Rocket vs Yew Framework: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this Markdown document, we will compare the key differences between the Rocket and Yew frameworks. Rocket is a web framework for the Rust programming language, while Yew is a modern framework for creating web applications using Rust.

1. Server-side vs Client-side Rendering: The most notable difference between Rocket and Yew lies in their rendering approach. Rocket focuses on server-side rendering, where the HTML is generated on the server and then sent to the client. On the other hand, Yew is built for client-side rendering, where the rendering happens within the web browser using JavaScript.

2. Framework Purposes: Rocket is primarily designed for building web APIs and server-side applications. It provides tools and abstractions for handling HTTP requests, routing, and middleware. Yew, on the other hand, is specifically built for creating interactive and dynamic user interfaces in the browser. It leverages Rust's memory safety and performance with a virtual DOM and component-based architecture.

3. Language Usage: Rocket is written in Rust and requires knowledge of the Rust programming language to use effectively. It allows developers to write server-side code using Rust's expressive and safe syntax. On the other hand, Yew also uses Rust for writing components, but it also requires knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as it operates within the browser environment.

4. Built-in Templates: Rocket provides built-in templating support using the Handlebars templating engine. This allows developers to easily generate dynamic HTML responses on the server-side. Yew, on the other hand, does not have built-in templating support as it focuses on client-side rendering. Instead, Yew utilizes its component-based architecture to dynamically update the DOM.

5. Runtime Execution: Rocket applications are compiled into an executable binary that can be run as a standalone server. Once started, the Rocket server handles HTTP requests and responds accordingly. Yew applications, on the other hand, require a JavaScript runtime environment to execute. This means that Yew applications need to be bundled and served to the client's web browser.

6. Community and Maturity: Rocket has been around for longer and has a more established community. It has a larger number of users and contributors, which translates to a more mature ecosystem. Yew, being a younger framework, has a smaller community, but it is growing rapidly as more developers discover the benefits of using Rust for web development.

In summary, Rocket and Yew differ in their rendering approach, with Rocket focusing on server-side rendering and Yew emphasizing client-side rendering. Rocket is designed for building web APIs and server-side applications, while Yew is focused on creating dynamic user interfaces in the browser. Rocket uses Rust for server-side code, while Yew incorporates Rust alongside HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for client-side rendering. Rocket provides built-in templating support, while Yew relies on its component-based architecture. Rocket applications are standalone servers, while Yew applications require a JavaScript runtime environment. Rocket has a more established community, while Yew is quickly growing in popularity.