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Guide · Open source

How to use Razzle: server-rendered JavaScript apps without config

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Razzle is an open-source framework for building JavaScript apps that render on both the server and the browser, and it is described as needing no configuration. This guide is for developers who want to evaluate it, get the source, and decide whether it fits a project. The README could not be reviewed for this page, so setup details beyond cloning the repository are not confirmed here.

Razzlejaredpalmer/razzle · ★ 11k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Decide if Razzle fits. Check whether you want server-rendered React or Preact with little or no webpack configuration, and whether a maintenance risk is acceptable for your project.
  2. 2Clone the repository. Run git clone https://github.com/jaredpalmer/razzle to get the source code on your machine.
  3. 3Open the package README. Go to packages/razzle/README.md inside the cloned repository and read the setup instructions it contains.
  4. 4Check the project status. Look at recent commits and open issues to judge whether the project is still actively maintained.
  5. 5Build and test in a small folder. Follow only the build steps the README confirms, in an isolated test folder, before using it in real work.
  6. 6Compare alternatives. Try a small example with Next.js, Remix, or Gatsby if you need a mature, documented option.

What Razzle is and who it suits

Razzle is a tool for server-rendered universal JavaScript applications. Its project description promises no configuration, and its topics list React, Preact, TypeScript, and webpack, which suggests those are the main pieces it works with.

It is a reasonable fit for developers who want server-rendered React or Preact apps without writing webpack configuration themselves, or who want to try a configuration-free setup. It is less suitable for projects that need documented, current maintenance, because this review could not confirm the project's current status.

  • Good fit: wanting server-rendered React or Preact without hand-writing webpack config
  • Good fit: trying a configuration-free setup for universal JavaScript apps
  • Poor fit: projects that require confirmed, current maintenance
  • Poor fit: beginners, since no beginner guidance could be confirmed

Get the Razzle source code

The install method listed for Razzle is clone-and-build, and the README-based install command is to clone the repository. No other prerequisites are listed in the source reviewed here, so check the repository for anything it requires before you start.

git clone https://github.com/jaredpalmer/razzle

Find the setup instructions in the repository

The source material points to the package README at packages/razzle/README.md, which is where the usage details would be. The README was truncated and was not available for this review, so commands for creating or running an app are not listed on this page.

Read that file yourself before following any build steps. Do not rely on commands from older blog posts unless they match what the repository's README says.

  • Open packages/razzle/README.md in the cloned repository
  • Confirm the build and run steps it describes
  • Check the project's issue tracker and commit history for recent activity

Compare Razzle with alternatives before committing

Razzle is often compared with Next.js, Remix, and Gatsby, which are the comparable projects named in the source. Each has its own approach to server rendering and project setup, so a short trial with a small example will tell you more than a feature list.

Because Razzle's current status could not be confirmed, teams with production deadlines should weigh the maintenance question heavily.

  • Next.js
  • Remix
  • Gatsby

Troubleshooting when the README is unclear

If the repository's README does not answer a setup question, the source does not provide further guidance. Check the project homepage at https://razzlejs.org and the open issues on GitHub, and be cautious about unverified tutorials.

Keep your test project small so you can tell whether a problem comes from Razzle, from webpack, or from your own code.

  • Check the homepage https://razzlejs.org for documentation
  • Search open and closed GitHub issues for your error message
  • Test in an isolated folder before touching a real project

What people use it for

  • Prototyping a server-rendered React app without writing webpack configuration by hand
  • Testing a configuration-free setup for universal JavaScript apps
  • Comparing older server-rendering frameworks against newer options during evaluation
  • Exploring a Preact or TypeScript setup built around webpack

Frequently asked questions

Is Razzle free to use?

Razzle is released under the MIT licence, which is a permissive open-source licence. Check the LICENSE file in the repository to confirm the terms before you use it in a project.

What do I need to install Razzle?

The install method listed is clone-and-build, and the source lists no prerequisites. Its README was not reviewed, so check the repository for any requirements before you start.

How do I install Razzle?

The only install command confirmed in the source is git clone https://github.com/jaredpalmer/razzle. The build and run steps should be taken from packages/razzle/README.md in that repository.

Is Razzle still maintained?

This review could not confirm Razzle's current maintenance status. Check recent commits and open issues on GitHub before relying on it for production work.

What are the alternatives to Razzle?

The comparable projects named in the source are Next.js, Remix, and Gatsby. Each is a server-rendering or web framework option you can test against Razzle with a small example.

Does Razzle work with React and TypeScript?

The project's topics list React, Preact, TypeScript, and webpack, which suggests these are the main technologies it works with. Confirm the exact supported setup in the README, which was not reviewed here.

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Our verdict

Razzle may suit developers who want server-rendered React or Preact apps with little webpack configuration and who are comfortable evaluating an open-source project on their own. Teams that need documented, confirmed maintenance, or beginners who need step-by-step guidance, should pick a more established option such as Next.js, Remix, or Gatsby.

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