The History and Future of Web Development Architecture

Changes in the web, servers, databases, and technologies over the past 20 years

The Early Days of Websites

Before the 21st century, websites were mainly developed using C and Perl. Back then, database frameworks weren’t as developed as they are now. Internet speed was slow, and the cost of setting up and running a server was high, leaving little room to worry about databases. As a result, most websites were created by individuals known as "webmasters." However, trends soon began to shift.

Databases, Servers, and Core Technologies

A few years later, people started wanting more enjoyable experiences on the internet. This desire led to multimedia websites. Flash and ActiveX became common, and website structures grew more complex. The role of web development began to divide: webmasters gave way to client developers, server developers, and web designers.

Web server technologies like ASP, JSP, and PHP emerged. As technical advancements continued, infrastructure also improved, enabling more complex requests. The development of server-side frameworks led to a need for more efficient database structures, fulfilled by systems like MySQL and SQL Server.

Dynamic Data Transfer with AJAX

Google shocked web developers around the world. Google Maps demonstrated how to send and receive data without changing the page. Until then, data transfer mechanisms were largely static. Some developers had faked this using frames to simulate dynamic updates, but these were not real solutions. Google, on the other hand, showed a completely new web using AJAX.

Google Maps enabled data requests and transfers with only mouse scrolling, without page transitions.

AJAX stands for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML. Google’s brilliant developers introduced this innovative asynchronous data processing mechanism implemented with JavaScript. For a long time, JavaScript was regarded as unreliable, plagued by browser compatibility issues and lacking standards. Initially, it was used only for decorative purposes on websites. However, this change in trends ushered in the age of dynamic web experiences, sparking interest in technologies like DHTML and XHTML.

The Era of Web Apps

With the standardization of HTML5, client-side technologies evolved as well. More use of JSON and the emergence of APIs, known as web services, became prevalent. By the late 2000s, many frameworks and libraries appeared — notably jQuery and Prototype. In server-side development, ASP.NET, JSP, PHP, Python, and Ruby took hold. A good example of the shift from desktop programs to web apps was the emergence of Google Docs after 2008.

The Present

Much has happened since, but the most significant developments are the explosive growth of mobile devices and cloud computing. Often shortened to just "cloud," these services have reduced the cost of running network-based services by factors of ten or even hundreds. Previously, setting up a server involved purchasing hardware, installation, networking, and skilled maintenance — none of which were easy. In contrast, the rise of cloud services led by Amazon has made them the go-to infrastructure not only for major companies but even for governments and agencies like the CIA.

Amazon Web Services (AWS), the largest cloud service in the world

Database trends have continued to evolve. A hybrid of NoSQL for large-scale data processing and traditional relational databases is now used. The once-dominant LAMP stack has given way to the MEAN stack, and variations like the PEAN stack — swapping MongoDB for PostgreSQL — are also common.

Additionally, Angular.js evolved into version 2 and became a mainstream framework for many enterprises. React.js and React Native, developed and maintained by Facebook, are also seen as promising frameworks of the future.

The Future

In my view, the future will lean even more toward web apps, and desktop software will continue to decline. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), which aim to be compatible with all platforms and devices, will increasingly replace installable programs. Moreover, the cost of data transmission and storage is dropping rapidly, which will inevitably fuel explosive growth in the cloud market.

GitHub will attract even more open-source contributions and developers.

So far, mobile growth has been driven by Android and iOS, but challengers are emerging. Many companies are investing everything to attract users to their own operating systems. GitHub, the world’s largest developer community and open-source repository, will also continue to play a central role. The open-source philosophy of “don’t reinvent the wheel” will accelerate development processes and provide valuable resources for startups. Microsoft's decision to embrace open source — once its sworn enemy — shows clearly where the development trends are heading.

As internet usage expands across diverse devices, web developers will need to create more compatible, web-based products. For web developers and web applications, the future is wide open.