Dan Abramov, React Server Components expert, talks about the origin story and the community response of React Server Components. He also explains the benefits of using RSCs, such as improving application performance and simplifying setup. The podcast delves into the shift from traditional server rendering to client-side approach, the use of suspense to handle loading states, and the introduction of offline-first architectures. The discussion also covers the execution stages of RSCs, their integration with data fetching, and the challenges faced in their development and adoption. Finally, the podcast explores their desire for deep first-class support for animations in React and delves into the nuances of implementing animations in React.
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Quick takeaways
React Server Components combine server rendering and client-side interactivity for improved application performance.
Suspense API in React allows staggered hydration, reducing initial load time and improving user experience.
RSCs simplify state management and eliminate request-response waterfalls for more efficient web applications.
Server components shift the mental model of data management to pre-calculated data from above.
Asynchronous components in React provide a natural approach to handling remote calls, saving time and effort.
Bundler integrations support server components and help in organizing client and server code.
Deep dives
The Evolution of React and Server Rendering
React has evolved from being used for small interactive components within server-rendered web apps to becoming popular in single-page applications. The traditional server-rendering paradigm worked well for generating initial HTML, but lacked the ability to create dynamic and instantly responsive UIs. As a solution, React introduced server-side rendering (SSR), which allowed developers to generate a pre-rendered snapshot of the client-side app on the server. However, SSR had its own limitations, including the challenge of efficiently rendering large applications and handling data fetching. To address these issues, React introduced features like Suspense, which enabled sequential rendering without blocking the entire render process. These enhancements improved the initial loading experience for users.
React Server Components (RSC) as a Fusion of Paradigms
React Server Components (RSC) combine the best aspects of server rendering and client-side interactivity. RSCs allow developers to create components that span both worlds, enabling efficient data fetching and interactive user interfaces. RSCs can be used in traditional server-rendered setups, as well as in static site generators where the components are pre-rendered during the build process. By embracing RSCs, developers can create components that are self-contained and independent of the data source, making them more flexible and reusable. It simplifies the process of building UIs that rely on data from different computers and eliminates the need for complex prop passing between parent and child components.
Addressing the Uncanny Valley and Chunked Rendering
One challenge in server rendering is the 'uncanny valley' problem, where serialized HTML may appear interactive but still requires JavaScript parsing before becoming truly interactive. React has tackled this issue by introducing suspense, a powerful API that allows developers to define fallbacks or placeholders for components that are not yet ready. With suspense, React can stagger the hydration process, allowing immediate interactivity for parts of the application while the rest loads asynchronously. This approach reduces the time required for the initial load and significantly improves the user experience. By gradually revealing the UI in chunks, React enables a smoother and more efficient rendering process.
The Transition to React Server Components
React Server Components (RSC) represent an ongoing effort to further enhance the paradigms of server rendering and client-side interactivity. RSCs address the limitations and complexities of traditional server-side rendering and client-side data fetching. They offer developers the ability to build self-contained components that combine the advantages of server and client-side processing. RSCs enable a more seamless integration of server and client-side logic, simplifying state management and reducing the need for request-response waterfalls. By leveraging RSCs, developers can create faster, more efficient, and more responsive web applications with a better development experience.
Understanding the Mental Model of Server Components
Server components introduce a shift in mental model when compared to traditional client-side development. With server components, the data is pre-calculated on the server or during the build process, and the data always comes from above, from a parent component. This allows for easier data management and eliminates delays often associated with fetching data on the client side.
The Benefits of Asynchronous Components
Asynchronous components have always made sense for developers who understand the synchronous nature of React. While synchronous components are straightforward and operate as functions of state, asynchronous components allow for data fetching and provide a more natural approach to handling remote calls. This approach saves time and effort by eliminating the need for workarounds and wrapper components.
The Core Concepts of React Server Components
React Server Components (RSC) offer a different approach to developing full-stack applications. By executing code in two stages, RSCs provide the ability to compute data ahead of time and execute components on the server. This approach allows for better performance, code optimization, and granularity in sending only the necessary code to the client. RSCs also facilitate composability, enabling developers to write reusable components that take advantage of both server and client-side data.
Server components and bundler integration
Server components require bundler integration to work efficiently. The integration allows for the use of directives, such as use client and use server, which mark the boundaries between client and server code. Use client serves as an entry point where client-side code is bundled and imported, while use server marks server-side code that can be run on a JavaScript server. Bundler integrations like Turbo Pack and Parcel are being developed to support this paradigm.
Migrating to the app directory and using use client and use server
Migrating from the pages directory to the app directory involves moving the page component to a separate file, where use client is added at the top. The get server side props function is then transformed into a server component. The key aspect is that use client is only necessary in client components imported from a server component. The migration process requires a shift in thinking about how to make the cut between server and client code, and it may take some time for best practices and resources to become widely available.
Expectations for production readiness
While React server components are being used in production by both hobbyists and larger companies, the current state of support may not be suitable for all projects. Certain features, such as parallel routes and intercept and routes, still have some bugs that are being addressed. In the next year, it is expected that the framework will become more stable, bug-free, and efficient. Waiting until more resources and best practices are available may be beneficial for those who prefer a more established development environment.
A desire for deeper support of animations
An area where Dan Abramov expresses interest and would like to see further development is in animations. Specifically, he envisions first-class support for animations within the React ecosystem. Dan desires an API that integrates animations with components, allowing for animations to be easily composed and controlled from above. The goal is to have an orchestrated approach to animations that is both intuitive and maintains composability between different components.
The week Amal & guest co-host Eric Clemmons talk to Dan Abramov all about React Server Components. We learn about why they were created, what problems they solve & how they work to improve application performance. We also dive into the rollout and current support status, the origin story, the community response & walk through the 10+ years of React history which have forever shifted the world of web development.
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