AngularJS v17: A New Update in the World of Web Apps

Summary: It’s not over until it’s over! 2023 has yet to unfold many facades. And with JS, we should not lay our guards down. On 6th Nov 2023, the JS family came up with their new release in the form of Angular JS v17. The frontend framework has brought all the new trendsetters to the web development world. Let’s look at what upgrades and changes the new v17 Angular will bring to our future projects.

Team Google always leaves us spellbound with all their releases & the feeling thus remains intact with the Angular JS v17 version. This time, too, has brought a lot of gifts for the experts to blend into the Angular app development projects.

To enhance your app’s functionality, Angular 17 has added some new features that are indeed well-balanced to put up a successful web venture for users in the digital world.

With time such an adaption & evolution is very much necessary for us as developers and the tech world. Such growth in a tech stack opens new horizons to create more robust and fast SDLCs. – Pramesh Jain, CEO WebMob Technologies

Angular v17: The Introduction

The team of Angular experts was busy working on their loopholes. 

AngularJS v17 set the tech stage on fire by giving the world standalone components. The tech stack has also brought in new syntax for a control flow, improved SSR, and deferrable views. Also, the cherry on the cake is that an expert can now use CLI, which now relies on ESBuild, to enhance the overall SDLC. 

It is not the end of the newbies! Google has also come up with new cool tools that will help an expert learn Angular via a web browser. Indeed, it is here to create magic for web app ventures.

Angular Official Playground

Now, let’s get into the features in detail and know how you will blend these new ones into your project.

Explore New AngularJS v17 Features: What to Expect from Angular JS Update

Features of Angular 17 are the best innovation for web apps. Dive in and have a good read of it!

1. Control Flow Syntax

Every expert desires better coding tactics with a tech stack. The new feature of Angular 17 control flow syntax gives complex codes ease. The updated syntax is similar to JavaScript and Python as it is based on @.

One can also use declarative control syntax in Angular by:-

• Import @angular/core module.
• Add the @ prefix i.e. instead of NgIf you will have to write @if   
• Wrap the content with @ directive
• Pass an expression to the @ directive. You will see the value in it if it is true.

Old Syntax:

<div *ngIf="isLoggedIn">
  Great! You are logged in successfully.
</div>

New Syntax:

<div @if="isLoggedIn">
Great! You are logged in successfully.
</div>

The @else and @else if directives are also used for complex conditional logic.Now, how to use @if, @else if, and @else directives? We have shown a code below.

Old Syntax:

<div *ngIf="role === 'manager'">
  You're logged in as a manager.
</div>

<div *ngIf="role === 'customer'">
  You're logged in as a customer.
</div>

<div *ngIf="role !== 'manager' && role !== 'customer'">
  You're not logged in or your role is not specified.
</div>

New Syntax:

<div @if="role === 'manager'">
You're logged in as a manager.
</div>
<div @else if="role === 'customer'">
You're logged in as a customer.
</div>

<div @else>
You're not logged in.
</div>

The syntax for control flow is much better than NgIf, NgFor, and NgSwitch directives. It is a more expressive and easy-to-understand update of Angular services. 

• Now it is very easy to wrap HTML content using the @ directive.
• Regulate the elements on the page effectively with the @ directive.
• It is very easy to nest conditional statements.

Do you wish to migrate your code to the new syntax control flow? Oh yes, the Angular v17 update allows you to do it smoothly. It is done with the help of a schematic present in the code package:-

ng g @angular/core:control-flow

2. Perform well with ESBuild

Angular 17 brought a more robust version of Angular CLI that helps to overcome legitimate threats to webpacks. One can install it by reading every detail in the guide. And also, it becomes easy for an expert to move to ESBuild with their current project. You just have to update it in the angular.json file with the code below:-

"builder" : "@angular-devkit/build-angular:browser-esbuild"

3. Great support to SSR

The Angular community has ensured that with the new and improved SSR there will be faster builds for hybrid rendering up to 87%. On the client side, the rendering is said go up by 67% faster builds. 

So now, if you want to use ng new, it is very easy to create a project with ssr switch. And if not the CLI will ask you the following:-

>ng new hero-shop
?Which stylesheet format would you like to use? CSS
?Do you want  to enable Server-Side Rendering (SSR) and Static Site Generation (SSG/Prerendering)? (y/N)

To enable SSR later, all you need to do is to add the @angular/ssr package:

ng add @angular/ssr

@angular scope makes it clear that the team of Angular experts is the source of the package. Other than this the server side can render via a call to ng serve launches to get apt bundles for browser functioning. 

A call to ng build –ssr creates a basic Node.js server whose source code makes use of the schematics already mentioned, to manage bundles for both worlds.

To prerender each of the app’s unique routes in build, use ng build –prerender instead of a Node.js server. 

4. Deferred loading

The Defer template syntax allows experts to define events under which a specific element should load. It is a very advanced way to load elements in response to changes in path. 

You can plan the delay of elements; it is not blocking them. And thus allow user interactions with clicks or hovers or other app logic for that matter via Defer. 

Also with @defer block the new version of Angular handles tasks real well.

@defer (on viewport) 
{ 
<app-recommentations[productGroup]="product().productGroup"> 
</app-recommentations> 
} 

@placeholder { 
<app-ghost-products></app-ghost-products> 
}

Using @defer delays the loading of the enclosed page part until a certain event occurs is also made possible. 

Key advances of Defer loading:-

• With the help of conditions, you can easily load elements when needed. 
• The dependency will load right away if it is not standalone or if it is referenced outside of the @defer section.
• You can customize the placeholder or spinner that loads when the delayed dependencies load using these blocks.

5. Ivy compiler improvements

The first release in Angular 12, the Ivy compiler is the next version of the Angular compiler. You can see many advances in the Ivy compiler in Angular 17. It indeed presents you with an increased speed and efficacy.

All in all the Angular v17 update has brought in a good wave of tech advances. An expert Angular app developer will get a much-needed boost for his project amid these refreshed changes. It is an even greater shift for the custom web app development world to look from the lens of an Angular tech stack.

Now, here are some of the tips to look for an upgraded version of Angular. These will help you to replace your current one with the new one.

How to Upgrade Swiftly to the new Angular v17?

• Upgrade to a minor version first before you opt for a major Angular version. It helps to reduce the risk of breaking changes. 
• You should have a backup of code and database for a safer side at the time of the app upgrade.
• Ensure to use compatible third-party libraries with Angular 17.
• Reach out for help to the Angular community if you get any problems while the upgrade takes place.

There are some other features of Angular 17 that you should keep in mind for your startup app idea.

Advances of Angular v17: Other Features to Look Forward!

• It allows support to custom element binding & element providers.
• Angular 17 is much more flexible and accessible.
• The router supports View Transitions API.
• You can load animations on a timely basis with Defer loading.
• One can create standalone directives, standalone components, and standalone pipelines using the Angular CLI. Additionally, independent component bootstrapping is provided by ng new by default. The behavior can be turned off using the –standalone false option.
• A diagnostic now alerts the user when reading signals in templates if the getter call was overlooked (e.g., {{ products }} instead of {{ products() }}).

On a concluding note!

Angular v17 is here to bring a storm in the web app world. Hire Angular developers who are well aware of these advances. And are ready to face the upcoming tech challenges. The active Angular community is always there to help with the latest updates. As someone who is all set to make a debut in the online space, this innovation is a great chance. Gear up with your best app idea. And alter the space with a team of experts who have plenty of expertise in the web app development space.