JointJS vs React Diagrams: What are the differences?

Introduction

JointJS and React Diagrams are both libraries used for building interactive diagrams and visualizations in web applications. While they serve similar purposes, there are key differences between these two libraries that make them suitable for different use cases.

1. Rendering Approach: JointJS is a lightweight JavaScript library that uses SVG rendering to create diagrams. It provides a low-level control over the graphical elements, allowing for fine-grained customization. On the other hand, React Diagrams is built on top of the React framework and renders diagrams using HTML5 canvas. It leverages the virtual DOM and React's component architecture, making it more suitable for complex and dynamically updating diagrams.

2. Componentization: JointJS follows a more traditional approach where the diagram components are created and manipulated programmatically. It provides a rich set of APIs to interact with the diagram elements directly. In contrast, React Diagrams takes advantage of React's component-based architecture. It treats each diagram element as a React component, making it more modular and easier to compose complex diagrams.

3. Event Handling: JointJS provides an event-driven system for handling interactions with the diagram elements. It offers various events like 'click', 'hover', etc., allowing developers to easily handle user interactions. React Diagrams, on the other hand, utilizes React's event system. It allows for declarative event handling through props, making it easier to manage the diagram events within the React component hierarchy.

4. State Management: JointJS does not have built-in state management capabilities. Developers have to manage the state of the diagram elements manually. React Diagrams, being a React library, leverages React's state management capabilities. It allows developers to manage the state of the diagram elements using setState, making it easier to keep the diagram in sync with the application state.

5. Community and Ecosystem: JointJS has been around for quite some time and has a mature community and ecosystem. It has a wide range of plugins and extensions available, providing additional functionalities and integrations. React Diagrams, being a relatively newer library, has a smaller community and ecosystem. However, it benefits from the popularity and extensive ecosystem of React, which provides a wide range of additional libraries and tools.

Summary

In summary, JointJS provides a lightweight and low-level approach for rendering and manipulating diagrams, while React Diagrams leverages the power of React and provides a more modular and component-driven approach. JointJS is suitable for simpler diagrams and fine-grained control, while React Diagrams is more suitable for complex and dynamically updating diagrams that require state management and a component-based approach.