React Team Deprecates Create React App: What’s Next for Developers?

The React team has officially deprecated Create React App (CRA), a tool that has long been the go-to solution for bootstrapping React projects. While CRA was widely used, it had performance limitations, outdated dependencies, and lacked modern development features.

With this change, developers need to look at new alternatives for creating and managing React applications. This article explores why CRA was deprecated, what alternatives are available, and how to migrate existing projects.

Why Did React Deprecate Create React App?

Create React App was a great tool when it was introduced, but over time, it started to show its age. Some key reasons for its deprecation include:

1. Performance Issues: CRA uses Webpack, which can slow down development and build times compared to modern tools like Vite.
2. Lack of Updates: CRA was not keeping pace with the rapid evolution of the React ecosystem. Many dependencies became outdated, leading to security vulnerabilities.
3. Better Alternatives: Newer frameworks like Vite, Next.js, and Remix offer a more modern and efficient development experience.

What Are the Alternatives?

With CRA deprecated, developers have several excellent alternatives for starting new React projects:

1. Vite (Recommended)

• Why Choose Vite?
  • Faster startup and build times than CRA.
  • Uses ES modules instead of Webpack, making hot module replacement (HMR) nearly instant.
  • Strong ecosystem support.
• How to Create a React App with Vite?

  npm create vite@latest my-app --template react
  cd my-app
  npm install
  npm run dev
  

2. Next.js

• Why Choose Next.js?
  • Server-side rendering (SSR) and static site generation (SSG) capabilities.
  • Built-in API routes and SEO optimizations.
  • Great for full-stack React applications.
• How to Create a React App with Next.js?

  npx create-next-app@latest my-app
  cd my-app
  npm run dev
  

3. Remix

• Why Choose Remix?
  • Focuses on full-stack development with better performance.
  • Efficient data loading and routing.
  • Uses modern React best practices.
• How to Create a Remix App?

  npx create-remix@latest my-app
  cd my-app
  npm install
  npm run dev
  

4. Parcel

• Why Choose Parcel?
  • Zero-config bundler with faster builds than Webpack.
  • Supports modern JavaScript and React out of the box.
• How to Create a React App with Parcel?

  npm init -y
  npm install react react-dom parcel
  

How to Migrate an Existing CRA Project?

If you already have a project using Create React App, you may want to migrate to a more modern alternative like Vite or Next.js. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Migrating from CRA to Vite

1. Remove CRA dependencies code

   npm uninstall react-scripts
   

2. Install Vite

   npm install --save-dev vite @vitejs/plugin-react
   

3. Update package.json scripts
   Replace:

   "scripts": {
     "start": "react-scripts start",
     "build": "react-scripts build",
     "test": "react-scripts test"
   }
   

   
   With:

   "scripts": {
     "dev": "vite",
     "build": "vite build",
     "preview": "vite preview"
   }
   

4. Replace CRA Configuration
   1. Create a vite.config.js file:

      import { defineConfig } from "vite";
      import react from "@vitejs/plugin-react";
      export default defineConfig({
        plugins: [react()],
        server: {
          port: 3000, // Change if needed
        },
      });
      

5. Update Import Paths (if necessary)
   1. CRA uses absolute imports (@), but Vite uses import.meta.env. Adjust imports accordingly.
6. Run the Application

   npm run dev
   

2. Migrating from CRA to Next.js

If you need SSR and better SEO, consider Next.js:

1. Install Next.js

   npm install next react react-dom

2. Update package.json scripts

   "scripts": {
     "dev": "next dev",
     "build": "next build",
     "start": "next start"
   }
   

3. Move Files
   1. Move src files into a pages directory (index.js goes inside pages).
   2. Replace BrowserRouter with next/link and next/router.
4. Run the App

   npm run dev