With the rise of single-page applications and complex web development process, JavaScript frameworks has become an essential tool for web developers. There are various JS frameworks, but two popular options are ReactJS & Mithril, but here the question arises which one is the best suited for your next project? In this blog, we’ll compare these frameworks based on several factors which will help you make an informed decision.

Table of Contents

ReactJS vs Mithril: An overview

ReactJS

Developed and maintained by Facebook, React.js has become a powerhouse in the world of front-end development. Known for its declarative syntax and component-based architecture, react simplifies the way interactive user interfaces are created. Its virtual DOM efficiently updates only necessary elements, optimizing performance and providing a seamless user experience.

React.js boasts a rich ecosystem with many third-party libraries, tools, and supported communities. Developers appreciate its flexibility, allowing React to seamlessly integrate into existing projects. While the initial learning curve is steep, it pays off in terms of performance and maintainability over time.

Mithril

Mithril, a small, modest JavaScript framework, is on the other end of the spectrum. Mithril’s design philosophy is based on simplicity and functionality. It is weighing in at just a few kilobytes, and its compact size makes it a popular choice for projects requiring a small footprint.

Mithril emphasizes assembly over design, simplifying the development process and reducing boilerplate code. Despite having a smaller community compared to React, Mithril has dedicated users who value its speed and functionality.

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ReactJS vs Mithril: Competitive Analysis

Following are the key difference between ReactJS vs Mithril.

Learning Curve

ReactJS has a steep learning curve. To write React components, developers need to know ES6 syntax, JSX, and other concepts. But the React API itself is easy to pick up. As mentioned earlier, there are also many teaching tools.

Mithril has a relatively easy learning curve. JSX is not needed – the components are written in plain JavaScript. The Mithril API and framework follow the general pattern that most JavaScript developers take for granted. Compared to React, you need to know little to be productive.

Popularity & Community Support

ReactJS is much more usable than Mithril and benefits from strong community support. It has become one of the most popular JavaScript libraries. Many React resources are online to help with development, such as tutorials, Stack Overflow answers, and extensions. Many developers are familiar with React from prior work.

The Mithrils are still on the rise. Resources are becoming more limited. Sometimes finding help online can be difficult. But framework designer Leo Hori has been active in support. Mithril might work best for smaller solo businesses where community is less important.

Performance

Both React and Mithril get better performance using the virtual DOM. This allows the UI to be efficiently updated by batching changes. Mithril claims to work relatively well with a small virtual DOM implementation. In some use cases, benchmarks have shown them to be smaller and faster. However, react performance improvements like Memoization help close the gap. To leverage the react performance optimization in reactjs application hire reactjs developers who are proficient in state management.

For most applications of the difference in performance between the two systems is minimal. The speed benefits of virtual DOM and intelligent state management will be similar in both React and Mithril. Performance shouldn’t be a priority unless you’re building highly dynamic, data-driven UIs.

File Size

Mithril has the distinct advantage of the small file size of these systems. The truncated Mithril script comes to about 15kb. On the other hand, a minified React library is about 120kb. Many apps will also use the React DOM library for another 100kb or more. The difference is huge, with a 10x larger overall payload for React vs Mithril.

The initial script download size is less important for web applications served primarily over high-speed Wi-Fi connections. But it’s still a consideration, especially on mobile devices on slower networks. Smaller files can translate into higher load times, which is important for user experience. If the goal is to serve lightweight experiences, Mithril offers customization out of the box.

Styling Approaches

React encourages the use of CSS-in-JS solutions like Styled Components to handle styles. This allows CSS to be saved in parts for reuse and separation. Traditional external CSS stylesheets can be used, but CSS-in-JS is very compatible with the React component architecture.

Mithril doesn’t specify any style of styling. Developers often use traditional CSS style sheets for Mithril apps. Inline styles or CSS modules are also an option for components in scoping CSS.

CSS-in-JS offers some advantages but is not standardized compared to normal CSS. Mithril can offer a low barrier to entry for developers who prefer traditional stylesheet development.

Server-Side Rendering Capabilities

In large web applications, server-side rendering (SSR) for performance and SEO is often required. Both frameworks support SSR, although there are some key differences.

Thanks to Next.js, a popular React framework purpose-built for SSR, React provides robust SSR. Correct issues like status/data hydration after initial render. React-specific SSR packages like ReactDOMServer are also available. The SSR comes very helpful out of the box.

Mithril relies on common Node server-side libraries for SSR. Mithril parts can easily be rendered in threads on the server, but the developer must handle the hydration and send the client rendering to Mithril. There is very little SSR-specific support compared to the React ecosystem like Next.js.

Both systems can accommodate simple SSR requirements. In terms of scale, React’s SSR support shines thanks to the tools around it.

When to Use ReactJS

Following are the scenarios where you use ReactJS

Building large complex projects with dynamic data flows and lots of UI interactions. React is best suited for ambitious, data-driven applications.
Applications with community support, more packages, and tutorials are useful. React has a great ecosystem.
Apps that require server-side rendering. React has excellent SSR support through Next.js.
React or teams with experienced developers with React as the established codebase. Uses existing React knowledge.
Budget is not the main obstacle. The React ecosystem provides advantages but comes with increasing dependencies and development costs.

When to Use Mithril

Some of the scenarios where mithril works well

Creating small applications where performance and file size are important. Mithril excels in speed and size.
Mocking up an MVP or prototype quickly and easily for improvement is key. Mithril has a lower course.
Solo developers or small teams where community support is less important. Mithril community is small.
Budget-related services. Mithril is an inexpensive framework with a small footprint.
Applications primarily targeting mobile devices. Mithril’s small size benefits mobile.
Hire JavaScript Developers who prefer traditional CSS over CSS-in-JS solutions. Mithril is no stranger when it comes to style.
For experienced JavaScript developers but not yet experienced with frameworks. Mithril is easy to pick up.

Conclusion

As we come to the end, we will activate the insights gained throughout the journey. Should you resort to the feature-rich embrace of React.js, succumbing to the limited allure of Mithril, or maybe find a harmonious balance by using both in your project in the various parts of the? The decision is pending, but ultimately the choice rests in the hands of the architect, you—the web developer.