“Sencha Ext JS is the most comprehensive MVC/MVVM JavaScript framework for building feature-rich, cross-platform web applications targeting desktops, tablets, and smartphones. Ext JS leverages HTML5 features on modern browsers while maintaining compatibility and functionality for legacy browsers.” – Sencha
It’s been almost a year since Ext JS 6 Beta became available, which seems like a perfect time to release our top reasons why we love Ext JS.
6 – Installation
Are you tired of having to npm install -allthethings? Maybe you’d like to try framework X but are stuck trying to figure out exactly what it is you need to install. Ext JS makes this task incredibly easy. Just download and install Sencha CMD, download the Ext JS SDK and with one simple command in your terminal, you are off and running. Everything you need to build your application is right there with no need to download third party code. Getting started has never been easier.
5 – The Class system
For years, Sencha’s frameworks have been known for their architecture and the way its classes are
organized and structured. Sencha’s class system is simple, easy to learn, easy to maintain and it comes packed with some powerful pre-processors. This has always been and will continue to be one of the great strengths of Ext JS.
4 – Components
Ext JS provides tons of useful Components right out of the box. All of them can easily be extended to create a customized Component. In addition, all of the Ext JS Components (and your custom components) are subclasses of the Ext.Component class which allows them to participate in automated lifecycle management including instantiation, rendering, sizing and positioning, and destruction.
3 – Support
If you are writing an enterprise level application, you need more support than simply Stack Overflow. You deserve something better. Sencha provides support subscriptions that give you early access to custom bug fixes, nightly development builds, an online ticketing system, remote troubleshooting and premium forums.
2 – The Documentation
It would honestly be enough to talk about the volumes of information that Sencha provides the community – The API Reference, Guides, Examples, Release Notes, Concepts, and a lot more. However, that would be obvious. Instead, let’s talk about how easy it is to browse. Sencha’s documentation system is written in Ext JS with tabbed navigation, searchable classes, searchable class members, filters, badges to show depreciated/private/protected. It has inline code samples with live previews. All of the API documentation is written with Sencha Labs’ JsDuck. Best of all, their great documentation front end is included with JsDuck. So, you can generate your own awesome documentation for your project. <mic drop>
1 – Sharing Code Between Mobile and Desktop
With Ext JS 6, applications can finally share code for managing data as well as ViewModels and control logic. Now you can create a single application that targets mobile devices and desktops running IE8 or any device or browser in between.
Summary
I hope you found this list helpful and as always, don’t let your quest for knowledge end here. Head on over to the Sencha site and get started today with this great framework. As always, if you have any comments or ideas to share, please leave them below or look me up on Twitter!
