Redux Observable vs RxJS: What are the differences?

Introduction

Redux Observable and RxJS are both popular libraries for handling asynchronous data streams. While both can be used together, there are some key differences between the two.

1. Integration with Redux: Redux Observable is specifically designed to integrate with Redux. It provides middleware that allows you to create and manage complex asynchronous actions using RxJS. On the other hand, RxJS is a standalone library that can be used with any JavaScript application, not just Redux.

2. Action Abstraction: Redux Observable provides a higher level of abstraction for managing asynchronous actions. Instead of dispatching plain actions with payloads, you can dispatch "epics" which are functions that receive a stream of actions and return a stream of actions. This allows for more complex logic and composition of actions. RxJS, on the other hand, provides a more general-purpose way of working with asynchronous data streams without the specific Redux integration.

3. Testing: Redux Observable provides a set of utilities and testing tools specifically designed for testing epics. This includes a way to mock the dependencies of your epics and test them in isolation. RxJS, on the other hand, does not provide any specific testing utilities, although it can be easily tested using traditional testing frameworks.

4. Learning Curve: Redux Observable has a steeper learning curve compared to RxJS. This is because it introduces new concepts like epics and middleware that are specific to Redux Observable. On the other hand, RxJS is more widely adopted and has a larger community with more extensive documentation and resources available.

5. Community Support: RxJS has a larger and more active community compared to Redux Observable. This means that there are more examples, tutorials, and libraries available for RxJS. Redux Observable, being a more specialized library, has a smaller community and fewer resources. This can make it more difficult to find answers to specific questions or troubleshoot issues.

6. Size: Redux Observable has a larger bundle size compared to using RxJS alone. This is because Redux Observable includes additional code for integrating with Redux and providing the middleware. If bundle size is a concern for your application, using RxJS directly might be more appropriate.

In summary, Redux Observable is a library specifically designed to integrate with Redux and provides a higher level of abstraction for managing asynchronous actions. It has a steeper learning curve and a smaller community compared to RxJS, but provides specific testing utilities and offers more integration with Redux. RxJS, on the other hand, is a more general-purpose library for working with asynchronous data streams and has a larger and more active community.