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Is Svelte the next big thing in Javascript frameworks?

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Blog by Stephan Moerman
Stephan Moerman
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Is Svelte the next big thing in Javascript frameworks?

Unlike React and Vue, Svelte apps are lighter, faster, and more responsive.

In this article, I'll explore Svelte and its powerful application framework, SvelteKit. Lets find out if Svelte is the next big thing in JavaScript frameworks!

The rise of Svelte in the JavaScript framework landscape

As a developer, you may be interested in the rise of Svelte in the JavaScript framework landscape. Svelte's performance advantages have made it a popular choice among developers. With its lightweight nature, Svelte apps are faster, more efficient, and offer a better user experience compared to frameworks like React or Vue. 👀

Svelte's impact on frontend development has been significant. Its unique approach of compiling code into small, pure Vanilla JS sets it apart from other frameworks. This not only makes it easier to understand and maintain the source code but also results in faster code execution.

In terms of the future of JavaScript frameworks, Svelte plays a crucial role. Its rise in popularity and adoption indicates that developers are recognizing its unique features and benefits. Svelte's simplicity, readability, and concise code lead to fewer bugs and improved project efficiency.

As more developers explore Svelte and experience its advantages, it's likely to continue gaining momentum in the JavaScript framework landscape. Its performance advantages and impact on frontend development make it a strong contender for the next big thing in JavaScript frameworks.

Let's explore the unique features of Svelte

Honestly, you'll be amazed by the unique features that set Svelte apart from other front-end development tools.

Svelte's performance advantages are one of its standout features. Unlike frameworks like React and Vue, Svelte compiles code into small, pure Vanilla JS, resulting in lighter and faster apps. It doesn't require a virtual DOM, which means code execution is faster.

Another notable feature of Svelte is its simplified HTML and XML integration. The source code of Svelte apps combines JavaScript, HTML, and CSS in one file, making it easy to understand and maintain. This integration also simplifies CSS elements and improves code conciseness.

Svelte also has a significant impact on code quality. Its concise and readable code leads to fewer bugs and improved project efficiency. Additionally, Svelte supports responsive statements, making it easier to build scalable interfaces for both web and mobile devices. 📱

When I started building my first Svelte application I immediately noticed how Svelte includes built-in features that enhance development speed. A good example is that it has unused CSS detection and automatic component export, which improve code quality and streamline the development process.

Svelte Vs. React and Vue: the battle of the frameworks

When comparing Svelte, React, and Vue, you'll notice distinct differences in their approaches to front-end development.

Let's start with performance comparison between these frameworks. Svelte takes a unique approach by compiling the code into small, pure Vanilla JS, resulting in lighter and faster apps. React and Vue, on the other hand, use a virtual DOM, which can impact performance if you don't maintain clean code architecture.

Svelte vs. React Behind the Scenes
Svelte vs. React Behind the Scenes

Now, let's talk about developer experience.

Svelte offers a simplified development experience by combining JavaScript, HTML, and CSS in one file, making the source code easy to understand. React and Vue have their own ways of managing components and state, which may require a steeper learning curve for some developers. Personally I've always found the Vue.js/Nuxt.js approach to state management a little more intuitive compared to anything React or Next.js, but it's also about personal preference.

But what about code simplicity? I am almost starting to sound like a Svelte fanboy, but honestly Svelte's approach of reading simplified HTML and XML files leads to concise and readable code, reducing the chances of bugs and improving project efficiency. React and Vue have their own mechanisms for managing components and rendering, which may add complexity to the codebase. Although I am still a huge fan of jsx and never needed to adjust much to the syntax. Yes it has its quirks, but it works. 😬

SvelteKit, the application framework for Svelte, offers code splitting capability for faster app loading, similar to React. This can greatly enhance the scalability of Svelte projects. React and Vue also provide ways to handle code splitting, but Svelte's approach is more integrated. Nuxt.js has fallen behind in my opinion, but Next.js is perfectly equipped for code splitting and allows you to have large enterprise applications that remain performant.

But what about community support? Do developers give Svelte love? ❤️

While React and Vue have larger communities and are more widely adopted, Svelte has been gaining popularity due to its performance, simplicity, and readability. Svelte's community is growing steadily, and it has an active ecosystem with various libraries and resources available. When it comes to developers with experience, React or Next.js is still a safer choice as theres simply more experienced developers available to help support your application.

The story behind Svelte: from creation to popularity

If you're curious about how Svelte went from creation to popularity, understanding its history and the contributions of Rich Harris is key. Svelte's journey to popularity began when version 3 was released in April 2019. Created by Rich Harris, the graphics editor at The New York Times, Svelte quickly gained recognition in the coding community. Harris, also known for creating other tools like Ractive, Rollup, and Buble, brought his expertise to the development of Svelte.

Svelte's unique selling points have contributed to its evolution and popularity. Svelte apps are incredibly compact once compiled, making them faster and more lightweight compared to frameworks like React and Vue. The combination of JavaScript, HTML, and CSS in one file makes the source code easy to understand. Svelte's compiler approach, without the need for a virtual DOM, results in faster code execution.

Svelte's impact on developers and frontend development is significant. Its simplicity, performance, and readability have attracted developers looking for a clean and minimalist framework. Svelte offers concise and readable code, leading to fewer bugs and improved project efficiency. SvelteKit, an application framework built on top of Svelte, provides features like code-splitting for faster app loading.

Overall, Svelte's influence on frontend development can't be ignored, and it presents new possibilities for the future of web development. In the near future I'll do a full breakdown of Svelte in a YouTube video, so stay tuned for that.

There's cons to both React and Svelte, down below you'll find a great breakdown.

Svelte and React: comparing the cons
Svelte and React: comparing the cons

Conclusion

If you're tired of bulky JavaScript frameworks and looking for a more efficient and user-friendly solution, Svelte is the next big thing that you should try.

From its compact size and simplified code structure to its potential to reshape the future of JavaScript frameworks, Svelte is undoubtedly revolutionizing the way we build websites and applications.

Embrace Svelte and experience the power of its compiler for yourself. Let me know what you think!