Fresh vs. SolidJS

What is Fresh?

Fresh is a full-stack web framework for Deno that prioritizes zero JavaScript by default and leverages the islands architecture. Instead of hydrating entire pages, Fresh delivers static HTML and only hydrates isolated, interactive "islands" where needed.

Fresh is originally designed for modern edge computing with Deno Deploy, has no build step, and relies on native ES modules and TypeScript. It’s ideal for fast, lightweight, SEO-friendly apps with minimal complexity.

Key Features of Fresh

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• Zero JS by Default: Ships no JavaScript unless components explicitly need interactivity.
• Islands Architecture: Interactive components exist in isolated islands for optimal performance.
• SSR & Streaming: Server-rendered HTML with support for streaming.
• Edge Native: Optimized for Deno Deploy and edge hosting.
• TypeScript-first: Built-in TypeScript support without config.
• No Build Step: Instant reloads, no bundling or transpiling.

Advantages of Fresh

• Ultra-lightweight Performance: Minimal JS means faster load times.
• No Build Step: Faster developer iteration; you write, refresh, and go.
• Edge-Optimized: Runs seamlessly on Deno Deploy with serverless scaling.
• Modern Standards: Uses ES modules, TypeScript, and Web APIs directly.
• Simple DX: File-based routing, components, and islands make development intuitive.

Disadvantages of Fresh

• Deno Only: Requires Deno runtime, limiting adoption among Node.js developers.
• Smaller Ecosystem: Fewer third-party libraries and integrations.
• Early Stage: Still maturing, not as widely adopted as Next.js.
• Custom Solutions: Some features like authentication or CMS integrations need manual setup.

What is SolidJS?

SolidJS is a modern reactive JavaScript library for building fast, declarative user interfaces. Inspired by React, it focuses on fine-grained reactivity and compiles templates to efficient JavaScript code, making applications both lightweight and performant.

Unlike React, SolidJS doesn’t use a virtual DOM. Instead, it updates only the parts of the DOM that change, resulting in better performance and smaller bundle sizes.

Key Features of SolidJS

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• Fine-grained reactivity: Updates DOM precisely where needed, without re-rendering entire components.
• JSX support: Uses JSX syntax, making it easy for React developers to learn.
• No Virtual DOM: Direct DOM updates for better performance and lower memory usage.
• Small bundle size: Lightweight, leading to faster load times.
• Component-based: Similar to React, it uses reusable, composable components.
• TypeScript support: First-class TypeScript support for type safety.
• Simple learning curve: Easy for developers familiar with React or modern frontend frameworks.

Advantages of SolidJS

• Performance: Outperforms most frameworks thanks to fine-grained reactivity and DOM compilation.
• React-Like Syntax: Easy for React developers to adopt.
• Small & Lightweight: Tiny runtime with minimal overhead.
• Flexible State Management: Built-in signals and stores reduce the need for external libraries.
• SSR Ready: Great for SEO-driven apps like blogs or e-commerce.

Disadvantages of SolidJS

• Smaller Ecosystem: Fewer libraries, tools, and community packages compared to React or Vue.
• Learning Curve: React developers may need to unlearn Virtual DOM patterns.
• Evolving Framework: Still relatively young, so some integrations (like CMS or UI libraries) may require custom solutions.
• Smaller Community: Less support and fewer tutorials compared to React.