From Rusty to Release: How an Infinite Loop Taught Me to Respect React DevTools

#webdev #react #beginners #programming

There is a huge difference between having a tool and knowing how to use it. I own a socket wrench set, but that doesn't mean I should be allowed near a car engine. Similarly, I’ve had the React DevTools extension installed on Chrome for years.

Did I use it? Sure. I used it to hover over parent-child components, nod sagely, and then go back to console.log('here') debugging. That changed this week.

After some time away from coding, I felt my web dev muscles atrophying. I decided the only way to fix it was to build something substantial. Enter ChwiiX, a streaming platform I designed to help me rekindle my relationship with React.

It was going well until I hit The Wall.

The Loop of Doom

Yesterday, my application decided to enter an infinite render loop. A collision between my data-fetching hook and a useEffect dependency array was making the app unusable. My browser fan sounded like it was preparing for takeoff.

I was lost in my own logic, guessing at which variable was triggering the re-render. I wasted hours changing true to false and hoping for a miracle.

Moving from Guessing to Learning

I decided to stop "guessing" and started "learning." I went back to the basics with Kyle Cook's guide on the Profiler and Components tabs. I finally stopped treating the DevTools like a passive observer and started using them as a surgical instrument.

In minutes, I saw what took me hours to look for:

I could see exactly which component was triggering the re-render (it wasn't the one I blamed).
I saw the frequency of the "Commits."
I identified the exact hook causing the collision.

If you haven't touched the Profiler tab yet, you are debugging on hard mode. Stop it.

Deployment and Feedback

Fixing that bug gave me the momentum to cross the finish line. I spent the rest of the week polishing the UI and taking the project from a local directory to a live Vercel deployment.

I’m happy to say the rust is gone. But code doesn't exist in a vacuum.

I have built ChwiiX, and I am proud of it, but I need eyes on it. I have added a review form directly on the site.
**
Here is my ask:**
Visit chwiix.vercel.app. Click around. Break things. Then, use the form to tell me about it. Whether you think the UX is smooth or the color palette hurts your eyes, I want to hear it.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some Profiler stats to obsess over.