between the most popular frontend frameworks (React, Svelte and Solid in particular) what are the features a modern frontend framework must have to be considered a serious option? focus on frontend frameworks with fine grained reactivity. ignore features like server side rendering and server components and focus on frontend features. identify features and requirements that are handled differently in each framework and focus on the problems they solve.
To be considered a serious modern frontend framework with fine-grained reactivity, the following features and capabilities are essential. These features address core challenges like efficient DOM updates, state synchronization, and developer ergonomics. Below is a breakdown of these requirements and how React, Svelte, and Solid handle them differently:
A framework must track dependencies at the most granular level (e.g., individual variables or DOM nodes) to update only what changes, avoiding unnecessary work.
- Svelte: Compiles components to surgically update the DOM using reactive declarations (
$:). The compiler analyzes dependencies and generates optimized, imperative code. - Solid: Uses explicit signals (via
createSignal) and reactive primitives to track dependencies. Only components/elements subscribed to a signal update. - React: Relies on coarse-grained re-renders of entire components (via virtual DOM diffing). Requires manual optimizations (e.g.,
memo,useMemo) to approximate fine-grained updates.
First-class tools to declare and manage reactive state, derived values, and side effects, with minimal boilerplate.
- Svelte: Reactive variables (automatically tracked with
$:), and stores for cross-component state. - Solid: Signals (
createSignal), derived signals (createMemo), and stores (createStore). Explicit but lightweight. - React:
useState,useMemo, anduseEffectrequire manual dependency arrays, leading to potential over-rendering.
Avoid the overhead of a virtual DOM by directly modifying the DOM when state changes.
- Svelte: Compiler-generated DOM updates; no runtime diffing.
- Solid: Binds signals directly to DOM nodes, updating them in place.
- React: Uses virtual DOM reconciliation, which introduces runtime overhead but simplifies declarative programming.
Encapsulate styles, state, and behavior to prevent leaks and simplify composition.
- Svelte: Scoped CSS by default (styles are component-local).
- Solid/React: Rely on CSS-in-JS libraries or conventions (e.g., CSS Modules) for scoping.
Express UI based on state without imperative DOM manipulation.
- Svelte: HTML-like templates with bindings (e.g.,
bind:value). - Solid/React: Use JSX with reactive control flow (e.g., Solid’s
<Show>component, React’s conditional rendering).
Eliminate manual dependency management for effects and derived state.
- Svelte: Automatically tracks dependencies in reactive blocks (
$: doubled = count * 2). - Solid: Automatically tracks signal dependencies in effects (
createEffect). - React: Requires explicit dependency arrays in hooks (e.g.,
useEffect(() => {}, [deps])), risking stale closures or missed updates.
Compute values reactively without redundant calculations.
- Svelte: Reactive declarations (
$: derived = ...) recompute only when dependencies change. - Solid:
createMemocaches derived values and updates only when inputs change. - React:
useMemoor manual memoization required, often leading to fragmented logic.
Handle side effects (e.g., data fetching, subscriptions) in response to state changes.
- Svelte: Reactive statements (
$: { fetchData() }) auto-run when dependencies change. - Solid:
createEffectautomatically tracks signal dependencies and runs when they change. - React:
useEffectrequires manual dependency arrays, complicating synchronization.
Reduce setup code for reactivity and state management.
- Svelte: Near-zero boilerplate (reactive variables declared inline).
- Solid: Lightweight signals but requires explicit subscription in JSX (e.g.,
{signal()}). - React: Verbose due to hooks,
memo, and dependency arrays.
Prioritize runtime efficiency for complex UIs.
- Svelte: Compile-time optimizations eliminate runtime overhead.
- Solid: Runtime fine-grained reactivity with near-instant updates.
- React: Virtual DOM and concurrent rendering (e.g., time-slicing) mitigate performance cliffs.
| Feature | Svelte | Solid | React |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reactivity Model | Compiler-driven, DOM-bound | Explicit signals | Coarse-grained, VDOM-based |
| Boilerplate | Minimal (magic under the hood) | Explicit but concise | High (hooks, memoization) |
| Performance | Optimal (no runtime overhead) | Near-optimal (runtime signals) | Good (with manual optimizations) |
| Learning Curve | Low (HTML-centric) | Moderate (JSX + signals) | Moderate (hooks, ecosystem) |
| Styling | Built-in scoped CSS | Requires external solutions | Requires external solutions |
A modern framework with fine-grained reactivity must prioritize direct DOM updates, automatic dependency tracking, and minimal boilerplate. Svelte and Solid excel here, while React compensates with ecosystem strength and concurrent rendering. The choice hinges on whether the developer prefers a compiler-driven approach (Svelte), explicit signals (Solid), or prioritizes ecosystem maturity (React).