[Koha-devel] To React or not to React

[Kyle Hall]

On Mon, Sep 19, 2016 at 8:33 AM, Philippe Blouin <
philippe.blouin at inlibro.com> wrote:

> Can I not be against, yet still have concerns?  :)
>
> I'm glad you so gallantly dumped Angular, which I would have raised my
> hand Against since that thing obsolete past code every 6 months.  But I do
> not know React.  Could you sell me more the big plusses to do that.  What
> will it replace, do you have an example?  What about all the code waiting
> approval right now, will it become obsolete because non-Reactive ?
>

The big plus of React is that it really does allow quick development of
very nice widgets that can be used and re-used. React is also a view layer
only and does not throw everything and the kitchen sink in like Angular
does. React does not obsolete any existing code, but it can be used to
augment existing features and for new features wherever we want to use it!

>
> All the big previous changes (bootstrap, dbix...) were not without pain,
> espeicially for those outside the core, not coding these technologies 24/7.
>
> And how do you see React evolving in the next 5 years?  Keeping up with
> bootstrap requires huge effort (if/when we upgrade).
>

React has a nice simple, stable api at this point. I cannot say what it
will be in 5 years, but I can say that what is now will not limit us in the
future. It does what we need it to do right now.


>
> Again, I know little.  Please don't ask me if I'm against, but give me
> your big sales pitch. :)
>

Of course! I have learned how to use React and Angular both just as for
potential use in Koha. A direct comparison of them *for Koha* tells me that
React is far better suited for our uses.

Kyle


>
> Cheers,
>
> Philippe Blouin,
> Responsable du développement informatique
>
> Tél.  : (888) 604-2627
> philippe.blouin at inLibro.com
> inLibro | pour esprit libre | www.inLibro.com
> On 09/19/2016 08:18 AM, Kyle Hall wrote:
>
> Thanks for the feedback Stefano!
>
> Please, if anybody is *against* the use of React in Koha, please voice
> your concerns!
>
> Kyle
>
>
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> http://www.kylehall.info
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> Meadville Public Library ( <http://www.meadvillelibrary.org>
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>
> On Fri, Sep 16, 2016 at 9:50 AM, Stefano Bargioni < <bargioni at pusc.it>
> bargioni at pusc.it> wrote:
>
>> My +1 for React. Angular requires a specific skill, other than Javascript.
>> Stefano
>>
>> On 15 set 2016, at 19:22, Kyle Hall < <kyle.m.hall at gmail.com>
>> kyle.m.hall at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I have my proof of concept for using React within Koha completed! You
>> can see it here:
>> <https://bugs.koha-community.org/bugzilla3/show_bug.cgi?id=17297>
>> https://bugs.koha-community.org/bugzilla3/show_bug.cgi?id=17297
>>
>> Please give it a try!
>>
>> So, I've written this development ( at least in part ) in both Angular
>> and React. I know Angular 2 is out but here are my thoughts so far.
>>
>> 1) It's much easier to think in React than in Angular. React is for the
>> most part just Javascript. It's far less opinionated than Angular. They
>> saying goes React is Javascript and Angular is Angular. I think the
>> flexibility of React works well within the Koha ecosystem.
>>
>> 2) Writing React feels much more like programming. I think it's much
>> faster to develop reactive and ajax features in React than it is using
>> jQuery.
>>
>> 3) React makes it pretty easy to create widgets that we can drop in to a
>> given page and have just work. Pretty much anything that shows up on
>> multiple pages would make for a good React widget. Think the holds table
>> which is on the checkouts page and the patron details page. It is ajaxified
>> now, but a far far cleaner version could be written in React.
>>
>> 4) React is just a view layer. Angular is a full MVC framework with many
>> pieces we don't really need.
>>
>> I think React is probably the way to go for Koha. I like Angular but for
>> Koha in particular, I think React is a better fit. I think we really
>> need to get this decision made as soon as possible. If anyone has opinions,
>> please let everyone know!
>>
>> Kyle
>>
>>
>> http://www.kylehall.info
>> ByWater Solutions ( <http://bywatersolutions.com/>
>> http://bywatersolutions.com )
>> Meadville Public Library ( <http://www.meadvillelibrary.org/>
>> http://www.meadvillelibrary.org )
>> Crawford County Federated Library System ( <http://www.ccfls.org/>
>> http://www.ccfls.org )
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>
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