Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by brianvaughn 3002 days ago
I'm curious why the theme example I mentioned in my earlier comment- (and showed in the docs)- doesn't qualify as "useful" to you. Another example would be using context to share the selected language/locale between all of the localized components in an application.
2 comments
brlewis 3002 days ago
In self-contained apps couldn't a single prop be passed down that's an object with all things like that in it? Maybe there's a scenario with 3rd-party components where context could make it look more elegant, but I don't have a clear picture.

I know there are several ways to construct a component, but I like that your examples make them functions of props, because that's how I picture a component. Having its behavior depend on a semi-hidden context appears less purely functional. To stretch the term a little, the component is no longer idempotent. Maybe there's a situation where that's what you want, but the examples you've given so far sound like ones where props would serve just fine.

link
brianvaughn 3002 days ago
Yes, but then that prop would need to be passed down explicitly through every component. This would require a _lot_ of boilerplate.
link
brlewis 3002 days ago
OK, it just boils down to me thinking one explicit prop for every component isn't too much boilerplate. I can see some teams liking the idea of shaving off that explicit prop as long as everybody knows about the implicit context(s) that also affect component behavior.
link
brianvaughn 3002 days ago
> s everybody knows about the implicit context(s) that also affect component behavior.

Just in case there's any misunderstanding- (I don't think there is, but just being safe)- context isn't implicit. You have to opt into it either by using the `<Consumer>` component or a HOC that injects a context prop.

link
BigJono 3002 days ago
In my experience, examples are only useful if they have two points of comparison side by side.

For example if I'm looking into a new library that claims to simplify my app's architecture or reduce boilerplate, I need to see what the alternative would look like for a given example, otherwise it's just a baseless claim.

Same as things that purportedly "scale". Since every library under the sun claims that as a benefit, I wouldn't even bother recommending any of them to anyone on here without an example of a large app both with and without the library, pointing out the specific sections of code that change for the better.

link