Fela vs styled-components: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this markdown, we will discuss the key differences between Fela and styled-components, two popular styling solutions in React.

1. Performance: Fela is known for its exceptional performance due to its unique concept of generating static class names. It uses a highly efficient rendering engine that eliminates inline styles and minimizes re-renders. On the other hand, styled-components uses inline styles and generates unique class names during runtime, which can result in slightly slower performance compared to Fela.

2. Styling Approach: Fela follows a functional styling approach where styles are composed using JavaScript functions and objects. It abstracts away CSS and allows dynamic calculations, access to component props, and the use of fallback values easily. On the contrary, styled-components utilize a tagged template literal syntax, enabling developers to write actual CSS syntax with support for nesting and using variables. This approach provides a more familiar experience for developers who are already comfortable with CSS.

3. CSS Compatibility: Fela provides perfect CSS compatibility as it allows you to write standard CSS rules with some additional features. It supports pseudo-classes, media queries, keyframe animations, and more. In contrast, styled-components handles CSS compatibility with CSS-in-JS techniques, which means it may have some limitations when it comes to complex CSS features or browser-specific behaviors.

4. Library Size: Fela is known for its small library size, making it an excellent choice for performance-critical applications or projects with tight bundle size requirements. It only includes the necessary core functionality and allows you to add additional plugins if needed. Conversely, styled-components has a larger library size due to the inclusion of CSS parsing and runtime generation logic. However, the difference in size may not be significant in the context of a typical React application.

5. Community and Ecosystem: styled-components has gained tremendous popularity within the React community and has a large ecosystem of community-supported tools, plugins, and integrations. It has an extensive documentation and active community support, making it easier to find solutions or sharing knowledge. In contrast, while Fela also has a supportive community, it is relatively smaller compared to styled-components, which may limit the availability of community-driven resources or third-party integrations.

6. Learning Curve: styled-components provide a low learning curve for developers who are already familiar with CSS syntax and conventions. It offers a seamless transition for those who are accustomed to traditional CSS or CSS frameworks. On the other hand, Fela's learning curve might be slightly steeper due to its unique functional styling approach and concepts such as static class names and dynamic styles. However, once developers understand these concepts, it becomes a powerful and flexible styling solution.

In Summary, Fela and styled-components differ in terms of performance, styling approach, CSS compatibility, library size, community and ecosystem, and learning curve. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the choice between the two depends on the specific project requirements and developer preferences.