7 Better Ways to Create a React App

Indonesian version
React is a powerful and widely-used JavaScript library for building modern web applications. However, starting a new React project from scratch can be a daunting task, especially for beginners.

While Create React App (CRA) has been the go-to tool for bootstrapping React projects, some developers may find its limitations frustrating. Plus, let's face it, the acronym "CRA" is not exactly inspiring - some developers even joke that it stands for "CRAP". Despite the criticism, many developers still rely on CRA for their projects. But who knows, maybe in 2023, continuing to use CRA will be considered a punishable offense, and you'll be forced to learn Ember.js 😭😂

Fortunately, there are many alternative tools available to help developers start building React apps faster and more efficiently. Here are seven of the best alternatives to Create React App:

1. Vite

Vite is a build tool that provides a fast development experience with its advanced build system and hot module replacement feature. It also includes a built-in server and supports many languages and frameworks.

Pros:

• Vite provides fast development speed with its advanced build system and hot module replacement feature.
• The platform has a built-in server and supports a wide range of languages and frameworks.
• Vite supports TypeScript out of the box, which is a popular language for building React applications.

Cons:

• Vite is a relatively new technology and may have limited support and documentation.
• Some users may find Vite's configuration options complex and difficult to understand.

2. Next 13

Next.js is a popular framework for building server-side rendered and static web applications with React. It provides many advanced features such as file-based routing and API routes.

Pros:

• Next.js provides server-side rendering and static site generation, which can improve application performance and SEO.
• The platform supports React, as well as popular web frameworks like Angular and Vue.
• Next.js has a large community and active development, which means good support and documentation.

Cons:

• Next.js may have a steeper learning curve compared to other alternatives.
• Some users may find Next.js's file-based routing approach difficult to understand.

3. Remix

Remix is a new framework for building modern web applications with advanced features like caching and prefetching. It includes a powerful data-fetching API and provides a framework for creating accessible applications.

Pros:

• Remix provides a structure for building modern web applications with advanced features like caching and prefetching.
• The platform includes a powerful data-fetching API that can improve application performance.
• Remix provides a framework for creating accessible applications.

Cons:

• Remix is a relatively new technology and may have limited community support and documentation.
• The platform is not as widely used as other alternatives, which may cause concerns for some users.

4. NX

NX is a set of tools for building scalable and maintainable web applications. It supports multiple frameworks including React, Angular, and Node.js, and includes features for monorepo management.

Pros:

• NX provides a structured development approach and a set of tools for building scalable applications.
• The platform supports multiple frameworks including React, Angular, and Node.js.
• NX includes features for monorepo management, which can help manage codebases for large projects.

Cons:

• The initial setup of NX can be complex and require a learning curve.
• Some users may find NX's configuration options overwhelming.

5. StackBlitz

StackBlitz is an online development environment that provides a fast and convenient way to build React apps in the browser. It includes many features such as live reload and debugging, and provides project templates to help users get started quickly.

Pros:

• StackBlitz provides live reload and debugging features that make React application development easier.
• The platform provides project templates that include some basic features such as authentication, navigation, and state management.
• Users can easily share and access the projects they have created with StackBlitz.

Cons:

• Some of StackBlitz's advanced features such as debugging are not available for the free version.
• Dependency on StackBlitz's infrastructure may cause concerns for some users.

6. Gatsby

Gatsby is a static site generator that provides a fast and efficient way to build React apps. It includes many plugins and templates to help users get started quickly and supports many data sources and integrations.

Pros:

• Gatsby provides fast build times and advanced performance optimization features.
• The platform has a wide range of plugins and templates that can help build applications quickly.
• Gatsby supports many data sources and integrations, which can make application development easier.

Cons:

• Gatsby's configuration options can be complex and may require some effort to understand.
• The platform may not be the best choice for building applications with complex business logic.

7. Astro

Astro is a new framework for building web applications with a flexible and modular approach. It includes a built-in server and supports multiple data sources and rendering engines.

Pros:

• Astro provides a flexible and modular approach to building web applications, including React applications.
• The platform has a built-in server and supports multiple data sources and rendering engines.
• Astro provides a lightweight and fast approach to building web applications.

Cons:

• Astro is a relatively new technology and may have limited community support and documentation.
• Some users may find Astro's configuration options complex and difficult to understand.

In conclusion, there are many better alternatives to Create React App for building modern web applications with React. Developers can choose the tool that best suits their needs and preferences to improve their development experience and efficiency.