Welcome to Angular 8: The Latest Update with Ivy, Bazel, and TypeScript 3.2

The release of Angular 8 marks a significant milestone for developers looking to enhance the performance, efficiency, and user experience of their applications. With features like the Ivy rendering engine, Bazel for faster bundling, and updated support for TypeScript 3.2, Angular 8 is set to revolutionize web development. In this article, we will explore these new features in detail, providing insights into how they can enhance your development process.

What's New in Angular 8

With the release of Angular 8, a preview version of the Ivy rendering engine is now available for testing. Ivy is a new rendering engine designed to produce smaller bundle sizes, allowing for faster app loading times, especially on slower networks. However, it is not yet recommended for production use.

Ivy: Next-gen Rendering Engine for Angular

Rewriting the Angular renderer is the primary focus of the Ivy rollout. This new generation engine focuses on addressing three key aspects:

Reducing bundle sizes Facilitating faster app loading on slow connections Enabling quicker debugging and a simpler interface

Ivy also supports the locality principle, which enables:

Shipping pre-compiled code Compiling without the need for Metadata.json Metaprogramming

Differential Loading

Differential loading is a process by which the browser can choose between modern or legacy JavaScript based on its own capabilities. When users load an application, they will automatically receive the bundle they need, ensuring optimal performance and compatibility.

Bazel

Bazel is an orchestration tool designed to help developers bundle their applications faster. It streamlines the build process, ensuring that fewer resources are wasted, and developers have a smoother experience.

TypeScript 3.2

Angular 8 now supports TypeScript 3.2, which comes with additional features and improvements. Most notably, the @angular/http package has been removed. It has been replaced by the @angular/common/http API, which is smaller, simpler, and more powerful. This new API is designed to make HTTP requests more efficient and easier to manage.

Optimized Features of Angular 8

Ivy: A New Generation Renderer

The Angular team has introduced a preview version of Ivy to help developers prepare for future upgrades. Ivy includes several improvements, such as:

Faster rendering times Smaller bundle sizes Improved compatibility with modern browsers Enhanced debugging tools

Differential Modern JavaScript Loading

Differential loading, or DLS, ensures that users receive the most compatible JavaScript bundle for their browser, providing a seamless experience. This feature is particularly useful for developers targeting a wide range of devices and browsers.

Angular Router Backward Compatibility

Angular 8 has maintained backward compatibility with the Angular Router, making it easier for developers to upgrade existing projects without significant changes. This feature ensures a smooth transition for existing users.

Enhanced Web Worker Bundling

Enhanced Web Worker bundling allows for more efficient use of web workers, improving application performance and responsiveness. This feature is ideal for applications that require complex computations in the background.

Opt-in Usage Sharing

Angular 8 includes an opt-in feature to share usage data. This data helps the Angular team understand how the framework is being used and identify areas for further improvement.

Dependency Updates

The latest version of Angular 8 has updated dependencies to the latest versions, ensuring that developers have access to the most up-to-date tools and libraries. This helps maintain a secure and robust development environment.

Conclusion

The release of Angular 8 introduces several powerful features that can significantly enhance your web application development process. With improvements in rendering, faster bundling, and updated support for modern frameworks, Angular 8 is a must-have for any developer looking to create high-performance, user-friendly web applications. If you are interested in further exploring these features or need help with your Angular project, feel free to contact us.