Alternatives to React on Rails

React on Rails is a popular integration of React with Ruby on Rails framework, allowing developers to build dynamic and interactive web applications. Key features include server-side rendering for improved performance, easy setup with Rails conventions, and seamless integration of React components within Rails views. However, developers may face limitations with potential learning curve for those new to React, complexity in managing state between React and Rails, and potential performance issues with large applications.

1. Vue on Rails: Vue on Rails combines the Vue.js framework with Ruby on Rails, offering a simple and flexible approach to building modern web applications. Key features include Vue's reactivity system for efficient DOM updates, easy integration with Rails via Webpacker, and a component-based architecture. Pros include a gentle learning curve, excellent documentation, and a robust ecosystem, while a potential con could be the need for additional tooling setup.
2. Angular on Rails: Angular on Rails integrates Angular framework with Ruby on Rails, providing a full-fledged SPA development experience. Key features include two-way data binding, dependency injection, and comprehensive routing capabilities. Pros include a powerful CLI tool, extensive testing support, and a large community, while the complexity of Angular and potential performance concerns could be cons compared to React on Rails.
3. Ember.js with Rails API: Ember.js with Rails API allows developers to leverage the Ember.js framework on the front end while using Ruby on Rails solely as a back end API provider. Key features include Ember's convention over configuration approach, built-in data layer with Ember Data, and a powerful CLI tool. Pros include strong conventions for project structure, automatic data syncing with Ember Data, and a productive development workflow, whereas a potential con could be the learning curve associated with Ember's concepts.
4. SvelteKit with Rails API: SvelteKit with Rails API enables developers to build web applications with Svelte on the front end and Ruby on Rails for the API layer. Key features include Svelte's compiler that generates highly optimized vanilla JavaScript code, easy SSR support, and a reactive approach to building UI components. Pros include improved performance with Svelte's output, straightforward reactive programming model, and seamless transitions between client-side and server-side rendering, while the immaturity of Svelte ecosystem could be a downside.
5. Next.js with Rails: Next.js with Rails combines the Next.js framework for React applications with Ruby on Rails, offering a powerful and flexible solution for building server-rendered apps. Key features include automatic code splitting, built-in routing, and support for static site generation. Pros include improved SEO with server-side rendering, a fast development environment with hot module replacement, and excellent TypeScript support, while potential cons could be the complexity of SSR setup and performance concerns with large applications.
6. Blitz.js with Rails API: Blitz.js with Rails API empowers developers to build fullstack web applications using Blitz.js on the front end and Ruby on Rails as the API backend. Key features include automatic API route generation, zero-API data fetching, and a focus on developer productivity. Pros include rapid prototyping with automatic data fetching, straightforward folder-based project structure, and a built-in authentication system, while a potential con could be the newness of Blitz.js in the ecosystem.
7. Nuxt.js with Rails API: Nuxt.js with Rails API combines Nuxt.js for Vue applications with Ruby on Rails to create universal Vue applications. Key features include server-side rendering, automatic route generation, and easy configuration. Pros include optimized SEO with SSR, excellent documentation, and a wide range of plugins and modules, while potential cons could be the complexity of data fetching strategies and learning curve associated with Nuxt.js conventions.
8. Mithril with Rails API: Mithril with Rails API allows developers to use the lightweight Mithril framework on the front end while leveraging Ruby on Rails for the back end. Key features include a small footprint, efficient virtual DOM implementation, and simplicity in API surface. Pros include minimal overhead for small applications, fast rendering performance, and built-in routing functionality, while potential cons could be a smaller community compared to other frameworks and limited tooling support.
9. Sapper with Rails API: Sapper with Rails API allows developers to build web applications with Sapper framework (built on Svelte) on the front end and Ruby on Rails for the API layer. Key features include server-side rendering, automatic code splitting, and built-in service worker support. Pros include fast initial load times with SSR, seamless integration with Svelte for reactive components, and efficient routing capabilities, while potential cons could be the learning curve associated with Svelte's syntax and setup complexity.
10. Solid with Rails API: Solid with Rails API enables developers to create performant and reactive web applications with the Solid framework on the front end and Ruby on Rails for the API layer. Key features include a minimal reactivity model, efficient re-rendering strategy, and small bundle size. Pros include excellent performance with fine-grained reactivity, straightforward API for building components, and TypeScript support, while a potential con could be the smaller community compared to other frameworks.