React vs htmx for Solo Developers

React and htmx are not just different tools. They represent fundamentally different philosophies about how to build web applications. React is a full client-side JavaScript framework that owns the DOM and manages state in the browser. htmx is a small library that extends HTML with attributes, letting your server return HTML fragments that replace parts of the page. For solo developers, this choice often defines the entire architecture of your application.

React Overview

React is the dominant frontend library, used by millions of developers and powering everything from simple landing pages to complex SaaS platforms. It provides a component-based architecture where you build your UI as composable, reusable pieces with JSX syntax and manage state using hooks.

For solo developers, React offers a massive ecosystem with solutions for nearly every problem. Client-side routing, form handling, state management, animations, and component libraries are all available off the shelf. React also enables rich client-side interactivity: real-time updates, optimistic UI, drag-and-drop, and complex form flows.

The cost is complexity. You need a build step, a bundler, a client-side router, state management, API endpoints, data serialization, and often a separate frontend deployment. For a solo developer, maintaining both a backend API and a React frontend is effectively maintaining two applications.

htmx Overview

htmx is a ~14KB JavaScript library that extends standard HTML with attributes like hx-get, hx-post, hx-swap, and hx-trigger. Instead of fetching JSON and rendering it client-side, you make requests that return HTML fragments, and htmx swaps them into the page. There is no build step, no JSX, no virtual DOM, and no client-side state management.

For solo developers, htmx is a dramatic simplification. Your server (Django, Rails, Flask, Laravel, Express) renders HTML templates and returns HTML responses. You add htmx attributes to make parts of the page dynamic. The entire application lives in one codebase, one deployment, one mental model.

The trade-off is that htmx is not designed for highly interactive client-side experiences. Complex drag-and-drop, real-time collaborative editing, or rich animations are harder to build with htmx alone. You are also more dependent on your server for every interaction, which can introduce latency.

Comparison Table

When to Pick React

Choose React when your application requires rich client-side interactivity. If you are building a design tool, a real-time dashboard with drag-and-drop, a spreadsheet-like interface, or anything where the UI needs to respond instantly without server round-trips, React is the right tool.

React is also the right choice if you are building a product with a separate API that other clients (mobile apps, third-party integrations) will consume. Having a clean JSON API that React consumes makes it easy to add additional consumers later.

If your project is complex enough to justify the overhead of a separate frontend application, and the interactivity requirements demand it, React delivers capabilities that htmx simply cannot match.

When to Pick htmx

Choose htmx when you want to build a dynamic web application without the overhead of a JavaScript framework. If your app is primarily CRUD (create, read, update, delete), forms, dashboards, admin panels, or content-driven pages with some interactivity, htmx lets you build it with dramatically less code and complexity.

htmx is ideal for solo developers who are stronger on the backend. If you are a Django, Rails, or Laravel developer and frontend JavaScript feels like a tax you pay to make things interactive, htmx lets you stay in your comfort zone while still building modern, responsive UIs.

The simplicity advantage is real and compounding. One codebase, one deployment, one language, no build step, no API serialization, no client-side state bugs. For a solo developer shipping fast, this reduction in surface area is significant.

Verdict

This comparison is not about which tool is "better." It is about which architecture matches your project and your strengths.

React is the right choice for highly interactive applications, projects that need a separate API, and developers who are comfortable with JavaScript-heavy frontend development.

htmx is the right choice for server-rendered applications, CRUD-heavy products, and solo developers who want maximum productivity with minimum complexity.

If you are a solo developer building a SaaS dashboard, admin tool, or content platform, seriously consider htmx before defaulting to React. You might be surprised how much you can accomplish with just HTML attributes and a good server framework.