point for extending functionality.

So now that you’re yelling at me, because I just created a trivial example to support my argument. Well, let’s try an alternative approach. You successfully added application specific code that adds functionality, piggybacking on the framework you chose. Cut to two months later, you hire a developer and they need to upgrade said security feature. First, they must learn the framework. Next, they will learn your application. Finally, they come to the specific fix you wrote that fits with your framework. Now, that’s a lot less trivial example in my experience.

Frameworks, Frameworks, Frameworks2

In the humblest of ways, I am willing to admit there are frameworks that do provide value. They are minimalistic in their approach and provide simple avenues for customization. The problem with frameworks starts when they try to tackle too much, handling more than they set out to do and quickly losing sight of the goal they were trying to tackle in the first place. I think trying to find which ones are suitable and which ones are disasters waiting to happen is an extremely difficult task. Hence, why I always advise heeding caution before fully committing to a framework, sometimes vanilla is better (honestly, vanilla ice cream is underrated).

I will close with two points:

  1. I think developers should learn to write application code, not framework code, and
  2. Beware of committing to a framework too early.

1Flame suit engaged

2Blame SEO

Digging In

  • Digital Products

    Energy 2025 – Expansion of Fossil Fuels or Carbon Reduction?

    Now that the election is behind us, we have an opportunity to anticipate the possible effects on the energy industry under this new administration. What strategies will be impacted? What will remain the same? What opportunities can we take advantage of in 2025? This blog is meant to dig into these questions and provide some […]

  • Digital Products

    The Growing Importance of Digital Accessibility

    Embracing Digital Accessibility: A Moral and Business Imperative In today’s digital landscape, accessibility has become crucial for businesses and organizations. With increasing awareness and legal requirements, ensuring that digital products are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, is not just a compliance issue but a moral imperative. At UDig, we champion ADA compliance […]

  • Digital Products

    Unlocking Business Potential: The Power of Custom Application Development

    Like any savvy business leader, you’re likely always on the lookout for tools to give your company a competitive edge. And in doing so, you’ve undoubtedly considered investing in custom application development. But the question is, how do you ensure that such a major investment in a custom web application development provides a strong return on […]

  • Digital Products

    Mastering Legacy Application Modernization: Strategies for Success

    The ironic truth of the business world is that change is the only constant. But this means that failing to keep pace with the competition and its technologies will only end with you falling behind. That’s where legacy application modernization enters the fold. When you modernize legacy applications, your team gains access to new features […]

  • Digital Products

    CTO Confessions Podcast

    In this episode of CTO Confessions, Rob Phillips, the Vice President of Software Engineering at UDig, digs into his journey from a passionate technologist in his youth to a seasoned leader in the tech industry. He shares valuable lessons on transitioning to senior leadership, the importance of understanding and articulating company problems, and the art of empowering teams for high performance.

  • Digital Products

    Navigating the Challenges of On Premise to Cloud Migration

    In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the shift from on premise solutions to cloud-based infrastructure has become a pivotal transformation for organizations seeking to modernize their IT operations. This transition holds the promise of increased agility, cost savings, and enhanced scalability. However, it is not without its set of formidable challenges that organizations must navigate. […]