Inferno is a fast and lightweight JavaScript library for building user interfaces. It is designed to have a similar API to React but with a focus on performance optimization. Inferno boasts a small footprint and efficient rendering, making it ideal for high-performance applications where speed is crucial. It provides features like virtual DOM, server-side rendering, and lifecycle methods for building interactive UI components.
SolidJS is a declarative JavaScript library for building user interfaces. It focuses on performance and developer experience by using fine-grained reactive updates to efficiently render components. SolidJS leverages a reactive paradigm similar to React, but with a smaller bundle size and faster runtime performance. It also provides a simple API for creating composable and reusable components.
Inferno has been around for longer and has gained a moderate level of popularity in the JavaScript community. SolidJS, on the other hand, is a relatively new library but has been gaining attention and popularity due to its unique approach and performance benefits.
Size
SolidJS is known for its small bundle size and lightweight nature. It focuses on minimalism and aims to provide a highly optimized rendering performance. Inferno is also lightweight but may have a slightly larger bundle size compared to SolidJS.
Performance
Both Inferno and SolidJS are known for their excellent performance. Inferno was specifically designed to have a similar API to React but with better performance. SolidJS takes a different approach by using fine-grained reactivity and a virtual DOM diffing algorithm, resulting in highly efficient rendering and updates.
Developer Experience
Inferno has a similar API to React, making it easier for React developers to transition to Inferno. It also has good documentation and community support. SolidJS has a unique API that leverages reactive programming concepts, which may require a learning curve for developers new to this paradigm. However, it offers a refreshing and powerful development experience once mastered.
Ecosystem and Compatibility
React has a vast ecosystem with a wide range of libraries, tools, and community support. It is widely adopted and compatible with various frameworks and libraries. Inferno, being React-like, can also leverage some of the React ecosystem. SolidJS, being a newer library, has a smaller ecosystem but is compatible with most existing JavaScript libraries and frameworks.
Maintenance and Future
Both Inferno and SolidJS are actively maintained by their respective communities. Inferno has been around for a longer time and has a more established user base. SolidJS, being newer, is actively developed and has a growing community. Both libraries have a promising future, but Inferno may have a slight advantage in terms of stability and maturity.
