Three trends continue to thrive:

  1. Low-code platforms make websites and web apps accessible to a large user base.
  2. Site Speed – the speed that content is delivered continues to improve alongside the pace at which devs can build web apps.
  3. Blurred lines between websites, web apps, and apps make it possible to have one platform that works natively on computers, smartphones, TV, and other devices. 

Low-code 

Low-code platforms like WordPress have been popular for a long time. They can now build websites, web applications, and mobile apps with high-tech tools and cutting-edge techniques. Platforms like these are no longer niche or just used for prototyping. They can ship real apps to market and are a viable option for businesses of all sizes.

A trend that we will see in 2023 is the maturation of low-code for building web apps, parts of web apps, or any other business requirement. The needs of businesses have diversified. Low-code platforms have raced to take this opportunity to distinguish themselves. 

Faster Web

Since 2010, we have had a race for speed in web and app development, and new tools are released almost every day to build faster web apps that are faster to build. These tools promise 100% speed in terms of user experience and search engine lighthouse results.

Headless will continue to trend in 2023 as it further allows small and medium-sized businesses to perform at a high level with a smaller budget. In the past, you may have needed ten or more developers to build a modern app. Currently, you need just two developers to complete the same job. This model also provides security and scalability to websites and web apps. 

Across the industry, teams are updating their code to make headless faster to build and to build better performing platforms. Among the tools and techniques used to reach that aim is the islands architecture, which ships zero Javascript when possible. If Javascript is shipped, it should work like an island without blocking the flow of your app. This architecture is probably as good as it can get with the tools that we currently have. 

Apps

Since 2015, we have had a trend where you can build mobile apps from web platforms. This trend will reach maturity in 2023, now that you can build apps as performant as native apps through your web platform. Progressive Web Apps (PWA) are the most exciting aspect of this trend. A progressive web app is just a website that functions as a mobile app. A PWA can do almost everything a native mobile app does use the camera, send notifications, geolocation, microphone, multitouch, and so on. One obstacle for PWAs is not performance or features but market dominance by Google Play and the Apple App Store. If Progressive Web Apps can provide features to users at a lower cost than a native application, we may see some movement away from native apps toward PWAs.