This new JS framework wants you to quit React…

Overview

This episode dives into the new TypeScript UI framework, RippleJS, exploring its features, origins, and potential impact on web development. It also touches on the evolution of JavaScript frameworks and the role of AI in coding workflows.

Notable Quotes

- Nowadays, if someone tells you they made a new UI framework, you should ignore them and call McGruff the crime dog because they're probably on DMT conversing telepathically with machine elves about button hover states in the seventh dimension.

- Ripple looks like the love child of Svelte and React with a hint of infidelity with SolidJS.

- With fine-grain rendering, Ripple will surgically apply any mutations it needs to the DOM.

🕰️ The Nostalgia of JavaScript Fatigue

- Reflects on the good old days of JavaScript development, humorously recalling trends like JavaScript fatigue and the overwhelming number of frameworks.

- Highlights how developers once joked about quitting tech for simpler jobs due to the rapid pace of new tools and libraries.

👨‍💻 Dominic Gannaway: The Mind Behind RippleJS

- Dominic Gannaway gained recognition with Inferno, a fast React alternative, which led to his role on Facebook's React core team in 2016.

- Later joined Vercel to work on Svelte's core team in 2023, before branching out to create RippleJS.

- His experience with both React and Svelte uniquely positioned him to design RippleJS, blending the strengths of both frameworks.

⚡ RippleJS: A New TypeScript Framework

- RippleJS is a compiler-driven view library based on a superset of JSX, combining elements of React, Svelte, and SolidJS.

- Features include:

- JSX-like syntax with the ability to write statements (e.g., if statements, for loops) directly in templates.

- Scoped and localized CSS styling using the style element.

- Fine-grain rendering for efficient DOM updates using a track function and @ syntax for reactivity.

- Comes with robust tooling support, including Prettier, ESLint, a VS Code extension, and full TypeScript integration.

🤖 The Role of AI in Coding: Kiro IDE

- Introduces Kiro, an AI-powered IDE by AWS designed for large, complex projects.

- Key features include:

- Spec-driven development starting with a requirements file to define user stories and acceptance criteria.

- Automated design docs for architecture planning and testing strategies.

- Agent hooks for automating repetitive tasks, such as updating documentation.

- Especially beneficial for teams prioritizing design documentation and consistent code quality.