Analogues > React > Advantages of IntraWeb 17

Compared to React, creating the same games in IntraWeb 17 is often easier, faster, and involves less boilerplate code. Let’s look at why:

1.Less Code, Same Functionality

Even for a simple form with an input, a message, a counter, and a button, React requires a fair amount of boilerplate.

React (JSX + Hooks + Handlers)

<input

type="text"

value={guess}

onChange={(e) => setGuess(e.target.value)}

disabled={!isButtonEnabled}

<p>{message}</p>

<p>Guess #{count}</p>

Guess

</button>

IntraWeb 17 (IWML Layout)

SimpleStack

Edit:GuessEdit =this.Guess

Text =this.Msg

Text Guess #[=this.Count]

Button:GuessButton Guess

IntraWeb lets you focus on what your app should do, not how to wire everything together. For small-to-medium interactive apps, it delivers maximum results with minimal code.

2.Simpler State Management

In React, state updates are asynchronous and require useState, setters, and often multiple hooks to coordinate state.

In IntraWeb, you work with simple class properties:

this.Msg = 'Too high!';

this.Count++;

this.Guess = NaN;

State is reactive by default, and you don’t need hooks to track or re-render — changes are instantly reflected in the UI.

3.Zero Build Tools or Compilers

React projects require:

•Node.js

•npm packages

•Bundlers (Webpack or Vite)

•JSX to JS transpilation

In contrast, IntraWeb runs natively in the browser without any additional tooling. You just:

1.Create an .iwml layout

2.Write a plain JavaScript file

3.Open it in your browser

That’s it — no build step, no dependencies.

4.Clean Separation of Layout and Logic

In React, markup and logic are mixed inside components (JSX + functions). IntraWeb keeps these concerns separate:

•Layout: .iwml file (like HTML)

•Logic: .js file with a class that extends IntraWeb.Code

This makes the code easier to read and maintain.

5.Much Smaller Project Size

Another major advantage of IntraWeb 17 is how little space it takes compared to modern JavaScript frameworks. While even the simplest React project pulls in hundreds of megabytes of dependencies, a complete IntraWeb app consists of just a few small files: the layout, the logic, and a lightweight runtime.

There’s no massive node_modules folder, no bundlers, and no toolchain overhead. The entire project is dozens of times smaller, launches instantly, and is easy to copy, share, or deploy without installation steps.

In short, IntraWeb delivers full interactivity with a fraction of the weight — clean, fast, and efficient by design.