When I started my journey into frontend development, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of frameworks and libraries available. Angular, Vue, Svelte—each had its own strengths, but I ultimately chose React. Here’s why.
The Learning Curve
React’s learning curve felt just right for me. It’s not as opinionated as Angular, which meant I could focus on learning JavaScript fundamentals rather than framework-specific conventions. The component-based architecture made sense intuitively, and JSX felt like a natural extension of HTML and JavaScript.
Community and Ecosystem
React’s massive community was a huge draw. Whether I was stuck on state management or needed advice on performance optimization, there were countless tutorials, forums, and Stack Overflow threads to guide me. The ecosystem of libraries (like React Router for navigation and React Query for data fetching) also made it easy to extend my apps without reinventing the wheel.
Flexibility
React’s flexibility stood out compared to more rigid frameworks. I could start small with useState and useEffect, then gradually explore advanced patterns like context API or Redux. This adaptability made it a great fit for both small side projects and more complex applications.
Comparing with Others
I dabbled in Vue and Angular, but Vue’s ecosystem felt smaller, and Angular’s steep learning curve was intimidating for a beginner. Svelte was intriguing, but its smaller community made me hesitant to dive in fully. React struck the perfect balance between simplicity and power.
How React Helped Me Grow
React taught me to think in components, write reusable code, and manage state effectively. It also pushed me to learn modern JavaScript features and tools like Webpack and Babel.
If you’re starting out and value flexibility, a strong community, and a gentle learning curve, React might be the perfect choice for you too. Happy coding! 🚀
Top comments (0)