React has dominated the frontend space for years, but new frameworks like Sigment are challenging the status quo. In this article, we compare Sigment and React — focusing on performance and development simplicity.
Architecture Differences
React relies on a virtual DOM, JSX syntax, and a complex reconciliation algorithm. It requires a build step and several dependencies to work effectively.
Sigment skips the virtual DOM entirely and uses fine-grained reactivity with plain JavaScript functions. It requires no build tools and works directly with the real DOM.
Performance Comparison
- Render Speed: Sigment updates only what’s necessary with fine-grained signals, resulting in faster updates than React’s virtual DOM diffing.
- Bundle Size: Sigment’s minimal runtime leads to smaller bundle sizes, while React’s ecosystem and JSX compilation add significant overhead.
- Cold Start: Sigment apps start faster due to zero build time and smaller JS payloads.
Developer Experience
React uses JSX, which requires transpilation and tooling like Babel and Webpack or Vite. While JSX feels declarative, it adds complexity to the build process.
Sigment uses simple JavaScript tag functions like div() and button(), removing the need for JSX and extra tooling. This results in instant hot reloads and faster iteration.
Example Comparison
React JSX:
function Hello() {
return <h1>Hello, world!</h1>;
}
Sigment JS Functions:
function Hello() {
return h1('Hello, world!');
}When to Choose Sigment
- You want maximum runtime performance with minimal overhead.
- You prefer zero-config development without transpilation.
- You want full control over rendering with a simple API.
- You need a smaller, faster app with fine-grained reactivity.
When React Might Be Better
- You rely heavily on React’s large ecosystem and libraries.
- You want mature tooling and community support.
- Your team is experienced with React and JSX.
Conclusion
While React remains a powerful and flexible framework, Sigment offers compelling advantages in speed, simplicity, and bundle size. For developers looking for a modern, build-free reactive framework, Sigment is a strong choice.