React in Gutenberg: A Frontend Dilemma
I’ve been scratching my head over this for a while now. It seems like a no-brainer but it’s surprisingly tricky. I’m trying to figure out how to use React in the frontend of my Gutenberg block specifically in the save.js file.
I’ve done a ton of digging online and it looks like I’m not alone in this. Lots of folks are wondering why this isn’t already a thing. It feels like it should be right?
Has anyone cracked this nut yet? I’m really curious if there’s a workaround or if the Gutenberg team is cooking up something to make this possible. It would be a game-changer for sure.
Any insights or tips would be super helpful. I’m all ears!
hey there! i’ve been wondering about this too. it’s kinda frustrating that React isn’t natively supported in the frontend, right? have you considered using a different approach, like server-side rendering or maybe a hybrid solution? what specific functionality are you trying to achieve with React in the save.js file? maybe we can brainstorm some alternative solutions together!
I’ve grappled with this issue as well, and it’s indeed a complex challenge. The crux of the matter lies in Gutenberg’s architecture, which intentionally separates the editing experience from the frontend rendering. This design choice ensures compatibility across different environments but does limit our options for frontend React implementation.
In my experience, a viable workaround is to use React for the edit component and then output static HTML in the save function. This approach maintains the dynamic editing capabilities while ensuring broad compatibility on the frontend. For more interactive elements, I’ve found success in enqueuing a separate React app that hydrates specific components on the frontend, though this requires careful planning to avoid conflicts with Gutenberg’s own scripts.
Ultimately, while not ideal, these strategies have allowed me to leverage React’s power within Gutenberg’s constraints. It’s a compromise, but one that’s proven effective in my projects.
i feel ya, this is a head-scratcher. have u tried wp.element, instead of react? it ain’t perfect, but might do the trick. maybe check custom html blocks with a bit of js magic as a workaround till gutenberg updates. good luck!