Nuxt.js: Key Features for Developing Apps

What is Nuxt.js

It is a framework written in JavaScript and open source that was created to facilitate and speed up the creation of applications with Vue.js. Nuxt.js makes developers' work easier thanks to some features, such as the possibility of grouping JavaScript, HTML and CSS on the client side, or the use of Vuex to manage the state of the application. 

Nuxt.js backend and features

Nuxt.js has different APIs and backend services that may be sufficient for some applications. However, if custom backend functionalities such as databases are needed, the best option is to build a separate backend or a BaaS such as Supabase.

Nuxt.js features

Nuxt.js is a platform that has several features that improve the performance of Vue.js, the following are the most outstanding ones:

• Server-side rendering

Vue.js is a framework that allows server-side rendering, however, a large amount of code is required for its configuration. Nuxt.js takes care of eliminating this code, simplifying the process considerably.

• Generation of static sites

You can get the benefits of server-side rendering (SSR) without worrying about the tasks involved.

•  Code division

It allows splitting all the code into different packages to load only what is needed on the client side, which improves performance and decreases the size of the application.

• Modular code base

Nuxt.js code is fully reusable.

•  Self-import

The automation of the component import process, so developers only have to focus on writing the content and Nuxt.js will take care of the rest.

Advantages and disadvantages of Nuxt.js 

Advantages

• Nuxt.js, like Vue, is known among the developer community as one of the easiest frameworks to learn compared to other JavaScript-based frameworks.

• With Nuxt.js you can create fully scalable applications, thanks to the rendering options it offers.

• Asynchronous data loading on the server side is automatic.

• Thanks to its server-side rendering capabilities, it improves application performance.

• Enables rapid development, ideal for building applications under the MVP approach.

Disadvantages

•  Very useful and popular add-ons are not available.

• The documentation is insufficient.

• The server can be overloaded by high application traffic. 

• Vue's community is much smaller than that of other frameworks, so troubleshooting can be slower.

Which tools integrate with Nuxt.js

Many tools can be integrated into Nuxt.js:: Strapi, imgix, Supabase, Bulder and Localazy, among others.

Industries using Nuxt.js

Although not as popular as other JavaScript-based frameworks, Nuxt.js is already used by many companies such as: Hennge, Trivago, Alibaba Group, Trade Republic, Yousing, Quero Education.

Nuxt.js and Vue

Vue is an open-source JavaScript framework designed to facilitate the construction of user interfaces and single-page applications, which also has a very low learning curve, which has earned it increasing popularity among developers.

On the other hand, Nuxt.js is a Vue framework designed to enhance the functionalities of the latter, adding other features, making them a very powerful combination that provides high performance and simplicity when developing applications.

Approach and Differences between Next.js and Nuxt.js

While Nuxt.js is a framework built on top of Vue.js, which provides tools and functions created to facilitate the development of complex applications, Next.js comes from React, and focuses on providing the basic and essential elements, allowing more customization during development. 

Differences between Next.js and Nuxt.js:

• State management

Nuxt.js uses the Vuex pattern, which is characterized as a centralized state manager, can access data from multiple components, aggregate actions and create mutations that make it easy to track the state of the application.

Next.js, on the other hand, uses the Redux pattern, which is based on component management, where each component has its own state and must use reducers to access data from other components.

• Development experience

Nuxt.js makes work easier, as it provides modules to integrate new technologies. In contrast, Next.js relies on libraries built on top of React, which are not ready to use, nor are they integrated.

• Code division

Code splitting is one of the main features of Next.js, which automatically splits JavaScript packages into several files that are loaded as needed.

While Nuxt.js must be configured to be able to use Webpack code splitting.

Aplyca and Nuxt.js Developments

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