React vs. Svelte | Which One to Learn First?

If you read my articles before, I am a self-taught front-end developer without any CS or BootCamp degrees. I started to share my learning journey and you can read it here. In this article, I will share my opinions about one of the most popular questions, “Which JS framework to learn first?”. But mostly, I will go through React and Svelte, because I am working on both of them at my job, but not others.

When we talk about the Front-End, there are new technologies almost every day. Of course, it’s so scary if you still don’t know what to learn at first. In this journey, I learned that every one of us has been here. So, whenever you feel you don’t know what to do, you are not alone.

Which Front-End Framework to Learn First?

I am a jr. front-end developer and in this journey, I tried to learn different technologies too many times. But if I learned something today, do not think too much. Just do it! When you start to think, it will not be going to end. Just learn one of them, which is more interesting for you. And don’t be “someone who knows React/Svelte/Vue”, be a front-end developer.

I see in the sector, people are learning some technologies and being a fan of them. It’s totally wrong. If you are writing with React today, you may need to write in Angular tomorrow, and if you understand the logic behind them, it’s only about Googling the syntax.

But, the truth is, in the sector, most of the companies have projects that already started and the project probably started with React. So, of course, you can start to learn React first to get a job faster. But anyway, do not be a “React knower”, try to understand the logic behind it and be a front-end developer.

Differences Between React and Svelte

When React was released from Facebook (firmly Meta) in 2013, Svelte was released from Rick Harris in 2016. Both of them are open source and both of them are free. React has a great community and developer team because it’s used by Meta for Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and so on. Also, if you learn React, you can develop mobile UIs with a small learning path with React Native.

Also, React has something named Virtual DOM. You can think like it’s a copy of the page. And, the copy and the original pages synchronize. When something changes on Virtual DOM, synchrony is checking the differences and the user sees only changes where they happened. So, you don’t need to refresh the page to see if you have a new message from your crush on Facebook or not.

But what uncle Rick Harris is against is totally about this Virtual DOM. So, Svelte doesn’t have one. Actually, Svelte just compiling your code to vanilla JavaScript. So in the end, you are not using any extra tools or any dependencies and it helps you to get your website or web app so much faster.

Which companies use Svelte?

There are already enough companies that use Svelte to get a job with it. Major companies such as Yahoo, Bloomberg, Apple, The New York Times, Square, Spotify, Ikea, and more use Svelte on their websites. Companies prefer Svelte because it converts the app’s code to ideal JavaScript code. Thus, framework abstractions do not hamper the performance of apps written in Svelte.

Which companies use React?

As it’s released by Meta, successful organizations like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp Web, Shopify, Discord, Skype and Pinterest use React to develop their interfaces.

Due to the availability of a large number of developer globally who writes React, companies prefer React to create the front-end part of their websites. Also, new developers learning React because most of the sector use React on their projects. So, it’s kinda paradox for now.

So what?

I will write mostly the same things here. Do not be a “React/Vue/Svelte/Angular knower”. Be a “Front-end developer”. It will be easier for you. If you can’t change the framework when it’s needed, then you are not a front-end developer, you are a coder who knows the syntax of React.

If you have any opposite ideas, please do not hesitate to write them in the comments. I respect all ideas, so I will read all comments. See you at the next one! Also, if you think the content is useful, you can support me through tips below 😇.