Jamstack
Jamstack

The Growing Popularity of Jamstack

The Rise of Jamstack Websites Jamstack: An Introduction Jamstack’s Global Expansion Jamstack’s Increased Developer Interest Jamstack Investments and Acquisitions


The Rise of Jamstack Websites

In recent years, the Jamstack architecture has gained immense popularity, attracting not only business owners and marketers but also developers. According to the HTTP Archive, the year 2021 witnessed a 50% increase in the number of Jamstack websites compared to 2020. This substantial growth in adoption is a clear indication of the rising interest in Jamstack.

A Brief Introduction to Jamstack

Let’s begin with a basic overview of Jamstack for those who are unfamiliar with this term. If you’re already familiar with Jamstack, feel free to skip ahead to the next section, “Why is Jamstack Getting More Popular?”

Jamstack: An Introduction

Born in 2015, Jamstack has rapidly become the preferred choice for many developers looking to create static websites, often paired with a Headless Content Management System (CMS). This modern web development architecture doesn’t prescribe specific technologies but instead focuses on decoupling front-ends from back-ends, offering a flexible approach.

Jamstack’s Global Expansion

The use of Jamstack has been on a global rise, as indicated by statistics from the HTTP Archive. In 2021, 1.1% of desktop websites were powered by Jamstack, up from 0.69% in the previous year, highlighting its growing adoption.

Jamstack’s Increased Developer Interest

The increasing popularity of Jamstack is not limited to website usage; it also extends to the developer community. The Jamstack Community Survey 2021 revealed some compelling insights:

  • In 2021, 13% of Jamstack developers had less than one year of experience, compared to just 4% in 2020.
  • Developers with 1-2 years of experience in creating Jamstack projects grew from 13% in 2020 to 19% in 2021.

These statistics demonstrate the growing interest among developers to learn and work with Jamstack.

Jamstack Investments and Acquisitions

Notable investments and acquisitions in the Jamstack ecosystem further illustrate its growing significance:

  • Netlify secured $202.1 million in funding over seven rounds.
  • Vercel raised $313 million in funding over four rounds.
  • Fabric, a headless commerce platform, received $153.5 million in funding across three rounds.
  • Commercetools, another headless commerce platform, acquired $308.1 million in funding through six rounds.
  • Salesforce’s acquisition of Mobify, a headless CMS company, for $60 million demonstrates a notable industry shift towards Jamstack and Headless CMS solutions.

These financial investments suggest that major players in the tech industry are gearing up for the adoption of Jamstack and Headless CMS, setting new standards in web development.


Jamstack: The Modern Approach

Jamstack, originally coined as an acronym for JavaScript, APIs, and Markup, has evolved beyond a specific set of technologies. It represents a contemporary approach to web development, emphasizing the decoupling of front-end and back-end systems.

The Genesis of Jamstack

Netlify, one of the key tech partners in the Jamstack ecosystem, introduced this concept in 2015. Today, a vast community of contributors actively develops and maintains various frameworks and static site generators used to build Jamstack websites.

Understanding Jamstack Architecture

Jamstack serves as a modern web development architecture, ideal for creating fast, performant, secure, SEO-friendly, and reliable static websites, web applications, and online stores. While Jamstack itself is not a framework, developers leverage frameworks and static site generators to build Jamstack projects.


Is Jamstack the Next Big Thing?

As the popularity of Jamstack continues to rise, it begs the question: Is it the future of web development, or merely a passing trend? Recent events in the Jamstack world, particularly in November 2021, suggest that it might be poised for substantial growth.

The Influx of Funding

Vercel, the company behind Next.js, a prominent Jamstack static site generator, secured $150 million in funding. This investment serves multiple purposes:

  • Support for open-source projects, including Next.js, Nuxt, webpack, Babel, and Svelte.
  • Advancement of Edge Functions, such as Geolocation, A/B testing, and Basic Auth, aligning with Vercel’s vision of the edge-first web.
  • Development of an end-to-end platform for seamless integrations, enhancing the overall developer experience.

This extensive funding is just one of several investment rounds, and Vercel is now valued at $2.5 billion. These initiatives aim to centralize web development, providing an all-in-one solution for easier deployment, with Jamstack as its core.

Embracing a Web Development Revolution

The centralization of web development within a single, user-friendly system can revolutionize web development. It may redefine the approach to building websites, offering enhanced capabilities within popular tools like Next.js.

The Growing Role of APIs

Netlify, another key player in the Jamstack ecosystem, raised an additional $105 million for Jamstack-related solutions. Their goal is to simplify the management of dependencies between various elements, including APIs. The acquisition of OneGraph, a company specializing in GraphQL-based solutions, aims to streamline the connection of different APIs in the back-end layer. This effort will enhance the cohesiveness of Jamstack development, making it feel like a unified application experience.

Big Companies Embrace Jamstack

Jamstack’s credibility as the next big thing is bolstered by its adoption in complex projects, including websites and eCommerce platforms that attract millions of visitors. Thanks to the rapid development of Jamstack features and capabilities, it’s now feasible to apply this architecture to high-traffic sites. The substantial funding acquired by Jamstack-related companies like Netlify, Vercel, Fabric, and commercetools signals continued growth and expansion.

Leading Brands on Board

Major brands, such as Bitcoin.com, Daniel Wellington, IBM, Louis Vuitton, Marvel, National Geographic, and Nike, have already embraced Jamstack. Their adoption reinforces Jamstack’s position as an evolving, industry-standard approach to web development. These brands’ investments and adoption of Jamstack signal that the market is headed in this direction.


Why Developers Choose Jamstack

Developers are increasingly drawn to Jamstack, with a multitude of reasons driving their preference for this modern web development architecture.

Embracing Technological Innovation

Web developers, eager to remain at the forefront of technological advancements, find Jamstack intriguing. They are motivated to enhance the development process, making Jamstack an attractive choice.

Exceptional Developer Experience

Jamstack offers developers a superior experience by enabling them to use their preferred tools. This flexibility liberates developers from the constraints of outdated, slow, or inefficient solutions, promoting faster and more enjoyable development.

Flexibility in Technology Selection

Jamstack’s static-dynamic architecture provides developers with unmatched flexibility. They can choose the front-end and back-end tools they are most comfortable with, streamlining the development process and enhancing efficiency.

SEO Efficiency

Search engines favor static sites, and Jamstack offers exceptional SEO performance. It enables websites to load quickly, providing a secure and efficient browsing experience that’s highly regarded by search engines.

Enhanced Security

The absence of a direct connection to the database in Jamstack websites significantly enhances security. This feature is critical in preventing security breaches and malware attacks, which can lead to content loss or blacklisting by search engines.

Reduced Errors and Issues

Unlike WordPress, which often encounters issues like plugin incompatibilities and random errors, Jamstack offers a more reliable and compatible website-building approach.

Simplified Maintenance

Jamstack websites demand less ongoing attention from developers, as they are inherently stable when properly coded. This allows developers to focus their efforts elsewhere, rather than constantly addressing issues that may arise with traditional CMS solutions.

Vibrant Community

Jamstack’s growing popularity is accompanied by a flourishing developer community. Tutorials, regularly updated repositories, and technical forums provide developers with ample resources for assistance and knowledge exchange. This thriving community facilitates the continuous evolution of the Headless approach, introducing new languages, frameworks, and content management systems.

Efficient Skill Development

Jamstack simplifies the learning process, enabling developers to focus on the front-end layer without delving deeply into the complexities of the back-end. This modular approach to skill acquisition accelerates junior developers’ growth and allows knowledge to be seamlessly transferred from one project to the next.

Achieving Satisfying Outcomes

Jamstack empowers developers to create websites that are lightweight, fast, and performant. This capability provides developers with a sense of achievement and satisfaction. Additionally, the framework offers a diverse array of tools, frameworks, and APIs that can be combined to tackle complex and demanding projects.


Is Jamstack Superior to WordPress?

While WordPress powers 40% of all websites, Jamstack presents a compelling alternative with several advantages:

Faster Page Load Speed

Jamstack websites are pre-rendered, leading to faster delivery to visitors. These sites also benefit from Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), enhancing delivery performance by servicing requests from servers closest to the visitor.

No Tech Stack Limitations

Developers have the freedom to choose their preferred tools for both front-end and back-end layers in Jamstack. This separation results in a more enjoyable and efficient development process.

SEO Efficiency

Jamstack sites are inherently SEO-friendly, aligning with search engines’ preferences for performant and secure websites. This structure facilitates easier crawling and ranking.

Enhanced Security

Jamstack websites are highly secure, as they lack a direct connection to the database. This minimizes the risk of security breaches and malware attacks, a concern for many website owners.

Fewer Errors and Issues

In contrast to the common issues faced by WordPress users, Jamstack offers a reliable and compatible website-building approach, resulting in fewer issues.

Simplified Maintenance

Jamstack websites require less ongoing maintenance, allowing developers to focus on other aspects of the project. This contrasts with the frequent troubleshooting required in WordPress.

In conclusion, Jamstack offers a compelling alternative to WordPress, catering to developers’ preferences for a flexible, secure, and efficient web development approach. Its growing popularity and support from major brands and investments suggest that it’s well-positioned for the future of web development.


Conclusion

The rise of Jamstack is undeniable, backed by compelling data and significant investments. The architecture’s appeal is evident, attracting developers with its technological innovation, exceptional developer experience, and flexibility. Additionally, Jamstack’s robust SEO performance, enhanced security, and reduced maintenance needs make it a practical choice.

As major brands and industry leaders adopt Jamstack, it’s clear that this web development approach is not just a trend but a long-term strategy. Jamstack’s trajectory points to a web development revolution, which can reshape the way websites are built and maintained.

If you’re considering the adoption of Jamstack for your web development needs, you’re aligning with the direction the market is headed. This approach offers a wide range of possibilities, benefits for your business and marketing goals, a superior developer experience, and ample room for professional growth. It’s a formula for successful and enjoyable web development.

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