ReactJS is one of the most used web frameworks and a highly preferred web library among software developers across the globe. React JS allows professionals to add designer characteristics and simplify the software’s and applications’ development process. It is used for creating extensive graphics, top performances, and engaging UIs for websites and applications. Without regular maintenance, your ReactJS app will not be able to provide a continuous and interactive user experience.
- According to Statista, % of software experts were using React.js.
- 3.7% of all the websites use React JS
- According to a popular survey done by , React.js has a 42.62% popularity
- 49% of people have reported using react JS regularly, according to another survey conducted
- 10855 users have reported a satisfaction rate of 83.65% using React JS
However, the cost of maintaining React JS could be a concern. So, here we will find out, what leads to the increase in maintenance costs for ReactJS web applications, and what can be done to reduce it.
What Is ReactJS?
ReactJS is a free front-end JavaScript library that is also an open-source application. It is used for developing UIs that are component-based and is maintained by Meta. You can develop server-oriented and single-page mobile applications by combings React and Next.js.
However, his ReactJS-based web apps usually require high maintenance after being released to users, and some components of the UI need maintenance work.
React is a JavaScript library, not a framework that comes with an impressive user interface. It can improve the user experience and deliver faster performance. Most businesses and software application companies are hiring ReactJS programmers for simple but fast prototyping.
However, apps often require a lot of maintenance after completion. The user interface has several elements that require regular maintenance, which can be difficult and expensive. Let’s take a look at the factors that contribute to high maintenance costs for ReactJS apps.
Features that lead to High Maintenance Costs for ReactJS Apps
Let’s understand the factors that affect your ReactJS app’s maintenance costs, then learn how to reduce them. Here are the factors that lead to high costs:
Type of Application
You must know the project cost differences between creating a hybrid app and a native app. Hybrid apps are more cost-effective and enable multiple platforms to use the same code. But you may need to write separate codes for developing native apps, which can be time-consuming and expensive. Hybrid apps are recommended if you want to release your app at scale.
Add-Ons that Belong to a 3rd Party
Integrating multiple 3rd party add-ons can lead to heavy maintenance and expensive updates and upgrades, as the app works perfectly without them.
Long-Term and Continuous Approach
Planning additional features to add to your app at app launch is always expensive. You need to apply React JS to keep up with changing user needs and trends. You should change and add new features regularly. For an improved app interface and UI, you must build long-term relationships with your website development company and discuss frequent updates.
Documentation that is Unclear and Complicated
When developers don’t have a clear idea of how the product is structured, web apps become more difficult to maintain, and maintenance costs increase.
Choosing an Inexperienced Outsourcing or Project Partner
Outsourcing from a company with little or no experience in ReactJS app development can cost you a lot of your development budget. It’s important to check if the ReactJS company you’re looking to hire has experience working on similar projects. If they are inexperienced, the project will most likely take longer to complete or cost more.
Inappropriate Development Approach
If you don’t know whether to adopt a logical, pragmatic, object-oriented, or must-have programming approach when developing your app, you will end up with maintenance work with every update, which may lead to higher costs.
The Version of Technology
You need to choose the technology version and stack before you start the app development process. A higher version will cost more, and you can end up paying more for pointless maintenance. On the contrary, choosing a lower version can be problematic, too, because upgrades are quite expensive. So always choose a stable variant that suits your needs. For this knowledge, it is best to who can estimate your requirement in advance and provide good advice for your project.
Using Outdated or Obsolete Technology
Using obsolete technology can introduce errors and bugs into your React app that can result in high maintenance costs. These errors are difficult to identify and eliminate.
Adding Complex Features
Complicating your app with functionality that isn’t required at the time can increase maintenance costs.
Top Ways to Reduce Maintenance Costs for ReactJS Apps
Now that you’ve recognized the elements that can increase your React web app’s maintenance costs, it’s time to understand how you can help reduce such high maintenance and update costs.
Initiate a Mobile-First Approach
Always hire ReactJS developers in India and ask them about the mobile-first approach before developing any kind of application. This means making your application compatible with mobile phones first and choosing a larger screen later. With this approach, you would need to switch to a larger screen only if you are making enough money from it. It is recommended not to go the other way around, as going to the big screen first will cost you extra money.
Only Use Structured JavaScript
Modularized JavaScript code can improve maintainability and expose modularized code into reusable components. You can easily reduce the maintenance cost of your ReactJS apps by making it easier for the developers you hire to work with a structured JavaScript approach. Structured code is less time-consuming, so when hiring, select only those developers who use a structured JavaScript approach.
Promote Clear Documentation
When developers get confused, they mostly go back and forth through the documentation. The developers you choose must document code quality, project progress, and historical data to make it easily accessible when in doubt. This saves time and money. The documentation also provides an overview of the overall project structure. It makes it easier to hand over the project to other developers and simplifies project contracting and development processes while reducing maintenance costs.
Impact of New Features
Before you ask a developer to add new functionality to your application, assess if users want such features in your app. You can conduct surveys or polls, and if you get a good response, only then should you introduce extra features. Choosing this approach can reduce post-development maintenance costs. Adding features also impacts feature life and app performance, adding a layer of code and incurring unnecessary costs.
Go for a Version Upgrade
It is highly recommended to update to the latest version of ReactJS to eliminate all vulnerabilities in your app and reduce maintenance costs. The updated library provides new features and enhanced in-app performance and productivity improvements. The latest versions of libraries provide security features that protect your applications from future problems that require high maintenance costs.
The Right Outsourcing Partner
Outsourcing a project to the wrong partner who doesn’t have the apt knowledge or experience can be costly, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. So, choose your partner and third-party add-ons with proper updates prudently to avoid delays and added costs.
Initiate and Maintain a Responsive Approach
Keeping your application responsive design with the help of professional developers improves structuring CSS in your application and the development of a mobile-friendly theme. A responsive design is essential to reduce the cost of developing a mobile website using ReactJS web applications.
Maintain Code Quality
Ensuring code quality is paramount to reducing maintenance costs. Familiarity with your web app’s code will result in fewer errors and bugs, faster and smoother code execution, and easier modifications if necessary. You can also significantly reduce future maintenance costs by hiring developers who adopt clean code practices. Well-written code is rarely error-prone and, most importantly, is easy to upgrade.
Add Code Testing Tools
Adding testing tools can mitigate the number of bugs that your app may contain. To save the effort and time of manual error detection, you can opt for automated testing tools.
Maintenance Support and Experienced Outsourcing
Go for ongoing maintenance packages to reduce maintenance costs and avoid potential issues that can crash your app. Outsource work only to experienced professionals after checking their relationships and success rates with previous clients. It eases the development process and reduces maintenance costs.
Conclusion
You must stringently check all aspects that can affect the maintenance cost of your ReactJS app and use recommended practices to reduce additional costs. Reducing costs does not affect app quality but is critical to any business. Transform your high costs into high performance at the lowest possible costs by working with an experienced React.js developer. Reduce your maintenance costs by 25-50% just by following the above-mentioned development best practices and tips.