Stencil vs Svelte: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will discuss the key differences between Stencil and Svelte, two popular frameworks used for building web applications.

1. Library vs Compiler: The main difference between Stencil and Svelte lies in their approach to building web applications. Stencil is primarily a compiler that generates efficient JavaScript code, which can be used to create reusable web components. On the other hand, Svelte is more of a library that allows developers to write declarative code, which is then compiled into highly optimized JavaScript during the build process.

2. Component-Based vs DOM-Based: Stencil focuses on building component-based architectures by providing a set of tools and APIs to create reusable web components. These components can be easily shared across different projects and frameworks. On the other hand, Svelte takes a different approach by building the entire UI as a single JavaScript file and updating the DOM directly, resulting in a more efficient rendering process.

3. Virtual DOM vs No Virtual DOM: Stencil makes use of a virtual DOM (VDOM) to efficiently update and render web components. This allows for faster updates and better performance, especially when dealing with complex user interfaces. Svelte, on the other hand, does not use a virtual DOM. Instead, it compiles the code directly into optimized JavaScript that interacts with the real DOM, resulting in even better performance.

4. Language Support: Stencil is primarily written in TypeScript, which provides developers with static typing and enhanced tooling for building web components. Svelte, on the other hand, is primarily written in JavaScript and supports both TypeScript and pure JavaScript, allowing developers to choose the language that best suits their needs.

5. Build Setup: Stencil provides a comprehensive build setup out of the box, including tools for code splitting, lazy loading, and generating static HTML files. This makes it easier for developers to get started with building web components and applications. Svelte, on the other hand, requires developers to set up their own build process using tools like Rollup or Webpack, providing more flexibility but also requiring more initial setup.

6. Community & Ecosystem: Stencil has a growing and active community with a focus on building reusable web components. It has integrations with popular frameworks like Angular, React, and Vue, allowing developers to use Stencil components in their existing projects. Svelte, on the other hand, has gained significant popularity in recent years and has a strong community of developers. It has its own ecosystem of plugins and libraries, making it easier to extend and customize the framework.

In summary, Stencil and Svelte have different approaches to building web applications. Stencil is a compiler-focused framework that enables component-based architectures, while Svelte is a library that compiles declarative code into optimized JavaScript. While both frameworks have their strengths and use cases, the choice between them depends on the specific requirements and preferences of the project.