Choosing Frontend Libraries/Frameworks: create-react-app or create-next-app?

In the field of frontend development, the appropriate tooling and framework play a vital role in the creation of high-quality and effective web applications. Widely used tools for beginning projects are create-react-app (CRA) by React and create-next-app by Next.js. This blog post will delve into the advantages and disadvantages of each, aiding you in making a well-informed choice for your upcoming project.

✔️ Pros of create-react-app:

1. Quick setup: Create React App offers a fast setup process, allowing developers to begin coding immediately instead of focusing on lengthy configuration tasks.

2. Opinionated defaults: It is pre-configured with logical defaults, including Webpack, Babel, and a development server, which facilitates both new and experienced developers in starting with modern JavaScript and JSX.

3. Support for the React ecosystem: It integrates flawlessly with the entire React ecosystem, incorporating popular libraries like Redux, React Router, and others.

4. Automatic updates: Create React App remains updated with the latest developments in the React ecosystem, simplifying the use of new features and improvements.

👎 The cons of using create-react-app:

1. Low flexibility: While Create React App offers an excellent starting point, it may not be flexible enough for advanced or custom projects that require significant customization or alterations to the build process.

2. No server-side rendering (SSR): If your project critically needs server-side rendering, Create React App alone is not sufficient, necessitating either an ejection or the use of alternative frameworks like Next.js.

☞ React.js Installation

npx create-react-app my-app
cd my-app
npm start

What is create-next-app?

Create Next App is essentially a command-line tool tailored specifically for assisting developers in establishing Next.js applications. Next.js, built upon React, helps enhance React applications by introducing functionalities like server-side rendering and static site generation, among others.

✔️ Benefits of create-next-app:

1. Server-side rendering (SSR): Next.js offers built-in server-side rendering, which not only enhances performance but also automatically optimizes an application for search engines without any additional configuration.

2. Static site generation (SSG): Next.js enables the creation of static HTML files that are quicker to load and less demanding on servers.

3. API routes: Next.js allows for the creation of serverless API routes, enabling the hosting of backend functions directly within your frontend application.

4. Automatic Code Splitting: In standard Next.js applications, JavaScript code is automatically broken into smaller chunks, aiding in optimizing the load time of an application.

👎 Cons of using create-next-app:

1. Learning curve: The introduction of new concepts and complexities in Next.js compared to Create React App can increase the learning requirements for developers who are not familiar with these concepts.

2. Overkill for simple projects: If your project does not require server-side rendering, static site generation, or advanced routing, Next.js might introduce unnecessary complexity.

☞ Next.js Installation

npx create-next-app@latest
### On installation, you'll see the following prompts:
What is your project named? my-app
Would you like to use TypeScript? No / Yes
Would you like to use ESLint? No / Yes
Would you like to use Tailwind CSS? No / Yes
Would you like to use `src/` directory? No / Yes
Would you like to use App Router? (recommended) No / Yes
Would you like to customize the default import alias (@/*)? No / Yes
What import alias would you like configured? @/*

⚡Conclusion

Both create-react-app and create-next-app are indeed wonderful tools for initiating backend projects, each offering its own set of strengths and optimal use cases. If you are seeking a quick and hassle-free setup for React applications, create-react-app is your go-to choice. Conversely, if your requirements include server-side rendering, static site generation, or more advanced features, create-next-app paired with Next.js offers a dynamic framework to fulfill these needs.

Ultimately, the choice between create-react-app and create-next-app hinges on the specific requirements of your project. Evaluate the pros and cons discussed here and select the tool that aligns most closely with your development goals and needs.

Happy coding!

Note: Always ensure you are up-to-date with the latest version of create-react-app and the most recent documentation for create-next-app to fully leverage their feature sets and enhancements.