Why has angular.js become so popular?

Question

JavaScript

I am almost unfamiliar with this framework, but I do not understand how this framework has become so popular in such a short time. It seems to me that it is quite difficult to learn, but that's not even the point: when I started reading the documentation for angular.js, I noticed one important feature of this framework - the need to modify the HTML code by adding directives like ng-bla-bla there. I think this is the wrong approach. Perhaps here I was influenced by my acquaintance with ExtJS, in which the HTML code is generally formed by the framework itself on the fly, and I like this approach more. But still, I believe that angular.js is the so-called hype and I hope it will not find wide application in web development.
UPD.: Before I had time to ask a question here, an article on the same topic appeared on Habré: habrahabr.ru/post/246905

Answer 1

ExtJS is shit.
AngularJS is god.
// upd
I judge, because I worked with both.
// upd2
Angular:
+ very flexible
+ huge functionality
- entry threshold
ExtJS:
+ light crud datables
- terrible API
- terrible extensibility
- crutches
- bicycles

Answer 2

Angular crushes the entire frontend. The server is freed from everything superfluous, leaving only the json api. Separation of development areas, easier to test.
It's great to write large complex sites in Angular that behave like a single application, rather than a collection of separate pages. Well, those are so cool, but they make the work of architecture design much easier - they have already thought for you, follow the conventions and everything will be fine. By the way, this is very reminiscent of the Ruby of Rails path, which, by the way, also became extremely popular very quickly.
But again, it makes no sense to write a blog on it, or a company website, or a landing page, or Vasya Pupkin's page. jQuery or even native js will do better with this.
And about the directives - this is the declarative component of the framework, which everyone prays for, like a silver bullet.

Answer 3

Angular:
- small entry threshold;
- fast implementation of standard things;
- a lot of functionality in the standard;
- development from Google;
- easy implementation of tests;
- there are already many different libraries for it;
- jquerylite;
- tags inside HTML code;
- Great tutorial for beginners.