React is dead? Why Svelte, Solid, and Qwik are taking its place

Let's start with the main thing: no, React is not dead

But if you follow the news in the front-end world, you probably noticed the growing hype around the alternatives: Svelte, Solid, Qwik. What's the reason? Let's figure it out without panic and marketing.

Why did alternatives appear at all?

React came out in 2013 and revolutionized the industry. But over 10+ years, problems have accumulated:

1. Bundle size

React + ReactDOM weigh ~130 KB (minified). For a simple site, that's a lot.

// React
import React from 'react'; // already added 100+ KB
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom/client';

2. Virtual DOM is not always fast

React uses a virtual DOM to compare changes. Sounds cool, but:

• You need to keep a copy of the DOM in memory

• With each change, there is a comparison process

• For large applications, it is slow

3. Difficulty for beginners

Hooks, useEffect, dependency rules, memo, useCallback... The entry threshold has increased.

// Beginner developer: "Why is the component rendered 100 times?"es?"
useEffect(() => {
  fetchData();
}, []); // forgot to add dependency

Meet the new generation

⚡ Svelte — a compiler instead of a framework

Svelte does not work in the browser like React. It compiles your code into pure JavaScript at the build stage.

<script>
  let count = 0;
</script>

<button on:click={() => count += 1}>
  Клики: {count}
</button>

Why is it cool?

• No Virtual DOM → faster

• The final bundle is 3-4 times smaller

• The code is read as HTML

Cons:

• Fewer vacancies

• The ecosystem is more modest

• You need to learn specific syntax

  

🎯 Solid — "correct" React

Solid took the ideas of React, but rewrote everything from scratch. It uses reactivity instead of Virtual DOM.

import { createSignal } from 'solid-js';

function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = createSignal(0);
  
  return (
    <button onClick={() => setCount(count() + 1)}>
      Клики: {count()}
    </button>
  );
}

Why is it cool?

• Syntax is similar to React (easy to relearn)

• 5-10 times faster than React in benchmarks

• Bundle size ~7 KB

Cons:

• Young ecosystem

• Few ready-made libraries

• No mass adoption

🚀 Qwik — a revolution in loading

Qwik solves a radical problem: "What if we don't load JavaScript at all?"

export default component$(() => {
  const count = useSignal(0);
  
  return (
    <button onClick$={() => count.value++}>
      Клики: {count.value}
    </button>
  );
});

The concept of "Resumability":

• HTML comes from the server ready-made

• JavaScript is loaded only when needed

• When you click on the button → only the code of this button will be loaded

Why is it cool?

• Instant page loading

• Great for large applications

• Built-in SSR support

Cons:

• The youngest of all

• Strange syntax with $ everywhere

• The ecosystem is just forming

Let's compare the performance

* Initial load. The numbers are approximate and depend on the task.

What should a beginner choose?

✅ Learn React if:

• Want to find a job faster (95% of vacancies)

• A rich ecosystem is needed (libraries, tutorials)

• Planning to work in a team

🎯 Try alternatives if:

• Doing a pet project to study

• Performance is important

• Want to be on the wave of innovation

The real situation on the market

Vacancies in Russia (December 2024):

• React: ~5000 vacancies

• Vue: ~800 vacancies

• Svelte: ~30 vacancies

• Solid/Qwik: single

But the trend is changing:

• Vercel (the creators of Next.js) are actively investing in Svelte

• Shopify rewrites parts on Solid

• Cloudflare promotes Qwik

Conclusion: React is not dead, but...

React does not die, he evolves. New frameworks:

1. They prove that it can be faster and easier

2. Force the React team to improve the product

3. They give a choice for specific tasks

All this and much more can be study in Kodik — analyze each concept in detail and consolidate it with practice using real tasks. We explain complex things in simple language, starting with the basics and gradually immersing ourselves in advanced topics.

And if you need support - we already have more 2000 like-minded people in active telegram channel. Ask questions, share experiences, participate in challenges and grow together with the community!