Angular 12, the latest stable release of Google’s TypeScript-based web framework, brings several exciting updates and improvements to enhance both development speed and the overall user experience. Angular 12.1, launched on June 24, focuses on refining key features such as compiler support for shorthand property declarations and various bug fixes. This update addresses issues with the compiler, CLI, router, and service workers, making it a significant step forward for developers using Angular.
One of the key updates in Angular 12.1 is the introduction of new APIs that allow developers to opt into the correct behavior for test teardown processes. Additionally, the compiler fixes target specific issues, including problems with unterminated interpolation and the restoration of views. Meanwhile, the service worker fixes focus on improving the naming, access, and cleanup of service worker caches, all aimed at optimizing performance and reliability in production applications.
Since its release on May 12, Angular 12 has been available on GitHub, following extensive beta and release candidate testing. A notable feature in this release is the deprecation of the legacy View Engine compilation and rendering pipeline. This legacy system is being replaced by the Ivy technology, which provides faster and more efficient ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation, improving both build performance and runtime efficiency.
Angular 12 also includes a shift in the default behavior of the Ivy-based language service. Previously opt-in, the language service—offering helpful features like code completions and hints inside templates—is now enabled by default, making it easier for developers to leverage these capabilities. The Angular team also announced that View Engine will be fully removed in a future version, urging library authors to begin transitioning to Ivy to ensure long-term compatibility with future releases.