Debunking the Buzz: Why Million.js is Not Worth Your Time 🚫

Alex
3 min readJun 28, 2023

--

As an expert in the field with over 10 years of experience, I feel it is my duty to shed light on certain technologies that may catch our attention but fail to deliver on their promises. Today, I’m going to tackle the much-talked-about Million.js and explain why, in my expert opinion, we should ignore it. So, let’s dive in and explore the reasons behind this bold statement.

What is Million.js, Anyway? 🤔

Million.js is a virtual DOM library that claims to supercharge the performance of React applications. It boasts impressive benchmarks, suggesting it can make your React components up to 70% faster. On the surface, this might sound enticing, but it’s important to delve deeper and separate the hype from the reality.

The Illusion of Performance Gains ⚡️

While Million.js showcases impressive performance improvements in synthetic benchmarks, it’s crucial to understand that real-world scenarios can be vastly different. The benchmarks presented by Million.js may not accurately reflect the performance gains you would see in your own applications.

Moreover, when it comes to optimizing React components, there are already established techniques available, such as memoization, code splitting, and lazy loading. These techniques, when applied correctly, can significantly improve performance without the need for an additional library like Million.js.

The Danger of Over-Optimization ❌

One of the pitfalls of using libraries like Million.js is the temptation to over-optimize our applications. As developers, we often strive for the highest level of performance, but it’s essential to strike a balance between optimization and maintainability. Over-optimization can lead to complex codebases, reduced readability, and an increased learning curve for new team members.

React, with its battle-tested virtual DOM, provides a solid foundation for building performant applications. It is continuously optimized by a dedicated team of experts at Facebook. By leveraging React’s built-in performance optimizations and following best practices, we can achieve excellent performance without the need for external libraries.

Trust the Community and the Ecosystem 🤝

React has a thriving community and an extensive ecosystem of libraries and tools. By focusing on React and its ecosystem, we can benefit from the collective expertise of developers worldwide. We can find solutions, share knowledge, and build on a stable foundation that has stood the test of time.

Introducing a relatively new library like Million.js into your stack might not only increase the complexity but also limit your access to existing community resources and support. It’s crucial to consider the long-term implications and potential drawbacks before adopting new technology.

Conclusion and Next Steps 📚

In conclusion, while Million.js may appear enticing on the surface, the reality is that it does not offer significant advantages over existing React optimization techniques. It’s important to critically evaluate the need for additional libraries in your projects and carefully consider the trade-offs involved.

As a seasoned developer, my advice is to trust React and its robust ecosystem. Follow established best practices, leverage existing optimizations, and stay connected with the vibrant React community.

If you found this article informative and would like to explore more expert insights and industry trends, follow me on Medium. I regularly share articles on a wide range of topics related to web development and software engineering.

Remember, always make informed decisions based on thorough research and a deep understanding of the technology landscape. Happy coding! 👩‍💻🚀

--

--

Alex
Alex

Written by Alex

Senior Frontend Engineer 🌟 Proven track record launching web apps 🤖 ChatGPT enthusiast 🚀 React, Next.js, TypeScript 🎨 UI/UX expert 💼 Open to opportunities

No responses yet