react-redux-universal-hot-example
Old 2015 starter kit for a React/Redux/Express app; the README says do not use it.
- Stars
- 12.1k
- Forks
- 2.4k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- JavaScript
- Last update
- 2.3 years ago
- Type
- Other
No commits in over a year — check for forks or alternatives before adopting.
What it is
This is a starter project that combines React for building pages, Redux for managing app state, and Express for the server, with Webpack for bundling. It was a template for building web apps that render on both server and client. The README itself warns that it is badly out of date and now mostly a historical example of 2015-era React development.
- Read the project structure to see how server-side rendering with Redux was wired together in 2015
- Follow the linked docs on adding a page or changing the home page text as a historical exercise
- Compare its Express and Webpack setup with a modern equivalent
Great for
- Students studying how a 2015-era React and Redux app was structured
- Developers curious about the history of universal (server-rendered) JavaScript apps
- People reading the code to compare old patterns with current ones
Not ideal for
- Anyone starting a new project, because the README explicitly says 'DO NOT USE THIS' and the libraries are years out of date
- Teams that need security updates or current framework support, since the dependencies are not maintained to current standards
- Beginners looking for a modern starting point; current tools like Vite or Next.js are better fits
How to get it
- 1
Clone and build from source
You'll need: Node.js · npm
Install dependencies
npm installRun the development server
npm run devBuild for production
npm run buildStart the production server
npm run start - 2
Run it
- Install dependencies with npm install
- Start the dev server with npm run dev and wait about 30 seconds for the first build
- Open the app in your browser on the port the server reports
- Optionally build and run the production server with npm run build and npm run start
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Use the Redux DevTools (enabled by default in development) to inspect state changes
- Read the linked docs on adding a page to see how routing and state fit together
- Review the server-side data fetching section to understand the redux-async-connect pattern
Downloads
Strengths
- Clearly documents its architecture, including server-side data fetching and state rehydration
- Widely used and well-known, with a large star count and an MIT license
- Includes linked guides for installation and adding pages
Trade-offs
- The README says it is out of date and should not be used for new work
- Built on libraries from 2015 that may not work with current Node.js or npm versions
- Last push date is 2024-08-02 but the README content reflects 2015-era practices
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| react-redux-universal-hot-example (this) | 12.1k | Other | intermediate | 2.3 years ago | Students studying how a 2015-era React and Redux app was structured |
| next.js | 143k | Framework | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers already comfortable with React who want a full framework around it |
| vite | 83.7k | Dev tool | intermediate | 4 days ago | Frontend developers starting a new modern web project |
| create-react-app | 103k | Dev tool | beginner | 1.7 years ago | Following an existing React tutorial that uses Create React App |
| remix | 33.4k | Library | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers who want a framework built on standard Web APIs rather than Node-specific ones |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.