· software engineering · 3 min read
Frontend Development In 2026
Some say React won. Not even close!
Allow me to make a fool of myself and make a few predictions.
React will continue to stagnate
The market leader1 is showing its age - virtual DOM and synthetic events have more drawbacks than benefits in modern browsers. Instead of simplifying, React is now more complex than ever before. Hooks look simple but are a beast under the hood. React Server Components don’t even try to look simple (to be fair, they do add a whole backend framework to React). Server-driven frontend feels both magical and hacky and can get you hacked. React Compiler will attempt to patch the cracks, but don’t bet on it to make things simpler. Of course, React still has a lot going for it. The ecosystem is massive. JSX is pleasant to use. And, historically it got a lot right - this is the framework that called out the once-holy MVC pattern and won.
TanStack is the new kingmaker
Libraries like React TanStack Query have already pulled 27k+ devs into their Discord. Through Query, they discover TanStack Start, other libs and ultimately even SolidJS - which offers the React-like syntax devs love, but without the bloat, rendering quirks, and baggage.
The Local-First revolution is coming
Linear showed us the way: no skeletons, no loaders, just instant data. Why custom-code optimistic UI when an amazing lib can handle that and much more for you? Caveat? These sync engines are beasts to build. Keep an eye on LocalFirst.fm, Zero, and TanStack DB.
Cross-platform: The “Write Once” Dream
Tools come and go but none dominates.
- Expo: Current leader and innovator. It is single-handedly keeping React relevant for mobile.
- CapacitorJS: Tried, tested, evolving-is that good enough?
- Tauri: Great for desktop, but its mobile story hasn’t delivered the bang I was hoping for in 2025.
The State of the Rest
- Svelte: State of the art with Vercel backing. Its unique syntax puts some off, but it is deeply loved by those who use it.
- Vue: Innovating in a better direction than React (replacing VDOM with Vapor), but is not there yet. It might struggle to get a second chance from the industry, just like the completely renewed Angular.
- Solid: The brave developer’s choice. It looks like React, has a small footprint, runs fast like Svelte, and features amazing reactivity with Signals.
- Preact: The sensible choice that sadly seems to have lost its momentum.
The Verdict for 2026?
Local-first will become the standard for serious apps. The “React Killers” (Svelte, Solid, Vue) will continue to fight for second place with no clear winner. Meanwhile, we are still waiting on a truly unified cross-platform tool that realizes the dream of Web + iOS + Android from one codebase without compromises.
