Create React App (CRA) is Deprecated – What Now?

If you've been building React apps for a while, you've likely run the command:

npx create-react-app my-app        

But here’s the news: Create React App (CRA) has officially been deprecated. The React team has moved on to better, faster tools, and so should you. In this article, I'll explain why CRA is being phased out, and which modern tools you should be using instead.

Why Did CRA Get Deprecated?

CRA was once the go-to for bootstrapping React projects, but over time, it’s become slow, outdated, and difficult to maintain. Here’s a quick breakdown of the main reasons why CRA is no longer the best choice:

1. Slow Builds & Hot Reloading

CRA relies on Webpack, which isn't the fastest tool for modern front-end development. While Webpack is powerful, it can lead to long build times and slow hot reloading. Newer tools like Vite and Next.js provide near-instant build times and fast hot module reloading, significantly improving your development experience.

2. No Server-Side Rendering (SSR)

In today’s world, modern web apps need Server-Side Rendering (SSR) for better SEO, faster load times, and improved performance. CRA doesn’t support SSR out of the box. On the other hand, tools like Next.js and Remix offer full support for SSR and static site generation, making them ideal for modern web applications.

3. Big Bundle Sizes

By default, CRA doesn’t do a great job at optimizing your bundles. This leads to larger JavaScript files and slower page loads. Tools like Vite provide automatic optimization, reducing bundle sizes and improving performance without you having to lift a finger.

4. Lack of Maintenance

The React team has officially stopped actively maintaining CRA. While it was once a great tool, the community has largely moved on to more modern alternatives that offer better performance, more features, and a better developer experience.

What Should You Use Instead?

Don’t worry – while CRA is gone, there are excellent alternatives available that will take your React development to the next level. Here's a rundown of the best tools to use:

✅ Vite (Recommended for SPAs)

If you're building a standard React Single Page Application (SPA), Vite is hands down the best choice. It's blazing fast, lightweight, and easy to configure. Vite's hot reloading is almost instantaneous, meaning you’ll spend less time waiting and more time coding.

To get started with Vite, simply run:

npm create vite@latest my-app --template react        

✅ Next.js (For Full-Fledged Apps)

If your app requires SSR, static site generation (SSG), or API routes, Next.js is the way to go. Backed by Vercel, Next.js has become the standard for building full-fledged React applications. With automatic optimization, SSR, and great developer tools, it offers everything you need to build production-ready React apps.

Start a Next.js project with:

npx create-next-app@latest my-app        

✅ Remix (For Progressive Web Apps)

If you want a framework designed for modern web performance, Remix is a fantastic choice. It optimizes data loading, routing, and UX out of the box, making it ideal for Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and performance-driven projects.

To get started with Remix, run:

npx create-remix@latest        

How to Migrate From CRA?

If you have an old CRA project, don't panic! Migrating from CRA is totally managable, and it doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Here’s how you can transition smoothly:

1️⃣ Switch to Vite (Recommended for Most Projects)

Moving to Vite is the easiest and fastest option for most projects. All you need to do is:

• Move your src folder to a new Vite project.
• Update your dependencies.
• Replace react-scripts with Vite’s build system.

2️⃣ Migrate to Next.js if You Need SSR

If your project requires SSR for better SEO or performance, consider migrating to Next.js. This might require more changes, but it’s worth it for the benefits you’ll gain. Next.js is great for full-stack applications and provides automatic routing and optimized server-side rendering.

3️⃣ Stick with Webpack (Not Recommended)

If you're feeling nostalgic and want to stick with Webpack, you can eject your CRA project and manually configure Webpack yourself. However, this is a labor-intensive process and takes away the benefits of using a modern, streamlined tool.

Conclusion: Time to Level Up Your React Workflow

With CRA now officially retired, React developers have access to faster, more efficient tools that make life a lot easier. Whether you go with Vite, Next.js, or Remix, the important thing is to start using tools that are built for performance and simplicity.

I’ve made the switch myself and moved a few of my projects from CRA to Vite and Next.js, and honestly, the difference is huge. The speed boost and overall developer experience are night and day. If you're still hanging on to CRA, trust me—now’s the perfect time to level up your workflow and get on board with the tools that are built for the future.

So, are you ready to make the switch? If you want something fast and lightweight, Vite is the way to go. But if you're working on something more complex with SSR and static site generation, Next.js will take care of you. I’m sure once you make the switch, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it earlier! Keep developing, keep learning, and keep pushing your projects to the next level.