The world of JavaScript is never dull, as there is always something new to learn or discover. JavaScript offers a great collection of frameworks and libraries that are beneficial for creating next-generation web applications.
As a developer, it becomes tricky to know which one to use for your application. This article will explore two of the most popular JavaScript frameworks, AlphineJS and VueJS.
But why only these two and not others? Because they are popular and very similar to each other(you will learn about it soon).
So, let’s get started by first introducing both AlpineJS and VueJS.
VueJS is a progressive JavaScript framework. This means that you can add it to your existing project without the need to rework it.
It is a versatile yet powerful framework that lets you build interactive user interfaces. The good thing about Vue is its ability to be integrated into other libraries or frameworks, making it easy for you to customize your project as per your liking.
The key three main features of VueJS include:
Versatile
Approachable
Performant
Testable
Maintainable
To get a taste of what it has to offer, let’s see it in action.
<html>
<head>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/vue/dist/vue.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
<div id="pwr">
<h2>
{{graphics}} is the most powerful graphics card right now!
</h2>
</div>
<script>
const app = new Vue({
el: '#pwr',
data: {
graphics:'Nvidia RTX 3090'
}
})
</script>
</body>
</html>
The output for the above code would be as below:
Sounds cool, right?
However, Vue is more than this. It is reactive, which means that any change in the data will be instantly updated to the front end. So, for example, you can add more items to the “#pwr” element and render them. Their values can also be updated based on the inventory and you can also use APIs to call in data from the database. These can be done on a single page or can divide into pages for better code management.
AlpineJS Introduction
AlpineJS, on the other hand, is a minimal JavaScript framework that lets you add JavaScript behavior to your project. When compared to Vue, Alpine is small and offers a minimalistic approach to web design. So, if you are a project that requires functionalities, but you do not want to integrate Vue, then you can go through the Alpine route. You can think of it as a lightweight version of Vue.
Also, Alpine is based on Vue. So, you will have no issues adapting to Alpine for your project. With Alpine, you can bring customizability to your project such as customizing dropdowns, sidebars, tabs, and so on!
The above code is a simple example of using a toggle button to hide the content.
Getting Started: Alpine vs Vue
Vue
You can get started with Vue by simply including the CDN in your project.
<script src=”https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/vue/dist/vue.js“></script>
You can also use the production version that is optimized for speed and size.
<script src=”https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/vue“></script>
Also, you can create a project using npm by typing the following.
vue create my-new-project
Alpine
Getting started with Alpine is also easy. All you need to do is use CDN just like Vue.
<script src=”https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/alpinejs/alpine@v2.x.x/dist/alpine.js” defer></script>
Apart from that, you can also use npm to use Alpine. For that, you need to type the following command.
npm i alpinejs
Alpine.js CDN
You now know that Alpine.js is a lightweight, small and fast JavaScript library for web applications. But did you also know that it is provided as a CDN? This is so you can quickly load it into your web applications. What is a CDN? A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a network of servers that distribute content, such as web pages and software files, to end users based on their geographic locations.
Why are JavaScript Libraries Served as CDN?
Libraries are usually too large to load asynchronously using XMLHttpRequests (XHR) or Ajax Calls in web apps. Performance is key for web applications. Data must be delivered quickly and reliably in order to keep users engaged and ensure the user experience is positive. That’s where a CDN comes in. It improves application performance by delivering content from edge locations close to your end users. It also provides high availability and scalability as you add more sites to your web application.
Learning Curve: Alpine vs Vue
If you are starting out with one of these two libraries for the first time without knowing the other one, you will have a good learning curve for it. However, if you know one, then you can master the other one. We recommend checking out Vue first as it offers more feature-set. However, if your project doesn’t need that, then you can simply go through Alpine and implement the much-needed functionality to your site.
When to Use? Alpine vs Vue
By now, you might be thinking about what are the use cases for Alpine and Vue. For beginners, it is important to learn their use cases.
Alpine is a great pick for projects where you want to add functionality to your website without the need to add a bulky framework or library. So, if you are building an app that requires small touches without the need to sacrifice performance, then Alpine is a good choice.
Vue is a great pick for big projects where you need to make your site dynamic and reactive. For example, Vue is a good pick for eCommerce sites as you can dynamically add information without the need to wait for the server’s response.
If you look at the statistics, you will understand more about its usage pattern. According to Wppalyzer, Alpine.js is used by 12,000 websites. In comparison, Vue.js powers 500K+ websites. This means that Alpine is mostly used for projects that have very specific requirements.
However, Alpine.js sits at just 2% of the market share compared to Vue.js which is 98%. Alpine works best for a simple static website or on server-side rendering apps that use backend frameworks. So, if you want to add basic interactivity or features, then you can use Alpine. For instance, you can use Alpine to add tabs, lists, dropdowns, and so on.
In case you are wondering if you have jQuery for it, then you are right! However, there are also instances where you need to prefer Alpine over jQuery, especially legacy projects where it is not possible to use jQuery anymore. Also, jQuery usage increases the project size which is not desirable in many modern projects.
Alpine is ideal for single-page applications that do not require the full-blown features that a multi-page application needs. In case you do, then you need to go with either Vue.js or React.
Is Alpine an Alternative to jQuery?
Alpine lets you do the job of jQuery. After all, it is created as a replacement for jQuery with a Vue template flavor. This makes it important for us to understand how Alpine differentiates from jQuery.
The first big difference is how jQuery and Alpine access the DOM. jQuery utilizes the cross-browser compatibility layer jQuery Core to access the DOM and hence manipulate it. On the other hand, Alpine uses the x-bind attribute binding directive to achieve the same desired result. As you can see, directives are the key here. To handle events, Alpine uses the x-on directive which is different from jQuery’s approach.
But, what about the effects?
Alpine uses its own set of x-transition directives for effects. jQuery has its own methods such as fadeIn, slideUp, and so on.
When it comes to size, Alpine wins. It stands at 21.9 kb minified in comparison to 87.6 kb minified.
Vue.js vs jQuery
Size
Vue.js is smaller in size than jQuery, making it more efficient to load and execute. VueJs is only 33.3 KB gzipped, while jQuery is approximately 157 KB gzipped. This helps lower the load time of your website, as well as saves bandwidth and money on the servers.
Complexity
VueJS is easier to use and handles complex DOM manipulations easily due to its composition-based API. The rich set of directives provided by Vue makes it extremely flexible and easy to use. Meanwhile, jQuery provides a function-based API which makes it difficult to perform DOM manipulation with efficiency. Many developers find it difficult to work with jQuery because of its unstructured syntax and lack of documentation and examples.
Stability
With Vue.js, version updates are typically small and usually don’t require any code changes in order to update to a new version. As for jQuery, there have been several major changes since its inception, making previous versions incompatible with new projects. This makes it necessary for developers to use multiple versions of jQuery while working on a project.
Performance
Vue.js requires fewer server requests due to the single-file nature of its JS bundle, whereas jQuery’s file size makes each request relatively large and costly. This performance difference results in reduced page load times and better overall performance with Vue.
What Should I Start with as a Beginner?
If you are a beginner and want to choose between VueJS, AlpineJS, and jQuery, we would recommend starting with VueJS due to its simplicity, flexibility, and efficiency. The three libraries share many of the same features and have very similar APIs. However, VueJS stands in a league of its own. We believe that after working with VueJS for a little while, you will fall in love with it just as many other developers have.
Conclusion
Both frameworks are useful in their way. The choice depends on your project type and it is up to you to decide which one fits the project’s needs.
There is no doubt that Alpine is not a solid alternative to the framework that you are using to deploy your project. If you look at statistics, then also you will find it lacks the necessary features to make it popular among JavaScript developers. In short, it is a good alternative to jQuery as it lets developers add good front-end features without the need to import or include a full-fledged front-end framework.
So, what do you think about Alpine and Vue? Do you think that Alpine serves its purpose or is it just a redundant framework with no real purpose or need? Comment below and let us know what you think about the frameworks.
If you are in a hurry, then check out the Alpine vs Vue table.
Sounds cool, right?
However, Vue is more than this. It is reactive, which means that any change in the data will be instantly updated to the front end. So, for example, you can add more items to the “#pwr” element and render them. Their values can also be updated based on the inventory and you can also use APIs to call in data from the database. These can be done on a single page or can divide into pages for better code management.
