Introduction

React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces that was developed by Facebook. It was released in 2013 and has since become one of the most popular tools for building web applications.

React was created by Jordan Walke, a software engineer at Facebook. He was inspired by the functional programming language Lisp and sought to create a library that would allow developers to create reusable components that could be easily combined to build complex user interfaces.

React was initially used to build the Facebook news feed and was later released as an open-source project. It quickly gained traction within the developer community due to its simplicity and flexibility.

Since its release, React has continued to evolve and has been adopted by a wide range of companies and organizations. It is now used to build many of the web's most popular applications, including Instagram, Airbnb, and Netflix.

React has also spawned a large ecosystem of supporting libraries and tools, including React Native, which allows developers to build native mobile applications using React.

The dark ages

There is no specific "dark chapter" in the history of React that stands out as particularly negative or controversial. React has generally been well-received and widely adopted by the developer community since its release in 2013.

However, like any technology or tool, React has faced its share of criticism and challenges. For example, some have raised concerns about the potential for React to be used to build applications or websites that engage in unethical or malicious activities. Others have criticized the way in which React has been developed or maintained, or have raised concerns about its performance or scalability.

Some of these concerns include:

Dependency hell: React has a large number of dependencies, which can make it difficult for developers to manage and update their projects. This can lead to "dependency hell," where it is difficult to resolve conflicts between different dependencies.
Lack of transparency: Some have criticized the way in which React is developed and maintained, arguing that the process is not transparent enough. This has led to concerns about the direction of the project and the priorities of the React team.
Rapid release cycle: React has a rapid release cycle, with new versions being released frequently. This can make it difficult for developers to keep up with changes and can lead to compatibility issues.
Lack of backward compatibility: Some have criticized the way in which React handles backward compatibility, arguing that it can be difficult for developers to upgrade to new versions without breaking their existing code.

Overall, these concerns have not significantly impacted the adoption or use of React within the developer community, but they have been raised by some as areas for improvement.

React has a relatively positive reputation and is widely considered to be a powerful and useful tool for building user interfaces. While there may have been some challenges or controversies along the way, these have not significantly affected the overall adoption and use of React within the developer community.

React in numbers

It is difficult to accurately estimate the number of websites that use React, as it is a popular and widely-used tool for building user interfaces. According to BuiltWith, a website that tracks technology adoption on the web, React is used on over 1 million websites.

React is particularly popular among developers building single-page applications (SPAs) and progressive web applications (PWAs). It is used by many well-known companies and organizations, including Facebook, Airbnb, Netflix, and Asana.

It is important to note that React is just one tool among many that can be used to build websites and web applications. There are many other frameworks and libraries available, and the specific tools used can vary depending on the needs and goals of the project.