Big Issues in Vue 3: What Developers Need to Know

Vue 3 has been out for a while now, and while it brings many improvements over Vue 2, it also comes with its own set of challenges. If you’re a Vue developer making the transition or considering Vue 3 for your next project, you should be aware of some key issues. In this post, we’ll discuss the biggest pain points developers have encountered with Vue 3.

1. Composition API Learning Curve

The Composition API is one of the biggest changes in Vue 3. While it provides better code organization and reusability, many developers—especially those used to the Options API—find it difficult to grasp initially. The shift from the familiar data, methods, and computed structure to functions like setup() can be intimidating.

Common issues:

• Higher complexity for simple use cases.
• Harder to read for those unfamiliar with functional programming concepts.
• More boilerplate for small components.

Possible solutions:

• Stick to the Options API when building simple components.
• Use a hybrid approach: gradually integrate the Composition API where needed.

2. Reactivity Caveats

Vue 3’s new reactivity system, built on Proxies, is powerful but introduces some unexpected behavior, especially when dealing with reactivity tracking and nested objects.

Common issues:

• Losing reactivity when destructuring reactive objects.
• ref and reactive behaving differently than expected.
• Difficulties with deeply nested object mutations.

Possible solutions:

• Use toRefs() or toRef() when destructuring reactive objects.
• Understand when to use ref vs. reactive.
• Avoid excessive nesting of objects and consider normalizing data.

3. Ecosystem & Library Support

Although Vue 3 has been officially stable for a while, some popular libraries and third-party plugins took time to update. Some still lack full Vue 3 support or have breaking changes.

Common issues:

• Legacy Vue 2 libraries don’t work out of the box.
• Nuxt 2 doesn’t support Vue 3 (Nuxt 3 is needed but still evolving).
• Some UI frameworks (e.g., Vuetify) had delayed support.

Possible solutions:

• Check the Vue 3 compatibility of any library before using it.
• Consider alternatives like PrimeVue, Quasar, or BootstrapVue 3.
• If possible, contribute to open-source projects to speed up migrations.

4. Suspense and Async Components Challenges

Vue 3 introduced Suspense to handle async components more elegantly, but it has its own quirks and limitations.

Common issues:

• Doesn’t work well with server-side rendering (SSR).
• Requires careful structuring of async components to prevent blank screens.

Possible solutions:

• Use fallbacks wisely.
• Ensure data fetching logic is properly handled to avoid unnecessary renders.

5. TypeScript Adoption Difficulties

Vue 3 has significantly better TypeScript support, but working with TypeScript in Vue can still be cumbersome.

Common issues:

• Steep learning curve for those new to TypeScript.
• Inconsistent typing when dealing with defineProps and defineEmits.
• Lack of comprehensive TypeScript documentation in Vue ecosystem.

Possible solutions:

• Use Volar instead of Vetur for better TypeScript support in Vue 3.
• Follow best practices for defining component props and emits.

Conclusion

Vue 3 is a powerful and evolving framework, but transitioning from Vue 2 or starting fresh with it requires understanding some key challenges. By being aware of these pain points and potential solutions, developers can make the most of Vue 3 while minimizing frustration.

Are you facing any other issues with Vue 3? Let’s discuss in the comments!