Is React becoming opinionated?

Is React becoming opinionated?

What is an opinionated framework

In simple terms, an opinionated framework is an ecosystem that if consumed by listening to the guidelines set by the ecosystem everything will work as expected.

The guidelines are there to remove the guess and grunt work and focus on bringing the product to the consumer’s hands as fast as possible. Sounds good right ? so why are people against it ? from my experience the learning curve is what makes people annoyed and as a result slows down the development. Many companies (mostly startups) decided to use React in order to develop fast and with as small as a learning curve there can be.

Is React Becoming Opinionated?

React has long been known as an “unopinionated” framework, meaning that it does not dictate how developers should structure their code or use third-party libraries. This has been one of React’s strengths, as it allows developers to have more flexibility and control over their projects.

However, in recent years, React has become more opinionated in some ways. For example, the official React documentation now recommends using Next.js or Remix for server-side rendering (SSR). These frameworks provide a number of features that can help developers build more efficient and scalable React applications, but they also come with a set of opinionated choices about how code should be structured and organized.

There are several reasons why React may be becoming more opinionated. One reason is that the React community has matured over the years, and there is now a wider range of third-party libraries and tools available. This can make it difficult for developers to choose the right tools for their projects, and opinionated frameworks can help to simplify this decision-making process.

Another reason for React’s increasing opinionatedness is that companies are increasingly looking for ways to reduce development costs and time to market. Opinionated frameworks can help to achieve these goals by providing developers with a pre-configured set of tools and libraries that are known to work well together.

Of course, there are also some potential downsides to using opinionated frameworks. For one, they can limit developers’ flexibility and creativity. Additionally, opinionated frameworks can be more difficult to learn and use, especially for developers who are new to React.

Example of an opinion: Folder Tree as a Router

One of the ways in which React is becoming more opinionated is through the use of folder trees as routers. This is a technique that is used by frameworks like Next.js and Remix to automatically generate routes based on the folder structure of your code.

For example, let’s say you have a folder called pages with two subfolders, home and about. If you were to use a folder tree router, then the route for the Home page would be /pages/home and the route for the About page would be /pages/about.

This technique can be very helpful for organizing your code and making it easy to navigate your application. It can also help to improve performance by reducing the number of requests that need to be made to the server.

However, it is important to note that folder tree routers can be restrictive. If you need to have a route that does not correspond to a folder in your code, then you will need to use a different routing strategy.

Is this a good thing?

That depends on your perspective. If you value flexibility and creativity, then you may be concerned about the increasing opinionatedness of React. However, if you are looking for ways to reduce development costs and time to market, then opinionated frameworks can be a valuable tool.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use an opinionated framework is a personal one. There is no right or wrong answer, and the best choice for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

So, what does all of this mean for the future of React?

It is still too early to say for sure, but it is clear that React is evolving. The framework is becoming more opinionated, but it is also becoming more powerful and efficient. Only time will tell how React will continue to change in the years to come.

In the meantime, developers can continue to enjoy the benefits of React’s flexibility and creativity. They can also choose to use opinionated frameworks like Next.js and Remix if they are looking for ways to reduce development costs and time to market.

The future of React is bright, and it is an exciting time to be a React developer.

Summary

React is a popular JavaScript framework that has long been known for its flexibility and creativity. However, in recent years, React has become more opinionated in some ways. This has led to some debate about whether or not React is still the best choice for all developers.

There are several reasons why React may be becoming more opinionated. One reason is that the React community has matured over the years, and there is now a wider range of third-party libraries and tools available. This can make it difficult for developers to choose the right tools for their projects, and opinionated frameworks can help to simplify this decision-making process.

Another reason for React’s increasing opinionatedness is that companies are increasingly looking for ways to reduce development costs and time to market. Opinionated frameworks can help to achieve these goals by providing developers with a pre-configured set of tools and libraries that are known to work well together.

Of course, there are also some potential downsides to using opinionated frameworks. For one, they can limit developers’ flexibility and creativity. Additionally, opinionated frameworks can be more difficult to learn and use, especially for developers who are new to React.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use an opinionated framework is a personal one. There is no right or wrong answer, and the best choice for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

If you value flexibility and creativity, then you may want to stick with using React in its unopinionated form. However, if you are looking for ways to reduce development costs and time to market, then an opinionated framework like Next.js or Remix may be a better choice for you.

The future of React is bright, and it is an exciting time to be a React developer. The framework is constantly evolving, and it will be interesting to see how it continues to change in the years to come.