I thought finals week was messy, but the tech world? It’s absolute chaos.
You hop on Twitter (or, sorry, “X” now, whatever), and it’s just this firehose of hot takes, new frameworks, “must-learn” libraries, and people arguing about whether React is dead, Next.js is the future, or if you’re a dinosaur for still using Redux. It’s enough to make you question if you ever actually learned anything in school. Please tell me I’m not the only one who feels like this?
Anyway, I figured I’d share my own little saga of picking between React and Next.js for a side project. Maybe someone out there’s got the magic answer, or at least a good laugh at my expense.
The Setup: React vs. Next.js (or, “Why does this feel like picking a Pokémon starter?”)
So here’s the situation: I wanted to build a habit tracker. Nothing fancy, just a few pages, a form or two, and, if I got really ambitious, a leaderboard.
React seemed like the obvious move, right? It’s “just JavaScript.” Everyone online makes it sound like you just slap together some components, sprinkle in a little useState, and you’re golden. No need for server-side rendering or static generation or whatever the latest acronym is. Or… am I missing something?
But then, there’s Next.js. It’s like React’s cooler, older sibling, comes with all these extra features: file-based routing, SSR, API routes, and some other stuff I probably still don’t fully get. And if you’re anything like me, you start thinking, “Wait, am I making my life harder by sticking with plain React? Am I going to regret this in two weeks?”
My Experience: When Next.js Feels Like Overkill
Flashback to a group project last semester. We had to build a dashboard for tracking campus events. Started with React, felt fine at first. But then we needed, like, three more pages, and suddenly I’m deep in the weeds with React Router, trying to remember the difference between BrowserRouter and HashRouter and why my routes keep breaking. Not the end of the world, but it felt like more setup than it should’ve been for something so basic.
Next time around, I gave Next.js a shot. Routing? Dude, you just drop a file in the pages folder and, bam! new route. It felt almost illegal how easy it was.
But then we needed to fetch data before rendering a page, and suddenly I’m neck-deep in getServerSideProps, getStaticProps, ISR… I swear, I spent more time Googling acronyms than actually coding. I just wanted to show a leaderboard, not architect a microservices platform.
Deployment is another story:
- React: You just build and toss it on Netlify or Vercel, super chill, zero drama.
- Next.js: Sure, it works, but if you start using server-side stuff, now you’re reading about serverless functions, cold starts, edge runtimes… I mean, I just wanted a to-do list, not a crash course in cloud infrastructure.
Routing: My Perpetual Nemesis
Not gonna lie, routing is where I always seem to get tripped up.
- React Router is powerful, but honestly, it feels like overkill for a little app.
- Next.js’s file-based routing is so much smoother, until you want nested layouts or something a little weird, and then you’re back to reading docs at midnight, questioning your life choices.
And now with Next 13+ and the new app directory? Layouts, server components, client components, loading states… It’s cool, but also, like, can I just have a couple pages and call it a day?
For my tiny projects, I keep drifting back to React. It’s less magic, but also less “wait, why is this broken?” You have to wire everything up yourself, but at least you know where all the wires are.
But then I see all these job listings demanding Next.js, and I start to wonder if I’m just being stubborn and making my future self’s life harder.
The Real Question: Am I Just Overthinking This?
I know, I know, these are just tools. Pick what works for you, right? But when you’re new, it’s way too easy to get stuck in analysis paralysis.
Should I stick with React until I hit a wall? Or should I just bite the bullet and learn Next.js now, so I’m not scrambling later? Is it worth the headache for a basic project, or am I just creating more work for myself?
I see people online saying:
- “Just use Next.js for everything, it’s the future!”
- But then others are like, “Don’t overcomplicate it, React is perfect for small stuff.”
Honestly, I get both sides. Next.js makes some things easier, but it also adds a layer of complexity you might not need. React is more barebones, but sometimes that’s exactly what you want for a quick MVP or a weekend hack.
Where I’m At (a.k.a. “Still Confused, But Slightly Less Than Yesterday”)
Right now? I’m leaning toward React for anything with just a handful of pages, where SEO and server-side stuff don’t matter. If I ever need static generation or backend logic, maybe I’ll finally go all-in on Next.js.
But sometimes I wonder if I’m just being lazy, or if I’m missing out on learning something important by not using Next.js more.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | React | Next.js |
|---|---|---|
| Routing | React Router (manual) | File-based, automatic |
| Data Fetching | Client-side only | SSR, SSG, ISR, API routes |
| Deployment | Simple (static sites) | Can require serverless/cloud config |
| Learning Curve | Lower for basics | Higher, more features/acronyms |
| Best For | Small apps, MVPs | SEO, static sites, complex apps |
So, throwing it out to the folks who’ve been around the block:
- When do you reach for Next.js instead of React?
- Has Next.js ever made your life harder on a small project, or is it just the way to go now, even for simple stuff?
- Any “wish I’d known that sooner” moments or hilarious fails?
Drop your stories below. Seriously, I’d love to hear how other people handle this, especially if you remember what it was like starting out. The tech stack is wild, and sometimes all you want to do is build something without getting totally lost in the weeds.
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