Introduction

Remix is a full-stack JavaScript framework built on top of React, designed to simplify the process of building web applications with an emphasis on performance, scalability, and web standards. Developed by Ryan Florence and Michael Jackson—the creators of React Router—Remix focuses on server-side rendering (SSR), progressive enhancement, and seamless user experiences. It streamlines tasks like data loading, form handling, and error boundaries, allowing developers to create fast and efficient applications with less effort.

Folder Structure
A typical Remix application follows a structured and organized folder layout that promotes scalability and maintainability. Below is an overview of the standard folder structure:
my-remix-app/
├── app/
│ ├── entry.client.jsx
│ ├── entry.server.jsx
│ ├── root.jsx
│ ├── routes/
│ │ ├── index.jsx
│ │ ├── about.jsx
│ │ └── blog/
│ │ ├── $postId.jsx
│ │ └── new.jsx
│ ├── components/
│ │ └── Header.jsx
│ ├── styles/
│ │ └── global.css
│ └── utils/
│ └── helpers.js
├── public/
│ ├── favicon.ico
│ └── images/
├── build/
├── node_modules/
├── package.json
├── remix.config.js
└── README.md

Comparison with Next.js

Both Remix and Next.js are powerful frameworks for building React applications, offering server-side rendering and client-side interactivity. However, they differ in philosophy, features, and approaches to common web development challenges.

Routing

Remix: Utilizes a file-based routing system inspired by React Router, supporting nested routes and layouts. This allows for more granular control over rendering and data fetching at different levels of the UI hierarchy.
Next.js: Also uses file-based routing but traditionally lacked built-in support for nested layouts. With the introduction of the App Router and React Server Components in Next.js 13, nested routing and layouts have become more accessible.
Data Fetching

Remix: Emphasizes standard web practices using loader and action functions for data loading and mutations. This approach leverages native browser features and simplifies data management.
Next.js: Provides functions like getStaticProps, getServerSideProps, and getInitialProps for data fetching. The introduction of React Server Components has further evolved data handling in Next.js.
Performance

Remix: Focuses on progressive enhancement and optimizing for the fastest possible user experience by reducing JavaScript bloat and leveraging HTTP caching.
Next.js: Offers features like automatic code splitting, image optimization, and static site generation to enhance performance.
Server-Side Rendering

Remix: SSR is a core feature, with an emphasis on delivering HTML first and hydrating JavaScript as needed.
Next.js: Supports SSR and Static Site Generation (SSG), giving developers flexibility in choosing the rendering method that best suits their needs.
Form Handling and Mutations

Remix: Encourages the use of standard HTML forms and HTTP methods, simplifying form handling and making it more accessible.
Next.js: Typically requires additional libraries or custom code for form handling and state management.
Ecosystem and Community

Remix: Being a newer framework, it has a smaller but rapidly growing community, with strong support from its maintainers.
Next.js: Has a large and mature ecosystem with extensive community support, plugins, and integrations.
Customization

Remix: Offers convention over configuration, promoting best practices and reducing the need for extensive setup.
Next.js: Highly configurable, allowing for extensive customization through plugins and custom configurations.
Advantages of Remix

Progressive Enhancement

Remix applications are designed to work seamlessly even when JavaScript is disabled. By prioritizing HTML and leveraging standard web technologies, Remix ensures that applications are accessible and performant across a wide range of devices and network conditions.

Nested Routing and Layouts

The framework's support for nested routes simplifies the creation of complex UI structures. Developers can build layouts that share components across different routes without repetitive code, improving maintainability.

Simplified Data Management

Using loader and action functions, Remix streamlines data fetching and mutations. This approach reduces the need for additional state management libraries and aligns closely with traditional web development paradigms.

Enhanced Performance

By minimizing unnecessary JavaScript and leveraging server-side rendering, Remix delivers fast initial load times and responsive user experiences. The framework encourages the use of HTTP caching and other web performance best practices.

Built-In Error Handling

Remix provides built-in error boundaries at the route level, allowing developers to handle errors gracefully and provide meaningful feedback to users without crashing the entire application.

SEO Optimization

Server-rendered HTML and proper handling of HTTP status codes improve search engine indexing and ranking. Remix's focus on web standards enhances SEO out of the box.

Developer Experience

The framework's conventions reduce the learning curve and setup time. With a focus on standard web practices, developers can be more productive and spend less time configuring tools.

Strong Foundations
Backed by the creators of React Router, Remix benefits from deep expertise in routing and client-side navigation, ensuring a robust and reliable foundation for applications.

Conclusion
Remix offers a fresh perspective on building web applications by embracing web standards and simplifying common development tasks. Its focus on progressive enhancement, performance, and developer experience makes it an attractive choice for projects that require scalability and maintainability. While Next.js remains a powerful and popular framework with a vast ecosystem, Remix provides an alternative that emphasizes different strengths, particularly in routing and adherence to web fundamentals. Choosing between the two often depends on the specific needs of a project and the preferences of the development team.

Note:
If the backend is deployed on another server, then remix is best to choose to handle loading states.

Visit remix docs: https://remix.run/