Create React App is deprecated. Is it still worth learning React JS? What's Next?

Summary

In this emotional farewell to Create React App (CRA), the video discusses the deprecation of CRA and its impact on the React ecosystem. It highlights the limitations of CRA for building production-ready applications and explains React's shift towards recommending frameworks like Next.js, Expo, and React Router, or build tools like Vite and Parcel. The speaker advises beginners to avoid frameworks initially, focusing on learning React fundamentals by building projects from scratch. The video emphasizes understanding the core principles of React before diving into advanced tools to ensure a stronger foundation for future development.

Takeaways

• 😀 Create React App has been officially deprecated, and React now recommends transitioning to frameworks or build tools for creating new projects.
• 😀 Create React App, introduced in 2016, became popular due to its simplicity in setting up React projects with just one command, saving developers from setup hassles.
• 😀 Create React App played a major role in the widespread adoption of React, making it easy for developers to get started with React applications.
• 😀 For production-ready applications, Create React App falls short as it doesn't support essential features like data fetching, server-side rendering, or routing out of the box.
• 😀 React is now encouraging developers to migrate to a framework like Next.js, React Router, or Expo, depending on the project type.
• 😀 Alternatively, developers can use build tools like Vite, Parcel, or ESBuild to create a custom setup for their applications without relying on a full framework.
• 😀 React emphasizes the importance of questioning whether you truly need a framework before committing to one, especially for small or personal projects.
• 😀 For beginners, it's recommended to learn React from scratch, using tools like Vite or Parcel to build projects without relying on opinionated frameworks.
• 😀 Directly jumping into a framework like Next.js without understanding React first can limit your understanding of the underlying mechanics of React.
• 😀 Learning React by building your own custom framework using Vite or Parcel can help beginners understand important concepts like routing, authentication, and data fetching.
• 😀 Although Next.js is powerful, it should be approached after mastering React basics, as it's important to understand how React works before moving to more abstracted frameworks.

Q & A

Why has Create React App (CRA) been deprecated?

Create React App has been deprecated because it no longer meets the evolving needs of production-ready React applications. CRA lacked essential features like server-side rendering (SSR), advanced routing, data fetching tools, and performance optimizations like code splitting, which are necessary for building scalable and efficient applications.

What is the significance of Create React App in the React ecosystem?

CRA played a crucial role in simplifying React project setups, allowing developers to spin up new projects with a single command. It made React more accessible and contributed significantly to its adoption, especially during the early years of React's rise in popularity.

What are the main reasons Create React App was not enough for production-ready applications?

CRA lacked critical features required for production apps, such as robust data fetching, server-side rendering for SEO, routing management, and the ability to handle complex application requirements like authentication, accessibility, and code splitting.

What does React recommend as alternatives to Create React App?

React now recommends two main alternatives: using a framework like Next.js, React Router’s framework, or Expo for mobile applications, or using build tools like Vite, Parcel, or RS Build to create a custom setup tailored to your needs.

What role does Next.js play in the React ecosystem, and why is it recommended?

Next.js is a highly popular framework built on top of React that offers server-side rendering, automatic code splitting, optimized routing, and other essential features for production-ready applications. It is recommended by React for developers who need an all-in-one solution for their applications.

What is the difference between using a framework and a build tool for React development?

A framework like Next.js comes with pre-configured features and patterns for building production-ready applications, making it easier for developers. A build tool like Vite or Parcel gives more flexibility and control but requires more manual setup and configuration to meet the needs of your application.

Should beginners use a framework like Next.js when starting out with React?

No, beginners should avoid frameworks like Next.js. It’s recommended to learn React first, understand its core concepts, and build React applications from scratch using build tools like Vite or Parcel. This approach helps beginners gain a deeper understanding of how React works before relying on frameworks that abstract much of the underlying complexity.

What is the suggested approach for beginners learning React?

Beginners should focus on learning React fundamentals and building projects from scratch. This can be done by using build tools like Vite or Parcel to set up their projects, implement routing, authentication, and data fetching, and gain a hands-on understanding of how React applications are structured.

Why is it important to understand React before moving to Next.js?

Next.js is a higher-level framework that abstracts many underlying details of React. Without understanding React fundamentals, jumping straight into Next.js can make it difficult to grasp what's happening behind the scenes. Learning React first ensures you have a solid foundation to understand the framework and its concepts better.

What tools should developers consider for production-ready React applications?

For production-ready applications, developers can either choose a full-fledged framework like Next.js or build their own framework using build tools like Vite or Parcel. These tools provide the flexibility to manage performance optimizations, routing, and other production-critical features.