Ryan Carniato - SolidJS, Marko.js, and the Future of Frontend Development
Feb 3, 2025
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Ryan Carniato, creator of SolidJS, a cutting-edge frontend framework, dives into the evolution of web development. He shares his journey back to JavaScript and critiques the rise of frameworks like React, revealing how SolidJS emerged as a performance-driven alternative. The conversation highlights rendering differences and optimizations in component models, along with the transition challenges from Marko 3 to Marko 4. Ryan also discusses React's ongoing dominance and its implications for developers navigating new technologies.
SolidJS was created as a response to the limitations of frameworks like React, focusing on performance through fine-grained reactivity.
Ryan Carniato's inspiration from Marco.js significantly influenced SolidJS's design, particularly in optimizing server-side rendering and performance.
The rise of meta frameworks marks a pivotal shift in frontend development, allowing SolidJS to potentially integrate and compete with existing solutions.
Deep dives
The Birth of Solid.js
Solid.js was conceived as a reaction to the limitations of existing JavaScript frameworks like Knockout.js and React. The creator, Ryan, found inspiration in Knockout's observable model, which allowed for efficient state updates in the DOM without unnecessary re-renders. As he returned to JavaScript around 2010, Ryan began experimenting with new ideas in front-end frameworks, ultimately leading him to create Solid.js in 2018. The goal was to develop a more performant, declarative model that leveraged the benefits of retained mode, allowing for fine-grained reactivity without the overhead of re-rendering entire components.
Contrasting Solid.js and React
Ryan emphasized that Solid.js operates on a fundamentally different philosophy than React, primarily focusing on retained mode versus immediate mode rendering. While React adopted a strategy of re-rendering components entirely for performance, Solid.js allows for more precise updates by only re-evaluating parts of the UI that change. This creates a significant performance advantage when handling dynamic data updates, as Solid.js does not rely on heavy virtual DOM diffing. As a result, Solid.js maintains high performance even in applications that require frequent UI updates, making it suitable for various use cases.
Influence of Marco.js
Marco.js had a profound impact on Ryan’s thinking and ultimately the development of Solid.js. Initially introduced to him as a framework showcasing advanced server-side rendering capabilities, Marco offered innovative techniques like non-blocking rendering and out-of-order streaming. Ryan recognized that such features would elevate Solid.js and was inspired to ensure that his framework included effective server-side rendering strategies upon its release. By observing Marco's approach, he learned about the importance of optimizing hydration and maintaining performance on both server and client sides.
The Meta Framework Trend
Ryan pointed to the recent trend of meta frameworks as pivotal for the future of front-end development. This shift has seen frameworks like Next.js and Remix offer seamless integrations, allowing for better data fetching and routing capabilities that abstract away complex state management. He mentioned that Solid could integrate with these meta frameworks, positioning itself as an alternative to React, while providing a similar development experience. This evolution highlights a growing recognition of the need for flexibility and performance in modern web applications, paving the way for the adoption of frameworks like Solid.
Future Interactions and Challenges
The conversation underscored the challenges Solid faces in a landscape dominated by React, which has significant community momentum and educational resources. Ryan noted that dethroning React would require building a strong ecosystem around Solid or becoming integrated into existing meta frameworks. Furthermore, while frameworks like React are evolving, there remains a need for clarity as different paradigms emerge, such as local-first applications. Ryan is optimistic but acknowledges that Solid's path forward involves continuous innovation and finding its unique niche amidst the competitive front-end ecosystem.
This week we talk to Ryan Carniato, the creator of SolidJS. SolidJS is a modern frontend framework that is designed to be simple, fast, and reactive. It work in almost the exact opposite way of React, but with very familiar patterns. Learn how it's been behind the scenes influencing things for years.