Ripple: Former React Core Dev's New Framework Promises Next-Level Performance
A new TypeScript framework called Ripple emerges from ex-Facebook and Vercel engineer Dominic Galloway, combining React-like syntax with Svelte-inspired performance optimizations. But in an ecosystem already saturated with options, does it actually solve real problems?
The Framework Fatigue Chronicles
Remember when JavaScript fatigue was our biggest problem? Those halcyon days before React’s security nightmares and the great TypeScript migration of 2024.
Now we have Ripple, a new TypeScript framework that wants to be React’s faster, more efficient cousin. And unlike the usual framework-of-the-week announcements, this one actually deserves attention – if only because its creator, Dominic Galloway, helped build both React and Svelte.
Technical Deep Dive
Ripple introduces a compiler-driven approach that looks familiar but packs serious technical innovations:
| Feature | Implementation |
|---|---|
| Syntax | JSX superset with direct statement support |
| Styling | Scoped CSS with component-level isolation |
| Reactivity | Fine-grained updates via track() function |
| Performance | Surgical DOM mutations without virtual DOM |
The Good Parts
- Write if statements and loops directly in templates (goodbye {condition &&
}) - Native CSS scoping without CSS-in-JS overhead
- Fine-grained reactivity that makes Bun’s optimizations look primitive
- First-class TypeScript support with robust type checking
The Ecosystem Story
Despite being new, Ripple launches with impressive tooling support:
- VS Code extension with full IntelliSense
- Prettier & ESLint configurations
- TypeScript integration
The Real-World Impact
While Ripple shows promise, its success will depend on adoption in an ecosystem where most agencies are already struggling with tech stack decisions. The framework’s performance benefits could be particularly relevant for AI-heavy applications where every millisecond counts.
Performance Metrics
| Metric | React | Ripple |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Load | 45kb | 12kb |
| Re-render Time | 8ms | 2ms |
| Memory Usage | High | Low |
The Bottom Line
Ripple isn’t just another framework – it’s a serious attempt to fix React’s core performance issues while maintaining familiar developer ergonomics. Whether that’s enough to justify yet another migration is a question each team will need to answer for themselves.
But one thing’s certain: if you’re starting a new project in 2026, Ripple deserves a spot on your evaluation shortlist.