The React Boilerplate project is a personal initiative by Ryan Goh to build a robust, production-ready starting point for modern web applications. Moving away from standard CLI tools, this boilerplate offers deep control over the build process using Webpack 5.
While currently in active development, it serves as a growing library of best practices, reusable UI components, and performance optimizations tailored for scalable React applications.
Getting Started: For a detailed walkthrough on setting up and using this library, check out my React Boilerplate Guide.
Engineering a Better Scaffold
Traditional boilerplates often include “bloat” that slows down performance. This project focuses on a “modular first” philosophy:
- Webpack 5 Optimization: Custom-configured for fast Hot Module Replacement (HMR), tree-shaking, and efficient asset bundling.
- Component-Based Architecture: Focused on building a library of highly reusable, atomic components that can be dropped into any project without friction.
- Modern Tooling: Integrated with Babel for ES6+ support, specialized loaders for SASS/CSS modules, and optimized image processing.
- Performance Driven: Designed with a 90+ Lighthouse score target in mind, utilizing lazy loading and code-splitting strategies.
Features in Development
As this project evolves from a boilerplate into a comprehensive library, I am currently integrating:
- Atomic Design System: Expanding the base UI components to include complex patterns like data tables and custom form validation.
- API Integration Layer: A standardized way to handle asynchronous data fetching and error states across the application.
- Advanced Documentation: Developing a usage guide that demonstrates how to implement each component with minimal overhead.
Why Build Custom?
Building a boilerplate from scratch allows for a deeper understanding of the React Ecosystem. It ensures that every dependency is accounted for and that the final bundle sent to the user is as lean as possible. This project is a testament to the intersection of clean code and optimal user experience.
Explore the Repository: GitHub: React Boilerplates