Datastar: Web Framework for the Future?

Summary

Datastar is a new hypermedia framework that makes building real-time web applications simpler and more efficient. It prioritizes server-side logic, uses “signals” for automatic UI updates, and leverages Server-Sent Events for lightning-fast performance. If you’re looking for a streamlined alternative to traditional JavaScript frameworks or HTMX, Datastar is worth exploring.However, it requires that you approach web development with a fresh perspective, embracing server-driven architecture and reactive programming.I’ve been diving into hypermedia lately looking at frameworks and libraries to build a new product and to help quickly create proof of concepts and web tools for clients.HTMX at the time of writing was getting basically all the attention in the Hypermedia world. It demos really well and the examples are great. However, this article is NOT about HTMX.I believe hypermedia and HTMX offer a promising direction, but when I tried to develop a new product using HTMX, I felt stuck due to challenges in figuring out the project structure, the HTML structure combined with excessive HTMX tags and realizing HTMX cannot handle the front-end interactively for which you have to bring in something like AlpineJS. (Did I mention I hate javascript?). HTMX is cool but I think before you start a new project with it you might want to look at Datastar as well.I had looked at Datastar in the past while evaluating HTMX but I did not grasp its potential over HTMX until I took a second look at started to feel some HTMX pain. Your results may vary.First let’s understand my biased perspective. Everyone’s background is different and I think it is important to understand where I am coming from.I am an expert in the PeopleSoft ERP platform creating “enterprise” applicationsPeopleSoft is a large ERP system that is used by many large organizations. It is a very powerful but a bit dated. Since it is the hub of most corporate data it is not going away anytime soon but SAAS apps are slowly chip...