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Why is React, a client side rendering framework, a popular choice for server side rendering? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/programming

32 comments fedilink hide all child comments

React (and Vue, et al) was built with client side rendering in mind. It just does not seem to fit the server side rendering pattern.

What are the use cases? From my perspective, if your app is a rich web app with a lot of interactivity, you probably want CSR and don't benefit much from SSR.

If you have a content-centric site, or a site with some interactivity but not much, you want a static site generator, or SSR. But in that case, a template engine with some smaller client side libraries (jQuery or AlpineJS or idk what all is out there).

Using React SSR for all of these seems like the wrong tool. What am I missing?

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[–] lysdexic 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I remember the first time I read about that concept and immediately thought “you mean the way we’ve been writing websites since the 90s?”

This is a poorly informed take. Your pop's dynamic html server side rendering has nothing to do with the problem of rendering DOMs generated by JavaScript running in a browser according to the client's state and leave it in a coherent state. Trying to pass off React's SSR for the same thing that was done in the 90s is like trying to pass off an Android app as the programs written for DOS.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Is it not generating HTML on the server to be served to the client? What you're describing is, in my opinion, an overly complicated form of dynamically rendering HTML on the backend. It's exactly what I'm talking about: the layers and layers of complexity modern web development has added hasn't really solved any problems but rather primarily created problems which are solved with another layer on top as a fix which has problems of its own, and repeat.

Anyway, that's my opinion on the matter, I've toiled with modern web development tools my fair share and time and time again found that removing all of them in favor of vanilla JS where strictly needed and traditional dynamic backends is the most reliable and performant, and frankly enjoyable form of web development. I know others like those workflows and the complexity/power they bring and that's fine, it's not my cup of tea though.

[–] lysdexic 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Is it not generating HTML on the server to be served to the client?

No, it generates the code that creates the DOM, sets the application state based on the user's setting, and updates the webapp to resume working in a consistent state.

It basically sends a frozen instance of a full blown JavaScript application.

What you’re describing is, in my opinion, an overly complicated form of dynamically rendering HTML on the backend.

That's because you're oblivious to the problem domain,and thus you're falling back to the unrelated but similar sounding things you're familiar with to fill in the void of your understanding of the actual problem.

Anyway, that’s my opinion on the matter

My point is that your opinion is a misinformed one,and really doesn't hold up to scrutiny.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Alright, I'm not going to get into an internet pissing contest over front end techniques since despite being in the industry for over a decade I've been deemed oblivious and misinformed based on two comments. I'll keep doing things my way and you can do it your way. I'm not going to lose sleep over it or resort to calling names over a comment on the internet of someone's opinion I don't agree with.