Inside the World of React: Server Components, Unidirectional Data Flow, and Frameworks - JSJ 617
Jan 23, 2024
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Sam Selikoff, founder of Build UI, Inc., joins the discussion on JavaScript and its applications. They cover topics such as React server components, RPC resurgence, integrating design and components, and tools like Tailwind, Redux, and Remix. They also touch upon mental health conversations and the pitfalls of fragmented media subscriptions.
The React component model allows HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to be co-located for better maintainability.
Proper versioning strategies and consideration of security implications are crucial when using server actions as part of the component boundary.
Server components and actions streamline the communication between front-end and trusted server, simplifying development and reducing the required server-side code.
Deep dives
Bringing Design and Development Boundaries Together
The podcast episode discusses the debate around mixing concerns in JavaScript development. It highlights the React component model as an abstraction that allows HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to be co-located for better maintainability. It explores how React server components and server actions bring data flow and interaction from the server to the client using the function call syntax. The episode emphasizes the importance of defining boundaries and conventions within frameworks to address concerns like security and maintainability. It argues that the co-location of code that changes together is a key benefit of these new features.
Considering Versioning and Security Challenges
The podcast delves into the challenges of versioning and security when using server actions as part of the component boundary. It discusses the potential version mismatches between clients and servers and the need for proper versioning strategies. It also raises the importance of considering security implications when exposing server actions as endpoints. The episode acknowledges that while frameworks may offer solutions to these challenges, additional best practices and conventions are required beyond what frameworks can enforce.
Exploring the No Backend Concept
The podcast briefly mentions the No Backend movement, which suggests creating standards for common actions to enable components for back-end functionality. It highlights this concept as a way to abstract the back end from the front end, similar to React server components. However, it acknowledges that the No Backend approach may face limitations due to proprietary solutions and the current landscape of investor-driven growth-focused businesses. Despite this, the episode acknowledges the appeal of having standardized APIs that work with multiple providers.
Server components and server actions for bundling server-side logic
Server components and server actions allow bundling server-side logic with front-end components, creating a dependency relationship between them. This means that when rendering a front-end component, the necessary server-side code automatically comes along for the ride, eliminating the need for separate API calls or back-end setup. This approach is particularly useful for integrating with external services like Stripe, where both client-side and server-side components are required. Server components and actions make it easier to bundle the server-side integration logic and streamline the communication between the front-end and trusted server. This can greatly simplify the development process and reduce the surface area of required server-side code.
Reducing the proliferation of endpoints and APIs
The ease of creating APIs and endpoints with modern frameworks and technologies raises concerns about their proliferation. With the ability to create APIs as easily as functions, there is a risk of creating numerous internal APIs within an application, which may not receive the same level of attention as external APIs. The proliferation of endpoints can lead to maintenance challenges and potential security risks. To address this concern, frameworks like React need to provide guidelines and conventions, similar to how Ruby on Rails enforces best practices. By imposing healthy constraints and conventions, frameworks can steer developers towards creating a manageable and coherent structure for APIs, reducing the risks associated with endpoint proliferation.
Sam Selikoff is the founder of Build UI, Inc. They unpack a myriad of discussions surrounding JavaScript and its applications. They delve into topics such as RPC resurgence, React server components, and the challenges and solutions around integrating design and components. A variety of technical concepts, tools, and frameworks, including Tailwind, Redux, and Remix, are also explored. Additionally, the episode touches upon important mental health conversations, personal experiences, and the pitfalls of fragmented media subscriptions. Sponsors