Preact vs React.js Boilerplate: What are the differences?

1. Size: One major difference between Preact and React.js Boilerplate is the size. Preact is a lightweight alternative to React, weighing in at around 3kb when gzipped. In contrast, React.js Boilerplate includes a set of tools and configurations for setting up a development environment, resulting in a larger file size.

2. Configuration: Preact is a JavaScript library that serves as a drop-in replacement for React, offering a similar API and functionality. On the other hand, React.js Boilerplate is a scaffold for building React-based web applications, providing a pre-configured development environment with additional tools like Redux, Webpack, and Babel.

3. Performance: Preact is known for its faster performance compared to React, as it has a smaller footprint and optimized codebase. This can lead to quicker rendering and better overall performance in applications built with Preact. React.js Boilerplate, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive setup for large-scale applications, which may impact performance to some extent.

4. Community Support: React.js Boilerplate enjoys strong community support, with a dedicated group of developers contributing to its ongoing development and maintenance. Preact also has a supportive community but may not be as extensive as the one surrounding React.js Boilerplate.

5. Usage: Preact is commonly used in projects where size and performance are critical factors, such as single-page applications or projects with limited resources. React.js Boilerplate is suitable for larger, more complex applications that require a robust development environment and tools for scalability.

6. Learning Curve: Preact, being a lightweight alternative to React, has a lower learning curve for developers familiar with React. In contrast, React.js Boilerplate may have a steeper learning curve due to its comprehensive setup and additional tools provided out of the box.

In Summary, understanding the key differences between Preact and React.js Boilerplate in terms of size, configuration, performance, community support, usage, and learning curve can help developers choose the appropriate library/framework for their web development projects.