Conference

When Impressions Matter More Than Facts: Reflecting on React Summit NYC

Anton James

11/26/2024

When I started this blog, I realized I didn’t want to simply share dry details about the React Summit. With official documentation and YouTube recordings readily available, I wanted to focus on my personal impressions, how it felt to be there and whether it’s worth attending.

Here, I’ll dive into my experience at the in-person event on November 19. React Summit US 2024 was, taking place in New Jersey at the iconic Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium, one of the largest observatories in the world. The venue and its space-themed ambiance added a unique charm. As planets and stars swirled around us, it was inspiring to hear speakers discuss the groundbreaking features.

One of the standout aspects of the summit was its great organization. From smooth security checks and badge pickups to thoughtfully placed coffee stands and lunch areas, everything felt seamless. The atmosphere was vibrant, with developers from around the world coming together. After the pandemic years, seeing the community reconnect in person was a powerful reminder of the importance of collaboration and shared learning.

The summit featured two tracks: a main track and a side track. Personally, I spent most of my time at the main track, except for one talk explaining how to use React as an engine for simple video games. The sessions were well-curated, with the pre-lunch talks standing out as particularly engaging. The speakers’ dedication and preparation were commendable. My favorites were Kent C. Dodds with his “Vanishing Network”, and Theo Browne with his “Out of order streaming” talks.

From a developer's perspective, the introduction of React 19’s features was the highlight. Here are my top three takeaways:

1. Automatic Memoization: React 19’s compiler now handles useCallback and useMemo automatically. This eliminates the need to manually wrap complex functions or results, simplifying code and reducing overhead.
2. Enhanced Ref Handling: Function components now support refs as props. This opens up a cleaner, more intuitive way to work with refs.
3. Improved Form Handling: React 19 introduces async transactions for forms, with features like:

React Summit 2024 was one of the best-organized and most inspiring conferences I’ve attended. It wasn’t just about gaining technical knowledge, it was about the flow of ideas sparked by listening to passionate, inspired speakers and being part of a community that shares a passion for building and innovating. I would highly recommend attending whether to meet fellow developers in person or to reignite your passion for coding and innovation.