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Vue.js V/s Next.js: Choosing the right one for web app development
JavaScript frameworks are now vital for web app development. Many companies struggle to choose between Next.JS and Vue.JS for their projects. Both Vue.js and Next.js are similar in many ways. But with subtle differences and nuances between the two, it’s necessary to understand how they differ from each other, and which one is better suited for building a specific kind of application.
In this article, we’ll compare these two popular frameworks to determine which one is the best option for developing your next web application.
What is Vue.js?
Vue.js, also known as Vue, is a JavaScript-based framework developed by Evan You and released in 2014. It was initially intended to build single-page applications (also known as SPAs) and user interface (UI). However, the variety of applications for Vue.js has grown substantially over time. Vue.js is adaptable. This framework performs brilliantly in every context, whether you use Vue.js for app development or for web development. It is widely considered as one of the best frameworks for asynchronous server-side rendering.
Pros of Vue.js
There are several benefits of adopting Vue.js, which should motivate developers to utilize it in their projects. Vue.js is similar to Angular and React in many ways, and it is gaining popularity compared to other frameworks. The framework is only 20 kilobytes in size, making it easy for developers to obtain data quickly. In reality, Vue.js easily surpasses other frameworks in terms of load times and consumption.
1) Simplicity
The main objective of Vue.js development is to achieve good outcomes with as little effort as possible so that the user can code using only a few lines. Vue.js is especially ideal for dealing with components since it has a low overhead because single-file components may hold all of the code, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, in a single file.
2) Size
One of the most significant advantages of adopting Vue.js is its small size, with a production-ready build project weighing 20KB after min+gzip. Size is incomparable to all other frameworks, including Angular, ReactJS, and jQuery.
3) Integration
Vue’s accessible, flexible, and performant nature enables developers to build unique, stable and tested apps. It can develop both SPA(single-page application) and highly complex web apps since developers can incorporate smaller portions into the current infrastructure without disrupting the overall system.
4) Easy Development
It is usual to make errors when developing an application. What matters most is how quickly you can identify and correct errors. Vue.js accomplishes the same thing. Vue offers a primary framework that allows developers to develop small to large-scale templates and catch or trace error blocks. You may also save a lot of time while designing the templates.
5) Reactivity
Data binding between JavaScript and HTML has been a difficult task due to a reactive functionality provided by Vue.js that allows you two-way data binding. As a result, if there is a change in the data, the DOM updates as well. The framework performs excellently when building SPAs (Single Page Applications) and real-time applications.
Cons of Vue.js
The Vue.js framework might appear excellent for specific development tasks, but it has several disadvantages also. Vue.js has a few limitations that we think are worth mentioning.
1) Small Community
Vue was first released in 2014 so, it is still extremely new and evolving rapidly. As a result, it isn’t as we,ll-known as competing frameworks like React and Angular. However, because the framework was built by a Chinese firm, most of the code is written in Chinese. That causes some problems for English-speaking users. The majority of the community members are non-English speakers, even if in small numbers, that may be unsupportive.
2) Lack of Plugins
Compared to Angular or React, Vue.js has far fewer plugins. Developers can’t fully rely on Vue due to a lack of regularly used plugins. Hence, this is a significant consideration. Developers have to constantly switch to other languages to acquire the help they need.
3) Lack of Support
Vue.js is a new programming language with a small developer community. Similarly, Vue.js’ development team is small, implying that the platform will take some time to gain corporate support. As of 2018, the framework’s development is unrelated to corporate interests; as a result, any modifications to the existing framework rely heavily on community feedback.
What is Next.js?
Next.js is a JavaScript framework that allows you to create fast and user-friendly static websites and React-based web applications. It is a server-side rendering framework that enables you to create SEO-friendly applications with tiny configuration. SEO Meta tags can be assigned on the server on server-side rendering before returning to the client. This allows search engines to crawl the data without running any JavaScript. Hence, it is ideal for blogs and news websites. It is also a universal JavaScript framework for server-rendered applications. It provides the user with the smallest possible API surface residing on top of React, making app and website development more comfortable and less time-consuming.
Pros of Next.js
1) Server-side rendering
Server-side rendering and static generation are the two forms of pre-rendering available in Next.js. The first one creates HTML for each request, ensuring that the data is constantly updated. On the other hand, the latter generates HTML at build time, allowing CDNs to cache it. As a result, static generation should only be used in applications where data isn’t likely to change frequently.
2) Image Optimization
Assume you have a 3 MB image on your website and you want to access it from devices with various screen sizes and viewports, such as computers, smartphones, and tablets. The image would still be 3 MB if you had used a standard “img” element and used CSS to resize it. However, one of Next.js’s benefits is automated image optimization. The Next.js component “next/image” enables optimizing, resizing, and serving images in formats such as Webp. This optimization guarantees that the file size decreases when the viewport size decreases.
3) Data Security
Websites built using NextJS are static, which means there is no direct link to the database, dependencies, user data, or other sensitive information. This ensures data security.
4) Typescript
Although TypeScript can always be added to a React.js project, Next.js supports it from the start, which is helpful since it adds static types to JavaScript code and offers error indications.
Cons of Next.js
1) Additional Configuration
Some plugins may not be compatible with server-side rendering, requiring extra configurations to make it work. For example, if you wish to import a library that only works in browsers, you have to use the Next.js component “next/Dynamic” to import the library only on the client.
2) It’s Opinionated
NextJS can only utilize its file-based router; you can’t change how it handles routes. As a result, if you wish to use dynamic routes, you will require a Node.js server.
3) Lack of built-in state manager
Like React.js, Next.js has no built-in state manager, thus you have to install libraries like Redux.js or MobX manually.
The Final Verdict
Vue.js and Next.js are both excellent frameworks for creating interactive user interfaces. You must consider several factors when deciding which one is best for your next project, including your unique use case, business goals, environment, developer availability, budget, and timeframe.
We hope this article has helped you select between NextJS and Vue.js for your next project. Remember that both of these are excellent tools for developing user interfaces. There is no clear winner – for some use cases, NextJS is best, while for others, Vue.js is best.
