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- I replaced entire React app with 20 lines of code (and it actually worked better)
I replaced entire React app with 20 lines of code (and it actually worked better)
Tired of React's complexity? Learn how this tiny library let me build the same features with 90% less code and no build tools...

Hey friend,
Have you ever stared at a massive React codebase and thought:
“This can't be the only way…”
Last month, I hit that wall hard.
Our “simple dashboard” ballooned into:
A 200MB
node_modules
directoryEnough boilerplate to make my eyes glaze over
Constant dependency warnings and config battles
Sound familiar?
Then I discovered HTMX —
A tiny library that lets you use modern browser features directly from HTML attributes.
✅ No JavaScript required (well, almost none).
I was skeptical, so I put it to the test:
I rebuilt a simple Todo app twice —
once in React, once in HTMX.
Here’s what happened:
🧠 | React | HTMX |
---|---|---|
📄 Code Size | 200+ lines across multiple files | Just 20 lines of HTML |
📦 Bundle Size | 2.3MB | 76KB (97% smaller!) |
⚡ Load Time | 3.2 seconds | 780ms |
👥 Team Onboarding | Days | Hours |
What you'll find in my full guide:
✅ Side-by-side code comparisons
✅ The paradigm shift that powers HTMX
✅ A step-by-step migration plan
✅ When you should still choose React
If you're feeling the weight of JavaScript fatigue or just want to simplify your stack...
Happy coding,
– BeyondIT
P.S.
Have you tried HTMX or similar HTML-first approaches?
Hit reply and share your experience — I’d love to hear what worked (or didn’t) for you!