Google launches Angular v17 and angular.dev
(8 November 2023)

Angular is a popular open-source web application framework developed and maintained by Google. It is designed to simplify the process of building dynamic, single-page web applications (SPAs) and offers a comprehensive set of tools and features for developers. Angular follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern and is written in TypeScript, a superset of JavaScript that adds static typing to the language.

Architecture Overview:

Angular applications are built around the concept of components, which are the fundamental building blocks of the framework. A component encapsulates the application's logic, data, and user interface. The architecture can be broken down into the following key components:

1. Module:

   • Angular applications are modular and organized into feature modules.
   • Modules help in organizing and managing different parts of the application.
   • Each module can contain components, services, directives, and other related files.

2. Component:

   • A component represents a specific part of the user interface and encapsulates its behavior.
   • Components consist of three parts: template (HTML), class (TypeScript), and metadata.
   • The template defines the structure of the view, the class contains the logic, and metadata provides additional information about the component.

3. Template:

   • The template is the HTML markup that defines the structure of the user interface.
   • It can include data binding, directives, and other Angular-specific syntax to enhance functionality.

4. Data Binding:

   • Angular supports two-way data binding, allowing automatic synchronization between the model and the view.
   • This simplifies the process of updating the user interface based on changes in the application state.

5. Directive:

   • Directives are markers on a DOM element that tell Angular to attach a specific behavior to it.
   • Angular comes with built-in directives like ngIf, ngFor, and ngSwitch, and developers can create custom directives.

6. Service:

   • Services are used for encapsulating reusable business logic, data retrieval, or other operations that can be shared across components.
   • Dependency Injection (DI) is a core concept in Angular, facilitating the injection of services into components.

7. Dependency Injection:

   • Angular's DI system provides a way to create, manage, and inject dependencies into components and services.
   • This promotes modularity, testability, and maintainability of the codebase.

Key Features:

1. Two-Way Data Binding:

   • Angular's two-way data binding simplifies the process of keeping the model and view in sync, reducing boilerplate code.

2. Angular CLI:

   • The Angular Command Line Interface (CLI) provides a set of commands for creating, building, testing, and deploying Angular applications.

3. RxJS (Reactive Extensions for JavaScript):

   • Angular heavily relies on RxJS for handling asynchronous operations and event handling in a reactive manner.

4. Routing:

   • Angular's router enables developers to create single-page applications with navigation and deep linking support.

5. Forms:

   • Angular provides a powerful and flexible forms module for handling user input and form validation.

6. Testing:

   • Angular is designed with testability in mind, and it includes tools like Jasmine and Karma for writing and running tests.

Building a Bespoke App with Angular:

1. Setup:

   • Start by installing Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager), and then install Angular CLI globally.
   • Use the CLI to create a new Angular project: ng new my-app.

2. Component-Based Development:

   • Break down the application into components, each responsible for a specific feature or functionality.
   • Define templates, styles, and logic for each component.

3. Routing:

   • Implement routing to navigate between different views of the application.
   • Define routes, create components for each route, and configure navigation in the app.

4. Services:

   • Create services to encapsulate business logic, data retrieval, and other shared functionality.
   • Use dependency injection to inject services into components.

5. Data Binding and Forms:

   • Utilize two-way data binding to create dynamic and responsive user interfaces.
   • Implement forms for user input, leveraging Angular's form module for validation and submission.

6. RxJS Observables:

   • Use RxJS observables for handling asynchronous operations, such as HTTP requests.
   • Leverage operators for transforming, filtering, and combining data streams.

7. Testing:

   • Write unit tests for components, services, and other parts of the application using tools like Jasmine and Karma.
   • Utilize Angular testing utilities to simulate interactions and verify behavior.

8. Optimization:

   • Optimize the application for performance by lazy loading modules, implementing Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation, and using tree-shaking.

9. Deployment:

   • Build the application for production using the CLI: ng build --prod.
   • Deploy the generated files to a web server or cloud platform of choice.

Conclusion:

Angular provides a robust and scalable framework for building bespoke web applications. Its modular architecture, two-way data binding, and extensive feature set empower developers to create dynamic, responsive, and maintainable applications. By following Angular best practices and leveraging its tools, bespoke app developers can efficiently build high-quality web applications tailored to their clients' needs.