Comparing Rust (Yew) vs TypeScript (React) NodeJS | SSR times

Summary

In this video, the creator compares the performance of Rust-based web frameworks like Actix and Yew against Node.js-based frameworks like Express and React. By testing server-side rendering (SSR) and requests per second (RPS) at varying levels of rendering depth, the creator explores Rust's potential as a more performant alternative to JavaScript. The results show Rust’s strong potential, especially as optimizations improve. Despite some limitations with WebAssembly (WASM) for front-end applications, the creator is excited about the future of full-stack Rust frameworks, expressing a preference for Rust over JavaScript for both front and back-end development.

Takeaways

• 😀 Rust-based frameworks like Yew and Actix are highly performant and outpace Node.js frameworks in terms of SSR time and scalability.
• 🚀 Yew handles larger datasets (depth) significantly better than React, especially as the number of elements rendered per page increases.
• ⏱️ Node.js (React) performs well at lower depths (fewer elements), but Rust frameworks show stronger performance when dealing with more complex rendering workloads.
• 📈 Yew consistently outperforms Node.js in Requests Per Second (RPS), particularly with higher concurrency and deep rendering scenarios.
• 🛠️ Rust's concurrency model allows it to handle multiple requests simultaneously, which boosts its performance compared to Node.js' more linear processing model.
• 💡 While WASM (WebAssembly) is slower than JavaScript in some contexts, its potential to improve over time is significant, especially with increased community focus and optimizations.
• 📊 The performance gap between Yew and React becomes more noticeable as the rendering depth increases, with Yew showing up to 5x better data transfer rates at high loads.
• ⚡ Yew has a higher payload transfer rate compared to React, indicating better potential for handling large-scale web applications, even though React performs similarly at lower scales.
• 🛑 While Node.js still holds its ground, Rust's ability to scale more efficiently positions it as an attractive option for future high-performance applications.
• 🎯 Optimizations in Yew and WASM are expected to make future iterations even more efficient, closing the performance gap and making Rust a strong contender for both front-end and back-end web development.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the video?

The video compares the performance of full-stack frameworks written in Rust (Yew and Actix) versus Node.js (Express.js and React), specifically focusing on server-side rendering (SSR) times, request-per-second (RPS), and data transfer speeds.

Why is the author interested in Rust over JavaScript?

The author expresses frustration with JavaScript, describing it as having 'JavaScript fatigue.' They are interested in using a single language (Rust) for both front-end and back-end development due to its speed and growing ecosystem, particularly with WebAssembly.

How was the experiment conducted?

The experiment involved building a simple front-end application in both React (JavaScript) and Yew (Rust), testing how each framework handles different levels of rendering depth. Server-side performance was tested by making parallel requests and measuring SSR times, RPS, and data transfer rates.

What are 'depth' and 'girth' in the context of the experiment?

'Depth' refers to the number of elements rendered in the application, with a higher depth indicating more elements. 'Girth' is used humorously in the script to represent the size of each block of elements, though it doesn’t have a specific technical meaning.

What was the main difference between Yew and Node.js in the experiment?

While Yew (Rust) was slightly faster than Node.js (React) in server-side rendering (SSR) times, the real difference emerged in scaling performance. Yew outperformed Node.js in handling higher depths and larger payloads, showing its potential for better scalability in real-world applications.

Why does Yew's performance improve as the depth increases?

As the rendering depth increases, Yew’s performance improves because it can handle more complex workloads and concurrent requests better than Node.js. This is partly due to Rust's ability to interleave multiple requests and better manage resources during rendering.

What is the significance of the kilobits per second data shown in the video?

The kilobits per second data highlights the efficiency of Yew in transferring larger payloads. As the rendering depth increases, Yew consistently transfers more data per second compared to React, indicating its better performance when handling larger datasets and complex renders.

What does the video suggest about the future of WebAssembly (WASM) and Rust?

The video suggests that WebAssembly (WASM) and Rust hold significant promise for future web development. As the community continues to optimize WASM performance and reduce limitations, it could enable Rust to become a leading language for both front-end and back-end development, offering performance improvements over JavaScript.

What was the final conclusion about Rust vs Node.js performance?

The final conclusion is that while Yew (Rust) shows considerable promise for better performance in complex and scaled applications, Node.js (React) still holds its place for simpler applications. However, Yew has the potential to outperform Node.js by a factor of five once optimizations are implemented.

What other comparisons might the author explore in future videos?

The author expresses interest in exploring further comparisons, including React vs Svelte vs Solid.js for front-end performance. Additionally, they mention a possible Elixir vs Node.js vs Rust comparison if the video reaches a significant number of likes.