4 Tips for Unlocking the Benefits of Svelte in Frontend Development
by @eleanorhecks@x.com (@designerlymag@x.com) on , tagged guest-posts, svelte, sveltekit (toot this?)
Efficient development is all about using the right tools for the job. As far as programming languages go, JavaScript is an easy choice, but not all frameworks are created equal. Svelte is an increasingly popular option you should consider for your next frontend project.
How Can Svelte Improve Frontend Development?
Svelte is an open-source framework for frontend web development. While just 25% of developers used it in 2023, it’s the top framework of interest at 68%, beating out React and Angular. That popularity stems from several key benefits.
Much of Svelte’s usefulness in frontend development comes from its simplicity. It uses a straightforward, HTML-like syntax, has minuscule bundle sizes, and contains many shortcuts and automations to streamline the coding process. It’s also fast and resource-efficient, thanks largely to not using a virtual DOM and automatically compiling code into optimized JavaScript.
These benefits mean coding in Svelte is easier and faster and produces more functional web components. While it may not be ideal for complex backend tasks, it’s uniquely suited to transform frontend web building and updates.
Tips to Make the Most of Svelte
As helpful as Svelte is, any tool is only as effective as your ability to use it. Here are some tips for making the most of this framework.
1. Know When to Use Svelte
Effective Svelte use begins with recognizing where it may not be an ideal fit. Generally speaking, it’s best for small applications where speed and performance are key. Mobile app development, SEO site optimization, and projects facing tight deadlines are common examples.
By contrast, larger, complex websites and applications may experience complications when trying to scale Svelte. More popular alternatives may offer additional support for less experienced teams, too. Something like React—which 84% of JavaScript developers use—will have more documentation and community help.
2. Use SvelteKit
When you decide to use Svelte, you should consider taking advantage of SvelteKit—its accompanying full-stack framework. Svelte alone has plenty of time-saving features, but SvelteKit adds several quality-of-life improvements and advanced functionality to save time and boost performance further.
Most notably, SvelteKit uses server-side rendering by default, which results in faster load times and improves SEO. It also features automatic code splitting, file-based routing, and TypeScript integration.
3. Take Advantage of Reactivity
One of Svelte’s biggest time-savers is its reactivity. It automatically updates dependent variables whenever there’s a change of state. By taking advantage of this ability, you can avoid manually inputting any reactive elements. In addition to streamlining your workflow, this will reduce clutter in your code. If you’re one of the more than three quarters of people whose productivity is hindered by clutter, this ability could actually increase your overall efficiency in your coding projects.
Svelte’s reactivity does not apply to derived states. You can easily make these elements reactive with the $ symbol, but it’s important to recognize the discrepancy before assuming they’ll update like other variables.
4. Test Everything Before Publishing
Remember to test all Svelte applications before taking them live. The framework first launched in 2016 and only accounts for a small fraction of websites today. Consequently, it has not seen as much real-world testing, so there’s a higher likelihood of unknown errors or complications.
This newness does not mean Svelte is not ready for professional use, but it does raise the need for caution. Always thoroughly examine your code and test your apps’ functionality before releasing them to the public.
Take Your Frontend Development Further With Svelte
Svelte is an exciting development for frontend devs, and as its community grows, so will its support and utility. Even now, though, it can be a critical time and resource saver in lightweight applications.
Like any other framework, Svelte requires attention to best practices for effective use. Once you recognize these, you can use it to maximize your development potential.
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