web devhot takesframeworks

Hot Take: You Don't Need That Framework

Alex••3 min read

The Framework Industrial Complex

Every week there's a new JavaScript framework promising to solve all your problems. Astro, SolidJS, Qwik, Svelte 5, the list goes on.

And look, they're all impressive. The engineering is incredible. But can we be honest for a second?

You probably don't need any of them.

The Real Problem

Developers love shiny new tools. It's not even our fault - we're wired this way. New framework drops, Twitter goes crazy, you feel FOMO, you rebuild your portfolio for the 47th time.

But here's what nobody wants to admit: The framework isn't the problem. Your app isn't slow because you're using React instead of Solid. Your startup didn't fail because you picked Vue over Svelte.

What Actually Matters

// This is fast enough for 99% of apps
function TodoList({ todos }) {
  return (
    <ul>
      {todos.map((todo) => (
        <li key={todo.id}>{todo.text}</li>
      ))}
    </ul>
  );
}

No virtual DOM optimization. No fine-grained reactivity. No compiler magic. Just... working code.

When Frameworks Matter (Spoiler: Rarely)

You need a specialized framework if:

  • You're building the next Figma (you're not)
  • You have 10M+ users with actual performance issues (you don't)
  • You're working on a team with specific requirements (maybe)

For everyone else? Pick boring technology and ship features.

The Boring Stack is Undefeated

My hot take stack for 2024:

  • Next.js: It's boring now, which means it works
  • Tailwind: Write CSS without writing CSS
  • TypeScript: Because JavaScript without types is anxiety
  • Postgres: Relational databases still hit different

Nothing bleeding edge. Nothing that requires explaining in interviews. Just tools that work.

But What About Performance?

"But my React app is 300kb!"

Cool. You know what's slower than a 300kb bundle?

  • Not shipping
  • Premature optimization
  • Rewriting your entire app in a new framework

Ship first. Optimize later. If you actually get users (most don't), THEN worry about bundle size.

The Real Speed Optimization

Want your app to feel fast? Here's the actual playbook:

  1. Use server-side rendering
  2. Lazy load what you can
  3. Optimize images (seriously, just do this)
  4. Add loading states
  5. Ship features people want

Notice how "rewrite in Rust" isn't on that list?

Stop Framework Hopping

I've wasted MONTHS of my life rewriting projects in new frameworks. Every time thinking "this is the one."

Spoiler: It never is. The framework doesn't matter. Your execution does.

Pick something stable, learn it deeply, and build things people want. That's it. That's the tweet.

When You Should Try New Things

Don't get me wrong - experiment! Learn new frameworks! It's fun and you'll grow as a developer.

Just don't confuse learning with shipping. Side projects are for trying Bun and Deno. Production apps are for boring, stable tech.

The Truth

The best framework is the one you can ship with today. Not the one you'll spend next month learning.

Stop optimizing for Twitter clout. Start optimizing for users. Pick Next.js, build something cool, and move on with your life.

The framework wars are a distraction. While everyone's debating reactivity models, someone else is shipping features and getting users.

Don't be the person with takes. Be the person with products. 📦

Share this post: