What does a JavaScript library for building user interfaces have in common with an intense physical training program that uses functional training exercises?
I have been working with React for a few years and don’t practice CrossFit, but I have friends who talk about CrossFit every day, and I ended up noticing that they share some characteristics that make them so popular and successful.
The first similarity is their numbers. The React repository on GitHub has over 220,000 stars and nearly 50,000 forks. The library has around 23 million weekly downloads on NPM. Now about CrossFit, according to Livestrong.com, CrossFit has more than 15,000 affiliate gyms in over 120 countries, and it is estimated that there are more than 5 million practitioners.
1. Community
In my opinion, this is the foundation **that keeps React and CrossFit at the top. Both React and CrossFit have been able to build a **collaborative and supportive base.
It’s not a surprise to anyone that the React community shares tons of knowledge every day and provides and maintains solutions for many kind of problems. A large part of what exists about React was and continues to be created by the React community. Do you need to implement routing in your application? You’ll find a community-maintained library that does that. Need animations? There will be various solutions for that and content produced to help you. Didn’t find anything for what you need? You’ll probably feel motivated to create a solution and share it with the community.
CrossFit has this same spirit of collaboration. CrossFit is practiced in groups that frequently motivate, teach, and help others.
Within these communities, everyone helps each other directly and indirectly. This promotes organic marketing, which contributes to the snowball effect where more and more people are influenced.
2. Flexibility
When you start to practise CrossFit, you’ll quickly notice that it works well for everyone. It doesn’t matter your skill level, your knowledge, or your physical condition. The exercises will be adapted for you. CrossFit is flexible and scalable for everyone.
The same is true for React. React is a tool that allows you to create interfaces with extreme flexibility,** regardless of the size, complexity, or domain.** React is flexible and scalable for everyone, just like CrossFit.
Both have small barriers to entry. Of course, there is still a difference between a professional and a beginner in both fields, but never mind.
3. Modularity
React and CrossFit benefit from modularity by design.
React has a component-based architecture that allows developers to create modular interfaces where each component can be built, tested, and maintained in isolation.
On the other hand, CrossFit has a modular approach in its workouts. Each exercise has its own technique that works towards an independent goal.
When these components and exercises are combined, they create varied and challenging interfaces and workouts.
4. Efficiency
This is a straightforward point - there’s not much to elaborate on it. React and CrossFit were designed to be efficient in what they should do.
An efficient and effective solution for building user interfaces? React. This tool allows developers to build high-quality interfaces quickly and productively through its features.
An efficient and effective solution for improving physical conditioning? CrossFit. This program maximizes results and progress through high-intensity and functional workouts.
5. Innovation
To be honest, it’s scary how innovative React and CrossFit are in what they aim to do. The speed of updates can sometimes be overwhelming, but things eventually settle down.
React constantly releases new updates, new featuress and improvements that that make life easier for developers, enhancing the way user interfaces are developed.
CrossFit follows a methodology where the workout constantly evolves with new techniques, movements, and challenges. It may seem a bit crazy to outsiders, but all of this helps keep CrossFitters engaged and on the path of progress.
These were the five similarities I noticed between React and CrossFit. I thought it was interesting to draw a parallel between two such different things that have so many similarities in my view.
I hope you enjoyed the read and found it helpful in some way. Remember, program and exercise - it doesn’t have to be React and CrossFit.
Consider buy a coffee as a sign of appreciation.
