Web Fragments Rationale

Last updated: December 8, 2024

As developers wanting to push the web forward, we know that progress is not linear.

We know that progress is not linear and the modernization of application stacks and architectures, to integrate innovation leads to churn.

Multiple rendering strategies and approaches are now available, from the early MPA to SPA, client-side rendering, server-side rendering and hybrid approaches. This constant evolution and progress and optimization cycles, have motivated frontend developers and framework authors, to move from developing client-side to adopt full-stack frameworks.

This shift demands a new mental model. Rendering pages server-side means having to introduce mechanisms to keep experiences dynamic and highly reactive like hydration and, recently, resumability.

Innovation adoption can be challenging

Small application developers building greenfield can adopt the latest and greatest from the get-go, but for the enterprise development teams, where brownfield is the norm, the ability to modernize their stacks and patterns is limited by monolithic coupling and SLAs.

Big bang migrations are undersirable; the way forward and out of a legacy monolith, must be incremental.

Enabling mobility to move forward

We recognize the need for mobility end-to-end, from infrastructure to technical stacks to transition to micro-frontends with a strategy that prioritizes gradual, low-risk migration:

Incremental Migration: Empower development teams to adopt micro-frontends step-by-step, avoiding disruptive large-scale rewrites. This approach is ideal for existing projects seeking modernization without overhauling the entire codebase.

Low-Risk Modernization: Minimize operational risks by ensuring each migrated component is fully encapsulated. Isolated fragments seamlessly integrate with the existing system, allowing modernization to proceed without impacting other parts of the application.

Optimized ROI: Focus teams on modernizing the most critical parts of an application at the right time. This targeted approach accelerates innovation, ensuring new features and updates reach the market quickly, maximizing business value.

Platform and Framework Agnostic: Develop a solution built on web standards, designed to work seamlessly across diverse frameworks and platforms. This versatility ensures compatibility with a wide range of development environments and fosters long-term flexibility.

By following this strategy, cross-functional teams can modernize applications efficiently, maintaining stability and fostering innovation at their own pace.

Are you ready for a new micro-frontends paradigm?

What if we could take an enterprise monolithic frontend, carve out out pieces of the UI, develop and deploy them separately, and compose everything back into a single user interface and consolidated experience?

We can! Learn more about Web Fragment architecture to find out how.