Interview: The Two Reacts with Rachel Nabors, Evan Bacon, and Matt Carroll
Feb 8, 2024
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Guests Rachel Nabors, Evan Bacon, and Matt Carroll discuss the ongoing debate about 'two Reacts' and dive into the benefits and challenges of server components in React and React Native. They also touch on topics like framework integration, documentation for bundlers, caution in sharing experimental features, and the relationship between React and hosting providers like Vercel.
Server components aim to leverage the best of the server and client in an easy-to-use manner, offering advantages in terms of leveraging server capabilities in combination with client-side React.
Server components can be used to optimize network requests and improve the offline update story in React Native, allowing for better rendering performance and reducing uncertainty with different device specifications.
Deep dives
The React Team's Approach to Server Components
The podcast episode focuses on the recent controversy surrounding the idea of having two versions of React. The guests discuss the concept of server components and how they are a way of thinking about React moving from client to server. Server components aim to leverage the best of the server and client in an easy-to-use manner. The team also discusses the challenges and complexities of implementing server components, such as compatibility with different frameworks and bundlers. Despite the challenges, they express confidence that server components are the future and highlight the advantages they offer in terms of leveraging server capabilities in combination with client-side React.
The Potential of React Native and Server Components
The podcast explores the potential of using server components in React Native. It is mentioned that React Native has historically been more client-side focused, but server components can be used to optimize network requests and improve the offline update story. The guests discuss how server components can be bundled and embedded in the binary, allowing for better rendering performance and reducing uncertainty with different device specifications. The conversation also touches on the possibilities of server-driven UI, static site generation, and other benefits that server components can bring to React Native development.
The Challenges and Future of React Documentation
The podcast addresses the importance of improving React's documentation and educational content around new features like server components. The guests acknowledge the need for clearer and more accessible resources to help developers learn and understand server components. They discuss possible solutions, including incorporating well-written articles and talks into the official documentation and highlighting different frameworks and projects that demonstrate best practices with server components. The React team also expresses a commitment to communicating openly and actively engaging with the community for feedback and input to ensure that React's documentation evolves in a way that supports developers and framework authors alike.
The Exciting Future of React
In wrapping up the podcast episode, the guests share their excitement for the future of React. They emphasize the ongoing focus on making React better and supporting the frameworks that work with React. There is enthusiasm for the upcoming ReactConf event, where the broader React community will have a chance to share their experiences and perspectives. The conversation touches on the continuous innovations within React, the way React honors and integrates with different platforms, and the endless opportunities enabled by React's capabilities. Overall, they express optimism and a strong belief in the power and potential of React as a framework.
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