Comparing Application Sizes: ReactJS vs. SolidJS

 

Comparing Application Sizes: ReactJS vs. SolidJS

When choosing a front-end framework, one of the critical factors to consider is the application bundle size. Smaller bundle sizes generally lead to faster load times and better performance, particularly on slower networks or less powerful devices. In this blog, we will compare the bundle sizes of simple applications created with ReactJS and SolidJS, using their respective CLI tools. We will also provide a step-by-step guide on how to create, build, and analyze these applications.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction to ReactJS and SolidJS
  2. Creating a ReactJS Application
  3. Creating a SolidJS Application
  4. Building the Applications
  5. Comparing the Bundle Sizes
  6. Conclusion

1. Introduction to ReactJS and SolidJS

ReactJS

ReactJS is a widely-used JavaScript library for building user interfaces, particularly single-page applications. Created by Facebook, React allows developers to create reusable UI components and manage the state efficiently.

  • Pros: Rich ecosystem, strong community support, powerful tools like React DevTools.
  • Cons: Larger bundle size, more abstraction.

SolidJS

SolidJS is a newer framework that focuses on fine-grained reactivity and performance. It offers a similar developer experience to React but aims to be more efficient in terms of rendering and updating the UI.

  • Pros: Smaller bundle size, high performance, fine-grained reactivity.
  • Cons: Smaller community, less mature ecosystem.

2. Creating a ReactJS Application

Let's start by creating a new ReactJS application using Create React App (CRA).

This will generate a production build of the React application in the build directory.

3. Creating a SolidJS Application

Next, we'll create a new SolidJS application using Vite.

This will generate a production build of the SolidJS application in the dist directory.

4. Building the Applications

After running the build commands for both applications, we can check the sizes of the build (React) and dist (Solid) directories.

On Unix-based systems (Linux, macOS), you can use the du command. On Windows, you can check the folder properties.

Using du Command

For React:


For Solid:

5. Comparing the Bundle Sizes

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the build output sizes for ReactJS and SolidJS:

Framework        Approximate Size
ReactJS150KB - 200KB
SolidJS30KB - 50KB

Visual Comparison

This chart clearly shows that SolidJS produces a significantly smaller bundle size compared to ReactJS for a minimal application.

6. Conclusion

In conclusion, SolidJS offers a substantial reduction in bundle size compared to ReactJS. This can lead to faster load times and improved performance, especially in resource-constrained environments. While ReactJS has a larger ecosystem and more mature tooling, SolidJS provides an exciting alternative for developers prioritizing performance and efficiency.

Summary:

  • ReactJS: Larger bundle size due to more abstractions and features.
  • SolidJS: Smaller, more optimized bundle size thanks to fine-grained reactivity and minimal overhead.

Further Reading

By following the steps outlined in this blog, you can easily compare the build sizes of applications created with ReactJS and SolidJS yourself. This hands-on approach will give you a better understanding of the benefits and trade-offs of each framework.


Feel free to leave comments or questions below, and happy coding!



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