What the Death of YUI Can Teach Developers

The Yahoo User Interface (YUI) library has been abandoned. In a brief announcement made on August 29, 2014, Director of Engineering Julien Lecomte stated that all development would cease with immediate effect.

Key Takeaways

• The discontinuation of the Yahoo User Interface (YUI) library highlights the rapid pace of IT and the need for developers to adapt and keep up with new technologies.
• The shift in the industry towards smaller modules and scalable frameworks, as well as the emergence of HTML5, led to a decline in the use of catch-all libraries like YUI.
• Despite the eventual discontinuation of all third-party libraries and frameworks, it’s important for developers to choose a technology stack and stick with it as long as it remains practical.

What is YUI?

yuilibrary.com describes the library as:

A free, open source JavaScript and CSS library for building richly interactive web applications

YUI is a collection of HTML, CSS and JavaScript components. It provides cross-browser:

• DOM and event handling;
• MVC application frameworks;
• Data structures;
• Helper utilities and functions;
• Developer tools;
• And HTML widgets such as auto-complete fields, calendars, charts, data tables, sliders, tab controls and more.

Think of YUI like a combination of jQuery, jQueryUI, numerous plug-ins, and Backbone, with a few other libraries thrown in. Of course, this did lead to monolithic JavaScript applications running to several hundred kilobytes but YUI 3.0 introduced increased modularization and dynamic loading to ensure components were only requested when required. The library is supported by a considerable volume of documentation and community forums.

YUI History

YUI was founded by Thomas Sha of Yahoo in 2005 and formed the basis of Yahoo’s new Ajax-ified webmail application. The free, open source library was made available to the public in February 2006. YUI 3.0 was released in 2009. The new version was largely rebuilt to modernize the library, introduce jQuery-like CSS DOM selectors and modularize the components. As of 2014, W3Techs reports that YUI is used on 0.7% of all websites and 1.1% of those using a JavaScript library. jQuery is the undisputed champion — it’s used on 60.4% of all websites and a colossal 94.3% of those using a library. jQuery aside, YUI compares well with other libraries such as Prototype and MooTools but usage has been in steady decline for some time.

YUI Pros and Cons

On the plus side, YUI is a complete solution for building cross-browser web applications which (mostly) work in IE6 and above. It has also given us some great side projects such as the YUI Compressor. However, the library possibly became too big and too complex. YUI locked you in and functionality was abstracted from the programmer. That’s fine when everything works but a development nightmare when it doesn’t. Finally, there were complaints about Yahoo’s willingness to accept pull requests from contributors outside the company. I’m not wholly surprised given the number of critical Yahoo applications which depended on YUI.

Why has YUI Been Dropped?

Julien Lecomte admits the industry is headed in a new direction:

• Build tools such as Grunt, Gulp and Broccoli allow us to assemble smaller modules into larger applications.
• Frameworks such as Angular, Backbone and Ember approach application development in a more scalable and maintainable way.
• Vendors and standards bodies are working together; there’s less need for custom widgets on legacy browsers when HTML5 can be used.

Developers rarely require a single, catch-all library. YUI interest waned and usage dropped accordingly. I also suspect there were internal pressures in Yahoo. The company’s focus has changed: there’s less emphasis on cool developer projects and more on profitability and survival.

But I Depend on YUI!

Yahoo’s announcement gave no warning but there’s little need to panic. YUI is still available and will continue to work for the immediate future — presuming your application has been successfully completed. The situation is less clear for partially-finished projects. Should you continue to develop an application based on a defunct library? It will probably depend on the size of the task, how much work has been completed and your reliance on YUI. You should certainly be discussing the options and, fortunately, there are numerous alternatives to choose from. Just don’t expect to find a simple drop-in replacement.

A Lesson for Us All?

It doesn’t matter which third-party library or framework you use: it will be discontinued at some point. Yes, even jQuery and Angular. That’s not necessarily an argument for developing your own system — even your own code will eventually be superseded. IT moves rapidly and the web is one of the fastest evolving technologies. It’s increasingly difficult to keep up with advances but doing something is infinitely better than doing nothing. Pick a technology stack and stick with it while it’s practical to do so. So goodbye YUI. The web has lost one of it’s more innovative endeavors but, like many, I wasn’t using it anyway.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about YUI

What led to the death of YUI?

The death of YUI was primarily due to the rapid evolution of the JavaScript ecosystem. The emergence of new libraries and frameworks like jQuery, Angular, and React, which offered more efficient and flexible solutions, made YUI less relevant and eventually obsolete. Additionally, the shift towards Node.js for server-side JavaScript also contributed to the decline of YUI.

What can developers learn from the death of YUI?

The death of YUI teaches developers the importance of adaptability in the ever-evolving tech industry. It emphasizes the need to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies, and the risks associated with relying heavily on a single framework or library. It also highlights the importance of community support and active development in the success of a project.

How does YUI compare to other JavaScript libraries?

YUI, in its prime, was a comprehensive, all-in-one solution for building rich web applications. However, compared to modern JavaScript libraries and frameworks, YUI is less flexible and more complex. Libraries like jQuery, for instance, offer a simpler API and a more intuitive approach to DOM manipulation.

Is YUI still used today?

While YUI is no longer actively developed or maintained, some legacy systems and applications may still use it. However, due to its obsolescence and the availability of more efficient alternatives, its use in new projects is highly discouraged.

What are some alternatives to YUI?

There are numerous alternatives to YUI in the modern JavaScript ecosystem. These include, but are not limited to, jQuery for simpler tasks like DOM manipulation and AJAX requests, Angular and React for building complex single-page applications, and Node.js for server-side JavaScript.

What was the purpose of YUI?

YUI was designed to help developers build rich, interactive web applications. It provided a comprehensive set of utilities and controls for tasks like DOM manipulation, event handling, animation, and AJAX requests.

Why was YUI popular?

YUI was popular due to its comprehensive feature set and the backing of Yahoo!, one of the biggest tech companies at the time. It was one of the first libraries to offer features like modular design and lazy loading, which were innovative at the time.

What are the main features of YUI?

YUI offered a wide range of features, including DOM manipulation, event handling, AJAX, animation, and more. It also introduced concepts like modular design and lazy loading, and provided a robust set of UI controls.

How can I migrate from YUI to another library?

Migrating from YUI to another library involves replacing YUI-specific code with equivalent code in the new library. This can be a complex process, depending on the size and complexity of the application. It’s recommended to plan the migration carefully and test thoroughly to ensure a smooth transition.

What is the future of JavaScript libraries and frameworks?

The future of JavaScript libraries and frameworks is likely to be characterized by continued innovation and evolution. We can expect to see more focus on performance, usability, and compatibility with emerging technologies like Web Components and Progressive Web Apps. The trend towards smaller, more focused libraries is also likely to continue.

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