Head-to-Head: Emotion vs Windi CSS Analysis

@emotion/css

v11.13.0(7 days ago)

This package is actively maintained.Types definitions are bundled with the npm packageNumber of direct dependencies: 5Monthly npm downloads

@emotion/css is a popular CSS-in-JS library that allows developers to style their components using JavaScript. It provides a powerful and flexible way to manage styles by enabling the use of template literals for writing CSS directly within JavaScript code. @emotion/css offers features like nested selectors, global styles, and theming support, making it easy to create dynamic and responsive styles for web applications.

Alternatives:
styled-components+
linaria+
goober+
stitches+
twin.macro+
emotion+
@emotion/react+
aphrodite+
glamor+
styletron+

Tags: css-in-jsstylingjavascriptreactive-stylestheming

windicss

v3.5.6(about 2 years ago)

This package was last published over a year ago. It may not be actively maintained.Types definitions are bundled with the npm packageNumber of direct dependencies: 0Monthly npm downloads

Windicss is a utility-first CSS framework that aims to optimize your CSS by removing unused styles and reducing the overall file size. It provides a set of utility classes that can be used to style your components without writing custom CSS. Windicss is highly customizable and allows you to configure the framework to include only the styles you need, resulting in a more efficient and lightweight CSS output.

Alternatives:
tailwindcss+
tachyons+
bootstrap+
bulma+
foundation-sites+
semantic-ui-css+
uikit+
primer-css+
skeleton+
purecss+

Tags: cssframeworkutility-firstoptimizationcustomizable

Fight!

Popularity

Both @emotion/css and WindiCSS are popular choices in the JavaScript community. However, @emotion/css is more widely used and has gained significant popularity due to its integration with popular UI libraries like React and Vue.

CSS-in-JS vs Utility-First

The main difference between @emotion/css and WindiCSS is their approach to styling. @emotion/css is a CSS-in-JS library that allows you to write CSS styles in JavaScript, providing a more dynamic and component-centric approach. On the other hand, WindiCSS is a utility-first CSS library that focuses on providing pre-defined utility classes for rapid development and a compact CSS output.

Bundle Size

When it comes to bundle size, @emotion/css can result in larger bundle sizes as it generates CSS during runtime. WindiCSS, being a utility-first library, results in smaller bundle sizes as it generates optimized CSS during build time.

Developer Experience

Both libraries have good developer experiences, but they differ in their usage and tooling. @emotion/css provides a familiar CSS syntax within JavaScript, allowing you to use variables, nesting, and other CSS features. WindiCSS, with its utility-first approach, provides a concise syntax for adding utility classes, which can speed up development. It also offers integration with popular tools like Tailwind CSS and Vite.

Compatibility

Both libraries are compatible with modern frameworks like React and Vue. However, @emotion/css has stronger integration and more community support within the React ecosystem. WindiCSS, being a utility-first library, can be used with any JavaScript framework or even vanilla HTML/CSS.

Community and Documentation

Both libraries have active communities and provide good documentation. However, @emotion/css has a larger and more established community due to its integration with popular UI libraries. It also has extensive documentation and resources available.