Why I'm bullish on React Bricks.
Let's explore one of the tools I've had fun playing with and exploring this year — React Bricks.
Note from Erin: I was compensated for using React Bricks and to write this post. However, I have personally used the tool and met with the team — and I strongly believe in it and the team's mission.
When building a website today, you have many options, from no-code site builders such as Wix, Squarespace, or Webflow, to diving into a fully custom solution leveraging your engineering teams. However, these options are both limited in their unique ways.
No code solutions can be cumbersome and lack complete customizability. Despite all efforts, all sites built with them tend to look the same. On the other hand, pure headless CMSs tend to be too complex for some content editors to use.
With React Bricks, you can enjoy the ease of use of a drag-and-drop, no-code editor with the flexibility of a custom-built solution. Bygone are the days when building an utterly customizable site with code was inconvenient and required expansive developer effort. Leveraging React components, the builder allows everyone within your content management and creation lifecycle to use it well.
Curious to know why I'm bullish on React Bricks? Read on for more.
Here are seven reasons why I'm excited about the future of React Bricks.
1. Built for flexibility and scalability
Often, when you hear of a tool that is easy to use, you will regret this later on when scaling your content team. Built by developers and engineers, React Bricks leverages the power of your favorite CMS with inline visual editing fueled by the power of React.
Toss out restrictions on editing requirements or inflexible plans; they're past limitations. With enterprise solutions available and complete customization from the start, React Bricks scales with you as an organization at every step along the way. From The Weather Channel to startups like Capbase or Casavo, from healthcare corporates like Power to agencies such as Neoskop or Mirahi, React Bricks is built to handle whatever you throw at it.
2. Designed with devs in mind
Unlike the traditional headless CMSs that have you bouncing back and forth between a code editor and your project, React Bricks allows you, as a developer, to define your fields within React. Each of these React Components becomes a Brick. Oh, and to make it even easier — they've built a VS Code extension, which helps generate snippets for each of your Bricks.
3. Migration made easy
It's 2023; this isn't your first rodeo anymore. React Bricks has made migration simple if you've got existing content from another headless CMS or ecommerce site. Connecting any external data source via an async fetch function lets you easily migrate over existing content or blogs.
Are you building an ecommerce solution but have yet to become a fan of your existing Shopify or Big Commerce frontend? Access your product, price, availability, or other elements of your product display page right within React Bricks through the Shopify or Big Commerce APIs. (Good riddance to limited PDP page editing permissions. 😉)
4. No, really, WYSIWIG!
We've all shaken our fists at a WYSIWIG editor, wondering what snippet was added or why something is turning out funky. As a non-developer, it’s frustrating and not worth any headache not to be able to access things quickly. As a developer, constant updates are required in your workflow. And for the designer in the middle, seeing that someone got *creative* with your designs is enough to make your skin crawl.
With a familiar WYSIWIG editor that is *actually* reflective of what you'll see on the site, you can rest easy knowing that what you see is what you're (actually) getting.
5. Tutorial and Docs
No matter what tool you're using, a certain amount of learning curve exists when getting something up to speed. Thanks to React Brick's onboarding tutorial (in a fun quiz-like format) and clear developer documentation, you'll be able to get up and going easily. Combine this with Discord community support or enhanced email support for those on higher-up plans — you won't be left out to dry when it comes to getting a hand.
6. User accounts + Permissions
With unique user accounts, you do not have to stress about someone accidentally breaking your site or adjusting settings they shouldn't have access to. Thanks to individual user accounts, each with permission settings, you can ensure your content editors, contractors, or marketing team have the permissions they need — and nothing more.
7. All the features you'd expect in your favorite CMS (and more!)
React Bricks may be a new way of building a site, but it still has features and powers. With the ability to schedule posts, translate content, collaborate on content with other editors, and have your image optimized and served from a global CDN and a blazing-fast website hosted where you like, React Bricks has you covered. There is no need to give up existing (and loved) features for convenience or a cheaper plan: these are all available for use in React Brick's entry-level plan.
With a CLI to start in minutes, content blocks ready to go, and a quick start video tutorial at hand — what's holding you back? I'm looking forward to seeing what you will create!
Need inspiration or ready to dive right in and get started? Check out the React Bricks site for documentation, inspiration, or even to sign up today!
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