As we enter 2024, we present a summary of the ReactJS ecosystem in 2023, along with our predictions for the upcoming year.
We asked our developers - Daniel and Miłosz, on the progress and trends they have seen throughout 2023 and what are their expectations for 2024.
Read on and find out what our developers expect from ReactJS in 2024, how it performed in 2023, and what awaits in web development.
Recap of ReactJS in 2023
2023 was a year of developing conceptions proposed earlier. Alternatively, we got a fraction of those features in v18. How the situation will progress remains to be seen - we are not the creators of this library. Nevertheless, there was a lot to do, and creators had full hands because of the React 18 launch - lots of NPM packages still have compatibility issues with v18.- Daniel, React Developer
How was ReactJS doing in 2023? To put it briefly - pretty good.
Although the latest version, 18.2.0, was released in June 2022, we are aware of the progress ReactJS is making and the long-term goals the team focuses on.
In the last twelve months, the core team has been working on various features, like React Server Components or React Forget, and fixes to bring the next major version that, hopefully, we will see in 2024.
For now, let's delve into key React features developed throughout 2023.
REACT SERVER COMPONENTS
React Server Components undoubtedly raised interest among developers in 2023, even though the idea was announced in 2020.
RSC allows writing UI components with Server Components that can be rendered and cached on the server. This way, the amount of JavaScript sent to the Client Side is reduced, which, as a result, improves application performance by reducing page load time, among others. Consequently, RSC enables developers to build more complex user interfaces without impacting UX.
This year was a little like a cucumber season in React, but React Server Components is gaining popularity, chiefly because of Next.js. React Forget is a promising concept that will add great stuff to the React ecosystem.- Miłosz, React Developer
As Miłosz indicates, Next.js App Router implementation contributed to the rising popularity of React Server Components. In addition, the core team has introduced async/await - the primary way to fetch data from Server Components, which makes the second relevant change in RSC.
SUSPENSE
Suspense is a feature that enables developers to manage the loading state and asynchronous data rendering. As the name implies, while the component waits for data, the feature suspends the rendering of components until the required data is ready.
With the concept of “fallback UI” developers determine what elements pull up on the screen while the data is loading. Consequently, it contributes to improved user experience, application performance, and responsiveness, making it more seamlessly in use for users.
REACT FORGET
Another noteworthy feature that the React core team has been working on in 2023 was React Forget.
This so-called “auto-memoizing compiler” is set to automate the memoization process, optimize component re-rendering, and eliminate the need for useMemo and useCallback hooks. Accordingly, improving developer experience as the process will happen automatically without their interference, enhancing application performance and making the code easier to understand. In a nutshell - streamlining the overall development process.
Although still under development, the React Forget feature will significantly impact application functionality and developer experience (DX).
Similarly, as in the case of React Native, the ReactJS core team prioritizes two areas - developer experience and user experience (find more about highlights of React Native in 2023 and predictions for 2024 here).
Ensuring a straightforward web development process with new tools and features enables developers to build complex UIs effectively and deliver more sophisticated applications. On the other hand, web apps are more intuitive, faster, and smooth in use, enhancing the user experience (UX).
Key trends and predictions for ReactJS and web development in 2024 - Developers' take
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What can we expect from ReactJS in 2024?
Daniel: Further development towards SSR and implementation of Server Components. Generally, the ReactJS team, seeing Next.js growing in popularity, decided to go in that direction and embrace an SSR-oriented approach. The next thing on the list is the development of Concurrent Features.
Miłosz: With no major releases and updates in 2023, I think we can expect React 19 shortly. Also, because of Next.js, React Server Components will be hyped. Recently, Signals entered Preact and now they are used in React applications. With their simplicity in use, they might get promoted in 2024.
What trends do you expect in web development in 2024?
Daniel: I think trends are going towards Server Side Rendering, as it is a milestone in optimization. With that in mind, Next.js will further gain in popularity.
Another thing is using TypeScript in ReactJS projects. From my perspective, it is a game-changer that streamlines developers' work. First and foremost, you have a better handle on the possible values assigned to certain variables. Secondly, it is easier to examine if the value passed to a function is what we expect. Thanks to that, it enables us to avoid many errors and overall simplifies work.
Miłosz: A few trends I think we will see in 2024 are TypeScript and its growing popularity, AI chatbots on websites, PWA, Server Side Rendering, and growing awareness of Web Accessibility due to the European Accessibility Act (EAA).
Will ReactJS be in demand in 2024?
Undeniably, ReactJS has created a legacy, bringing new perspectives and solutions to coding that now seem like they have always been there. Last year, React celebrated its 10th birthday on 29th May. Although 2013 feels like not so long ago (who else feels like it was 3-4 years ago? 🙋), after all these years, React has been thriving and engaging developers, creating a true community.
ReactJS is a highly developed library constantly growing in new features and functionalities, and it will be in demand in 2024. As per Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2023, it is the most used frontend library for web development among professional developers. For this reason, developers will most likely use it for subsequent projects. Furthermore, many existing applications are built with ReactJS, and these projects will continue to be developed with this technology. Anyway, there is no indication that "React is dead” 🙂- Daniel
Why do we believe React will stay with us for a while (maybe even for the next ten years)? Here's why:
Large and strong community
Creating an engaging and supportive community of experts with vast technical experience in a single technology takes years. After ten years, ReactJS has gathered a large community contributing to its growth and continued improvement. The people behind the library's success are undoubtedly a key reason making React stands out.
Constant growth
Since its launch, ReactJS has been steadily growing, providing developers with helpful, innovative, and beneficial features to build top-quality web applications. The core team has been actively announcing what they are working on, and thanks to that, we know what we can expect from the React ecosystem shortly.
High usage
Many existing web applications are built with ReactJS and companies still opt for it for their upcoming projects. Therefore, there will be a demand for ReactJS in 2024 for maintaining existing apps and creating new ones.
React Ecosystem
React is a competitive library offering a wide range of tools and continues to bring new solutions to the ecosystem. Contrary to the technologies that became obsolete, React follows the trends, making it relevant among other trending technologies.
ReactJS will be in demand in 2024 - React is the most popular frontend library with a large community and a constantly evolving ecosystem. Not to mention that other technologies with a vast market share, like Next.js or React Native, are based on React, and thanks to it, we have new updates.- Miłosz
ReactJS future is bright
Ultimately, ReactJS is not dead. 😉 And it won't happen in the foreseeable future.
ReactJS offers various competitive advantages and solutions and has an actual impact on the web development ecosystem. The shifts in architecture and building processes confirm that React is evolving to stay competitive, relevant, and beneficial for developers and businesses.
Thereinafter, we count on 2024 to bring new updates, stable features, and even better web development.
