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by otras 2897 days ago
I use React and TypeScript.

I'm very productive with React, but I've also had a lot of practice with the React style of thinking (data passed down from parents, state management, JSX syntax). There are tools that make your life easier, like create-react-app[0], that let you focus on learning the framework and not worry about the process (webpack, babel, etc.).

When learning something new, especially when there are so many ever-changing tools for front end work, I'm a fan of limiting the scope of new material to just the thing I'm focused on understanding. Similarly, you'll see React and Redux as a unit nearly everywhere, but it's worth it to work with and learn React on its own before adding the additional learning curve of Redux. I find it's important to understand the problem a tool is solving before adopting that tool. Kind of like building a web app without a framework to understand why it's helpful!

I also use TypeScript, but not to make me more productive in the short-term. It actually takes a little more time for the initial development, but I view it as a worthy investment that benefits the next person to work with the code, be it another developer or me in a few months.

[0] https://github.com/facebook/create-react-app

1 comments

Same here. I went from front end when Angular was starting to pop up, but Angular never really clicked with me for some reason. I went into backend and platform development. Popped my head back into front end development recently. React is just such a pleasure to work with and exactly the way I've always wanted to be able to build front ends. (This sounds kinda dramatic, but it's true...)
Hi,

Any link you'd suggest for a starter in UI who wants to start with React JS and has worked always in backend (PHP / DB / OS stuff when developing)?

I am aware of JS and do minor contributions to libraries but those are very basic level (compared to what library of the size of ReactJS)