Are you working on a new web development project? In this introduction to Hotwire, we tell you what it is for and what its features are. Read on to learn when and why to use Hotwire.
What is Hotwire and what is it for?
Hotwire is an open source web development toolkit, created by the Basecamp company, used to build modern Single-Page Applications (SPAs) using standard web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Hotwire works on the principle that in many cases SPAs are unnecessarily complex for building interactive web applications. Rather than building an SPA that requires a JavaScript framework on the client to manipulate the DOM and update the user interface, Hotwire uses advanced HTML, JavaScript and WebSocket techniques to enable web applications to be more interactive and faster without requiring unnecessary complexity on the client.
Hotwire provides an enriched HTML framework called Turbo, a JavaScript framework called Stimulus, and a WebSocket framework called Strada, to create more interactive and faster web applications, without the need for a client-side JavaScript framework.
Hotwire’s main function is to improve the user experience by offering a faster and smoother browsing experience. Also, it helps simplify the development process by reducing the need for additional tools and technologies, such as REST APIs or complex state handling.
Hotwire features
- SSR (Server-Side Rendering). Hotwire uses server-generated HTML to initially load content on the page, and then uses JavaScript to update the content in the background as users interact with the application. This allows for a faster and smoother user experience, as users can view page content immediately.
- Turbo Streams. This is a technology that allows you to update specific parts of a web page without having to reload the entire page. This also helps to improve the speed and responsiveness of the application.
- Turbo Drive. Hotwire includes Turbo Drive, a JavaScript library that adds tabbed browsing and page transitions without having to reload the entire page. This also helps to improve the speed and responsiveness of the application.
- Cable. Hotwire includes Action Cable, a Rails library that provides real-time communication between the server and the client. This makes it easy to create real-time applications such as real-time chats, games, and collaboration.
- Ruby on Rails compatibility. It was specifically designed to work with Ruby on Rails, which means that developers can use Hotwire in conjunction with Ruby on Rails to build dynamic and scalable web applications.
When and why to use Hotwire?
Hotwire is a great choice for developers who want to build dynamic and interactive web applications with a fast and smooth user experience. Here are some scenarios where it can be beneficial to use Hotwire:
- Data update in real time. If you need an application that updates data in real time, such as a chat or collaboration application, Hotwire is a good choice due to its real-time communication capabilities through Action Cable.
- Applications with many interactions. If you’re developing an application with a lot of UI interactions, such as drag and drop, or window resizing, Hotwire can help you improve the user experience and reduce the number of server calls.
- Speed optimization. If you’re developing an application where speed is of the essence, such as an e-commerce application, Hotwire can help you reduce page load time and provide a faster, smoother user experience.
- Development simplification. If you’re looking for an easier way to develop dynamic web applications, Hotwire may be a good choice, as it reduces the need for additional tools and technologies, such as REST APIs or complex state handling.
Conclusions to our introduction to Hotwire
In this introduction to Hotwire, we discussed that it is a set of web development tools. It offers a fast and smooth user experience, simplifies the development process, and provides a wide range of useful features for web developers. With its ability to create interactive and dynamic web applications, Hotwire is becoming an increasingly popular choice for developers looking for an easier and more efficient way to build modern web applications.
