The growing divide among React developers…

Summary

In this humorous and insightful video, the host dives into the latest React drama, focusing on the introduction of server components and the tensions between React’s new direction and the React ecosystem. With React moving from a client-side library to server-side components, developers are split. Some embrace Next.js, while others resist the complexity and the push toward Vercel hosting. The video explores alternatives like React Router v7 and Tanstack Start, offering a mix of humor and technical breakdowns to keep viewers informed and entertained about the React landscape in 2025.

Takeaways

• 😀 React developers have been distracted by internal debates while AI has been taking over jobs.
• 😀 React's evolution has led it from a client-side UI library to server-side components, changing its architecture and functionality.
• 😀 Server components in React allow server-side code execution, reducing the need for large client-side bundles.
• 😀 React’s server components enable compositional benefits, allowing developers to build more flexible, maintainable, and scalable UIs.
• 😀 Suspense in React allows for prioritizing immediate UI rendering while streaming the rest, improving the user experience.
• 😀 New features in React, like server components, require specific tools such as bundlers, servers, and client-side routers to work effectively.
• 😀 The React team’s partnership with Next.js has raised concerns in the community, with some seeing it as an overcomplication.
• 😀 Many developers feel that React’s tight integration with Next.js and Vercel is pushing a specific stack that may not be ideal for all use cases.
• 😀 Alternatives to Next.js, like React Router v7 (formerly Remix) and Tanstack Start, offer more flexibility and focus on web standards.
• 😀 React.gg provides an interactive and real-world approach to learning React, with challenges and real-world use cases such as creating a popular hooks library.
• 😀 React.gg's React course offers 25% off during its launch sale and is recommended for both beginners and experienced developers wanting to master React 19 features.

Q & A

What is the core change in React's evolution mentioned in the video?

The core change is React's shift from being a client-only library to incorporating server components, which allows React to handle both the client-side and server-side rendering of applications.

What are React server components and how do they differ from traditional React components?

React server components are components that run on the server and do not have the same constraints as client-side components. Unlike traditional React components, they can fetch data during render and compute the UI, sending only the end result to the client, rather than bundling all JavaScript logic with the component.

How do React server components improve application performance?

Server components improve performance by reducing the JavaScript bundle size that needs to be sent to the client. Only the computed HTML is sent, leading to faster load times and less strain on the client’s resources.

What is composition in React, and how does it relate to server components?

Composition in React refers to building complex UIs from simpler, reusable components. Server components further enhance this by allowing composition across the network, meaning UI elements are built and sent from the server, maintaining flexibility and scalability.

What are the key requirements to use React server components in an application?

To use React server components, you need three things: a bundler to differentiate between server and client components, a server that can process the bundle and stream it to the client, and a client-side router that can handle the streaming content from the server.

Why is Next.js involved with React's server components, and what issue does it create?

Next.js was chosen as a partner to implement React's server components, but this has led to the problem that many developers feel the architecture locks them into using Next.js and Vercel for hosting services, which some find too complex and restrictive for their needs.

What alternatives to Next.js are mentioned for building full-stack React apps?

The video mentions several alternatives to Next.js for building full-stack React applications, including React Router version 7 (formerly Remix), which focuses on web standards, and Tanstack Start, which offers full server-side rendering (SSR) and other advanced features.

What is the role of Vercel in the React ecosystem, as mentioned in the video?

Vercel is positioned as a hosting provider for Next.js applications, but some in the React ecosystem feel that the partnership between React and Vercel creates a commercial tie that forces developers into using Vercel’s paid services if they adopt Next.js and React’s server components.

What is the potential downside of the React and Next.js partnership for developers?

The downside is that React’s close tie with Next.js and Vercel may push developers towards a specific set of tools and hosting services, making it harder for those who want to avoid this ecosystem to build React apps without the added complexity and commercial pressure.

What educational resource does the video recommend for learning about React, and what makes it unique?

The video recommends React.gg, an interactive learning platform for React. It offers a comprehensive course with videos, text, and practical challenges to help developers understand core React concepts, including new features like server components, actions, and transitions.