Research done by Marielle
Not every day, the tech industry gets buzzed with new technologies. Why? Because they pop up like crazy. However, only a few of them have gained significant traction, and Svelte is one of them.
What exactly is Svelte? And what makes it stand out from the rest? This article will give you everything you need to know about the Svelte framework.
What is Svelte?
Svelte is a new approach to web application development. This relatively new framework offers a fresh way to build web applications. It is often praised for its innovative concepts and unique features.
At its core, Svelte is a game-changing framework that goes beyond the ordinary. It works its magic by compiling your code into efficient JavaScript during the build process, transforming declarative components into code that surgically updates the DOM.
Since its beta release in 2001, Svelte has quickly become the darling of the developer community, earning the title of the “most loved JavaScript framework.” Unlike other monolithic libraries, Svelte takes a different path. It compiles HTML templates to specialized code that directly manipulates the DOM, resulting in smaller file sizes and superior client performance.
But that’s not all! Svelte’s compiler doesn’t stop at just optimizing your code. It also inserts clever calls to automatically recompute data and re-render UI elements whenever the underlying data changes. This ingenious technique eliminates the overhead associated with runtime intermediate representations like the virtual DOM, unlike traditional frameworks like React and Vue. In fact, Svelte’s bundle footprint is one of the smallest among comparable frontend libraries, weighing in at a mere 2KB.
Benefits of Svelte
Svelte offers several benefits that make it stand out from other front-end frameworks. Here are some of them:
Ease of use
Instead of doing most of the heavy lifting in the browser, Svelte does its thing when you build the app and compile it to efficient vanilla JavaScript.
Fast turnaround
It cuts down on the unnecessary overhead of the JavaScript framework you’re using. When you compile Svelte to vanilla JavaScript, it boosts code readability, allows for re-use, and makes your web app much faster.
Efficient DOM manipulation
Svelte does not require declarative, state-driven code, which the browser has to convert into DOM operations. That means you don’t need to use virtual DOM anymore.
Downsides of Svelte
If you want to build Svelte apps, you have to know its limitations. Some of them are:
New and small community
The Svelte ecosystem, while growing, is still smaller compared to more established frameworks. This leads to fewer third-party libraries and resources.
Risky to use in large-scale projects
Some larger organizations might hesitate to adopt a newer framework like Svelte due to its relative novelty.
Steep learning curve
Although Svelte is easier to pick up compared to other frameworks, it might still feel challenging for those who are new to web development.
How to Install Svelte
Installing Svelte is a fairly simple process. Below are the basic installation steps:
Install Node.js
Svelte uses Node.js to compile your code, so make sure you have the latest version installed on your machine.
Install the Svelte CLI (Command Line Interface)
Use the command `npm create svelte@latest my-svelte-app` to install the latest Svelte version.
Get familiar with its application structure
Svelte operates on a single-file approach, which means that you have everything you need to run your app in a single .svelte file. This setup simplifies the development process and improves performance.
Use Cases for Svelte
Svelte is great for building small components or even entire applications. The real power of this framework shines when you’re creating super-fast web apps with slick user interfaces. If that’s what your business is all about, then Svelte might just be the framework you’re looking for.
Here are some examples of successful Svelte applications:
- Web apps for low-power devices: Svelte-built apps have smaller bundle sizes, perfect for devices with slow networks and limited processing power. Less code means fewer KBs to download, parse, execute, and keep hanging around in memory.
- Highly interactive pages or complex visualizations: If you’re creating data visualizations that have to show a bunch of DOM elements, using a framework with no runtime overhead will make sure that user interactions feel quick and responsive.
- Onboarding devs with basic web development knowledge: Svelte is pretty beginner-friendly. Web devs who know their way around HTML, CSS, and JavaScript can quickly pick up Svelte specifics and start building web apps in no time.
Comparison between famous Javascript Frameworks and Svelte
| Attributes | ReactJS | AngularJS | Svelte | VueJS |
| Type | Library for web and native UI | A framework | A framework | A framework |
| Why choose? | Uses Javascript | Uses Javascript | Uses Javascript | Uses Javascript and HTML |
| Supported by | Community | Community | ||
| Initial release | March 2013 | September 2016 | November 2016 | February 2014 |
| Performance | Excellent | Fine | Excellent | Excellent |
| Data Binding | One way | Two way | Two way | Two way |
| Widely used for | Modern web & native app development (iOS and Android) | Large-scale and feature-rich app development | Web app development | Web and SPA development |
| Learning Curve | Easier than Angular | A steep learning curve | Small learning curve | Small learning curve |
| Model | Based on virtual DOM (flux) | Based on MVC | Based on MVM | Based on virtual DOM (flux) |
| Community Support | Large developer communities across the globe | Large community of developers and supporters | Limited community | Community-driven project |
| Development Speed | Normal | Normal | Fast | Normal |
| Testing | Jest | Jasmine & Karma | Svelte Testing Library | Vitest, Jest, Cypress |
| Documentation | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Popularity | Widely popular among developers | Widely popular among developers | More than 73,000 stars added on Github | Widely popular among developers |
| Best Attraction | Virtual DOM | Capabilities like dependency injection and two-way data binding, along with the tech giant’s support | Rapid prototyping, code reusability | Lightweight and good documentation |
| Companies using | Skype, Dropbox, Netflix and Facebook | Microsoft Office, Gmail, Forbes, UpWork, Paypal | Apple, New York Times, Spotify, NBA and many more | Adobo, Netflix, and Nintendo |
Conclusion
In conclusion, Svelte has a major advantage: its exceptional performance. By compiling components into efficient JavaScript code during the build process, Svelte achieves faster runtime performance and smaller bundle sizes compared to frameworks that rely on interpreting templates at runtime. This means quicker initial load times and a smoother user experience.
Also, the JavaScript framework landscape is always changing, with new frameworks and libraries popping up, offering more options for developers. Each framework has its strengths and weaknesses, so the choice ultimately depends on specific use cases and project requirements.
Hire Svelte Developers from StarTechUP
Svelte web apps take the best of JavaScript frameworks and combine them into one. So, you need Svelte developers with skills in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. We are here to help.
At StarTechUP, we have a team of dedicated and experienced Svelte developers who can provide you with high-quality web apps tailored to your business needs. We also offer web development services in other popular frameworks, such as React, Angular, and Vue.
So, if you are looking to build a web application using Svelte or any other framework, let’s work together and create amazing web apps that your users will love.
Contact us today for your next project!
