The point of React is to mix HTML and JS together. They deliberately mix templates with logic, which is actually the main inspiration for Riot.
But we felt that what React does could be simplified. We didn't need full diffing and batching of HTML and we didn't like the verbosity on how components are created.
> The point of React is to mix HTML and JS together.
In React, there are no "templates." There's just JavaScript, and then more JavaScript that looks kind of like HTML (JSX). But it's all still JavaScript.
Also, FWIW, I find that one of the largest benefits of React is to have the logic and the representation of the markup inline, together in the same file. It really helps productivity by eliminating the context switching going from js to markup.
> We didn't need full diffing and batching of HTML
^^^ That's the point of React. You don't have to do the diff in your head (or in your code).
But we felt that what React does could be simplified. We didn't need full diffing and batching of HTML and we didn't like the verbosity on how components are created.
minimalism is where Riot starts from.