Why you should add React to
your Rails application now!
David Roberts
October 2015
+

What is React?
- UI library for Javascript
- Declarative API
- Reusable Components

var HelloMessage = React.createClass({
render: function() {
return <div>Hello {this.props.name}</div>;
}
});
<HelloMessage name="David" />
Here’s a simple example of a React component

Why React with Rails?
- NOT an SPA
- Use in anyway you want / unopiniated
- Mix with traditional jQuery on the same page
- Gem makes it very easy to use with Rails
-

https://github.com/reactjs/react-rails
React Rails
- jsx
- babel for es6
-

Install
• gem ‘react-rails’
• rails g react:install
https://github.com/droberts84/bloccit/commit/
47ee8cd5587097c6eccdd4de467e11fb02844a2f

Let’s Vote Using
Javascript!
https://github.com/droberts84/bloccit/commit/
1cb8298e158dc679a58e72586d5378a09e5762f5

Limitations
• Sprockets does not support Modules
• Alternatives
• Webpack
• Browserify
• Individual React Components can be re-used
- React Rails is great for getting started
- Not for SPA like integrations
- Not if you need to integrate with lots of other JS toolsets
-

Don’t let your current architecture prevent
you from moving forward!
Source Code:
https://github.com/droberts84/bloccit/tree/react