Magento Development With Vue.js and React.js

With an increasing demand for progressive web applications (PWAs) in cross-platform and multi-device environments, the concept of headless commerce flourished extensively in the field of eCommerce-based web development. The use of the Magento Development 2 backend module with modern frontend JavaScript platforms such as ReactJS and VueJS got greater traction in the market. With the integration of Magento with ReactJS and VueJS, you get lightning page loading, custom themes and controls, greater flexibility, faster scalability, easier deployment, effective SEO and marketing, and much more. A consistent increase in the popularity of Magento and VueJS/ReactJS combination pushed the demand for Magento-certified developers significantly in the marketplace.

What Is Magento?

Magento is an eCommerce platform with advanced features when integrated with powerful JavaScript frontend platforms like ReactJS and VueJS. It offers a range of features such as custom themes, greater performance, higher flexibility, faster scaling, cross-channel shopping experience, AI recommendations, and much more. Besides, it is the third largest contributor in the global market of eCommerce platforms with a present value of over $5.05 billion. The report states that it will cross $14.48 billion by 2031 with a whopping growth of over 12.4% CAGR. Furthermore, it powers over 250 thousand merchants with a share of over 9% of global eCommerce websites. Moreover, it is a big contributor to the market of web development worldwide.  

Why Integrate Magento with React.js and Vue.js?

Using standalone Magento with traditional tools is highly complex and lacks flexibility and performance. Integrating Magento 2 with modern ReactJS and VueJS platforms offers solutions to numerous problems that Adobe Commerce (Magento) developers would face in traditional Magento eCommerce application development. The most important reasons to integrate Magento with ReactJS and VueJS include:

• Rise of progressive web applications (PWAs) – Faster loading without any downloads or any other hindrances is the most fundamental objective of progressive web applications. It is also capable of working offline and supports push notifications for direct and custom communication with clients. The demand for PWA development has increased significantly which is one of the most important reasons for integrating Magento with ReactJS/VueJS libraries.
• Higher performance – The integration of Magento with modern JavaScript libraries offers higher performance with many times reduced webpage loading time. The concept of headless commerce is realized through this integration to produce flexibility, efficiency, and custom development. The faster loading of eCommerce pages increases sales and revenue substantially.
• SEO advantages – ReactJS and VueJS are modern JavaScript platforms to offer a higher level of flexibility, performance, and capabilities such as search engine optimization, online marketing, and others. They support a large number of attractive SEO tools with the frontend development of those JavaScript platforms that improve the performance and effectiveness of websites in search algorithms perfectly.
• Enhanced user experience – The user experience is one of the most crucial components in online shopping or eCommerce. Every merchant always tries to achieve the greatest user experience by providing an attractive outlook, interactive and custom communication, faster loading time, AI recommendations, and much more. Headless commerce through Magento and ReactJS/VueJS integration helps you obtain user experience impeccably.

A Few Real-World Examples:

Numerous top brands and eCommerce stores use the power of VueJS storefront and ReactJS capabilities integrated with the Magento 2 platform for building contemporary online stores. A few examples of such brands include Coca-Cola, Land Rover, Olympus, Fred Perry Fashions, Irish Store, and others.

Setting Up Magento with React.js and Vue.js

Before diving into the step-by-step procedure for setting up Magento with ReactJS and VueJS, let’s identify the prerequisites and tools first.

Image Credit: Pexels

Prerequisites and Tools

All dedicated or part-time Magento consultants should have access to the following prerequisites and tools before proceeding with setting up Magento with ReactJS and VueJS.

• Docker Desktop
• Node.js
• Magento Marketplace Account
• A custom theme created on Magento
• Latest versions of ReactJS and VueJS

Fundamental Steps to Integrate Magento with ReactJS and VueJS

ReactJS and VueJS are highly featured and modern JavaScript libraries that are used with the Magento eCommerce platform to realize the flexible and efficient eCommerce development model known as headless commerce.

Magento Development with Vue.js

Download the latest version of the VueJS storefront and place the file in the theme file you created in the prerequisites:

• Create a RequireJS configuration named ‘Requirejs-config.js’
• Create a new project by running the CLI
• Add the project name on the VueJS interface
• Select “Magento 2” in the integration template option
• Select the ‘No’ option to hop over the local installation. It will create the VueJS project.
• Install the dependencies after the creation of the project
• After dependencies, you need to install Magento 2 instances with the help of the Docker platform locally
• The system will seek your credentials. Input the valid credentials username and password which are public and private keys respectively
• The installation will start and will be completed after a few minutes
• Configure the environment variables of the VueJS storefront.

Magento Development with React.js

• First of all, install Node.js runtime environment, Node.js package, and NPM management environments
• Install the ReactJS application’s latest version that you downloaded as a prerequisite
• Install Webpack for ReactJS on your environment
• Add the connection between ReactJS and Magento through the requirejs-config.js file configured as a prerequisite to integrate Magento with ReactJS
• Finally, put a template to the layout of your environment and change the elements of ID.

Best Practices for Initial Setting-Up of Magento with ReactJS and VueJS

Best practices implemented in the initial setup will help you avert a range of issues and complications in the future. You can also hire an expert Magento developer to identify and implement those best practices such as:

• Always use the latest versions of ReactJS, VueJS, NodeJS, Magento, and other software for better security and features
• Using GraphQL for efficient communication with the backend through web APIs is a great idea to follow
• All required components, names, directories, credentials, and other parts of configuration should be properly thought of.
• Avoid using default settings and credentials to avoid any security breaches
• Always use qualified and dedicated Magento teams to get professional results

Developing Magento Modules with ReactJS and VueJS

A module of Magento consists of a combination of directories that comprise helpers, models, controllers, and blocks. They are also used to perform numerous functions that can improve the user experience through custom development.

Besides, customization is the core component of Magento module development with VueJS and ReactJS to perform customized communication, products, and marketing campaigns. Furthermore, this increases user engagement, experience, and satisfaction, which translates into the desired business bottom lines.

Step-by-Step Procedure to Build Custom Magento with ReactJS and VueJS modules

Creating Magento modules with ReactJS and VueJS JavaScript platforms is a complex technical activity that requires web development skills and experience. You can hire Magento developers to accomplish this task professionally. Now, check the steps of the process below:

• First of all, create a folder where the module will be located. The scheme of module definition consists of two parts – “VendorName_ModuleName”
• The second step is to create an etc/module.xml file. This file is indispensable for the existence of the module with many required information components
• In the third step, you need to create the registration file named etc/registration.php. With this, the module has been created in Magento.
• In the fourth step, enable the module created in Magento2
• Finally, check the module is working fine.

Performance and Security of Custom ReactJS/VueJS and Magento Modules

Security and performance are two big features offered by Magento2 with VueJS/ReactJS platforms. They can also be improved by taking the following steps:

• Always use the latest versions of Magento2 and JavaScript platforms
• Use the Content Delivery Networks (CDN) for content delivery
• In datalog, all unused data should be removed in Magento
• Use varnish cache and in-memory data stores
• Change Magento web pages to PWAs
• Always enable the option of “Flat Categories and Products”
• Activate the feature of adding a secret key to the URLs and make logins case-sensitive
• Add Magento security tools
• Enable the forced password change feature

Conclusion:

Integrating Magento with modern JavaScript platforms, especially ReactJS and VueJS, with the help of specialized Magento web developers provides you with a wide spectrum of benefits in modern eCommerce custom applications. They include lightning-fast performance, greater user experience, attractive website look, customized interactions, greater reusability, inbuilt tools, and many others.