@ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap vs ngx-bootstrap: What are the differences?

Comparison between @ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap and ngx-bootstrap

Angular is a popular JavaScript framework for building web applications, and ng-bootstrap and ngx-bootstrap are two popular libraries that provide Angular components and directives to enhance the user interface. In this comparison, we will discuss the key differences between @ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap and ngx-bootstrap.

1. Build Process: @ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap is built with the help of Angular's ng-packagr library, which allows creating Angular libraries that can be easily consumed by Angular applications. On the other hand, ngx-bootstrap uses a custom build system that is not closely tied to ng-packagr.

2. Installation: @ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap can be installed via npm using the following command: npm install @ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap. On the other hand, ngx-bootstrap can be installed using the command: npm install ngx-bootstrap.

3. Components and Directives: @ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap provides a set of Angular components and directives that follow the Bootstrap style. It includes components such as modal, accordion, dropdown, etc. On the other hand, ngx-bootstrap provides a wide range of components and directives, including advanced features like typeahead and datepicker.

4. Bootstrap Version: @ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap is built to work with the latest version of Bootstrap (currently Bootstrap 5). It provides components and directives that are fully compatible with Bootstrap 5. On the other hand, ngx-bootstrap is built to work with Bootstrap 3, providing components and directives that follow the Bootstrap 3 style.

5. Styling Options: @ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap provides CSS classes and properties that can be used to apply custom styles to the components. It allows developers to customize the look and feel of the components according to their needs. On the other hand, ngx-bootstrap provides less flexibility in terms of styling options, as it closely follows the Bootstrap style without much customization.

6. Development Community: Both libraries have an active development community, but @ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap has a larger user base and more frequent updates. It is widely adopted in the Angular ecosystem and has extensive community support. On the other hand, ngx-bootstrap also has a good community following, but it may not be as widely used as @ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap.

In summary, @ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap and ngx-bootstrap are both valuable libraries for integrating Bootstrap components and directives into Angular applications. The key differences lie in their build processes, installation methods, supported Bootstrap versions, range of components, styling options, and the size of their development communities.