Critical Analysis of Next.js 15 App Router and React Server Components After One Year of Professional Use
By
nnx
Baker's choice. Dense with flavour, light on filler.
Summary
The article presents a critical analysis of Next.js 15's App Router and React Server Components (RSC) based on one year of professional use. The author argues that the fundamental design decisions by Vercel and the React team are flawed, leading to frustration among developers. The critique covers architectural issues, developer experience problems, and the author's decision to move away from Next.js despite its popularity. The article serves as a detailed technical critique rather than just reporting bugs or API confusion.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledI find the core design of their App Router and React Server Components (RSC) to be extremely frustrating
The more webdev events I go to, the more I see people who dislike Next.js, but still get stuck using it
By the end of this article, I will share how me and my colleagues escaped this
And it's not small bugs or that the API is confusing, but large disagreements about the fundamental design decisions
You might also wanna read
Building Local-First Web Apps: A Real-World Developer's Perspective for 2026
A developer shares a grounded, experience-driven perspective on building local-first web apps in 2026. The article opens with a relatable an
Smashing Magazine·26d ago
JavaScript-Heavy Web Development Approaches Conflict with Long-Term Performance Objectives
This opinion piece argues that JavaScript-heavy web development approaches are fundamentally incompatible with long-term performance goals.
sgom.es·3mo ago
Arcan-A12 Browser Engine: A Microkernel Architecture Approach to Web Browsing
The article discusses Arcan-A12, a browser engine that implements a microkernel architecture approach to web browsing. It emphasizes the dec
divergent-desktop.org·3mo ago
The Rise of HTML-First Web Development: How htmx and Server-Driven Frameworks Are Changing Front-End Development
The article discusses a significant shift in web development away from heavy Single Page Application (SPA) frameworks like React, Angular, a
danieleteti.it·5mo ago
React and Remix: Diverging Paths Driven by Values Alignment
The article analyzes the diverging paths of React and Remix frameworks through the lens of values alignment rather than technical merit. The
Local First Web Development: A Better Paradigm for Modern Applications
The article critiques the current state of web development, highlighting issues like intrusive ads, AI-generated search summaries, and slow
elijahm.com·6mo ago