React’s still thriving in 2025 — but it’s the tools around it that really elevate your dev game. Here’s your quickfire guide to what matters this year:
- Vite for instant dev speed
- Next.js for SSR, API routes, and edge power
- Astro if you want near-zero JS output
State? Skip Redux (unless you must).
→ Use Zustand or built-in hooks.
→ useContext still works for lightweight needs.
Data fetching?
→ TanStack Query dominates REST.
→ tRPC is magic if you’re all-in on TypeScript.
→ GraphQL? Go with Apollo or urql.
Styling?
→ Tailwind CSS rules the scene.
→ Pair with shadcn/ui or Radix for fully customizable components.
Tooling?
→ pnpm > npm for speed
→ Turborepo is 🔥 for monorepos
→ Biome might just replace your linter + formatter combo
Charts, Forms, Animations?
→ Recharts, Framer Motion, and React Hook Form still deliver.
React in 2025 = leaner, faster, more fun. Use only what you need — and build boldly.