Remix and React Router Merger: The TanStack Shift

The merger of Remix and React Router v7 has sparked a debate among developers, with some choosing to migrate to TanStack as an alternative.

The Remix-React Router Integration

Meta-frameworks like Remix are tightly coupled with their routers. Remix's integration with React Router v7, while streamlining the framework, has caused dissatisfaction among some developers.

The Rise of TanStack

Many developers are moving to the TanStack router and its associated framework, citing dissatisfaction with the Remix/React Router integration. This highlights the importance of router choice in the developer experience.

Routers and Meta-Frameworks: A Deep Dive

Meta-frameworks provide additional features and structure for building complex web applications. Routers are a crucial component, managing navigation without full-page reloads. The increasing capabilities of build tools like Vite are shifting how meta-frameworks and routers are built and integrated.

Mark Dalgleish from the React Router core team discussed how the Remix and React Router's close integration and Vite's evolution have led to Remix becoming essentially a React Router extension. This raises the question of whether the indirection is necessary.

React Router's Widespread Use

While Remix's adoption is relatively low (3% according to the State of JavaScript 2024 survey), React Router's methodologies are widely used in existing React applications. This means the Remix/React Router changes have widespread implications.

Negative Feedback and Alternatives

Some developers express strong disapproval of the Remix/React Router integration, describing it as self-sabotage that negatively impacts documentation, branding, SEO, and support. TanStack Router is presented as a strong alternative, though it has its own set of issues to address.

TanStack's Perspective

Tanner Linsley, the creator of TanStack, acknowledges TanStack Start is in beta and clarifies its architecture, emphasizing its Vite integration and server-side rendering capabilities.

The Impact of Vite

Vite's evolving capabilities, especially the experimental Environment API, are significantly influencing the development and evolution of meta-frameworks built upon it.

Conclusion

The Remix and React Router merger has created a ripple effect in the JavaScript ecosystem, highlighting the dynamic nature of the JavaScript framework landscape and the importance of router choice for developers.