Which is Better Gatsby and MDX Integration Packages?
@mdx-js/react vs gatsby-transformer-remark vs gatsby-plugin-mdx vs gatsby-plugin-gatsby-cloud
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@mdx-js/reactgatsby-transformer-remarkgatsby-plugin-mdxgatsby-plugin-gatsby-cloudSimilar Packages:
What's Gatsby and MDX Integration Packages?

These packages are essential for integrating MDX (Markdown with JSX) into Gatsby applications, allowing developers to write content in Markdown while incorporating React components. They enhance the flexibility and interactivity of content, making it easier to build rich, dynamic websites. Each package serves a specific purpose in the Gatsby ecosystem, from transforming Markdown to enabling deployment on Gatsby Cloud, thus streamlining the development workflow and enhancing site performance.

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@mdx-js/react6,013,03417,55614.6 kB88 months agoMIT
gatsby-transformer-remark56,52055,260118 kB3939 months agoMIT
gatsby-plugin-mdx29,33955,260156 kB3939 months agoMIT
gatsby-plugin-gatsby-cloud20,16755,26074.3 kB3939 months agoMIT
Feature Comparison: @mdx-js/react vs gatsby-transformer-remark vs gatsby-plugin-mdx vs gatsby-plugin-gatsby-cloud

Content Flexibility

  • @mdx-js/react: @mdx-js/react provides the ability to embed React components directly within Markdown files, allowing for a highly flexible content structure. This is particularly useful for documentation or blogs where interactive elements are needed alongside static text, enhancing user engagement.
  • gatsby-transformer-remark: gatsby-transformer-remark focuses on converting Markdown into HTML, providing a straightforward way to manage content. While it lacks the interactive capabilities of MDX, it is effective for simpler content needs where dynamic components are not required.
  • gatsby-plugin-mdx: gatsby-plugin-mdx combines the best of Markdown and React, allowing developers to write rich content that includes interactive components. This enables a more dynamic user experience, making it suitable for blogs, documentation, and marketing sites that require both text and interactive elements.
  • gatsby-plugin-gatsby-cloud: gatsby-plugin-gatsby-cloud does not directly influence content flexibility but enables a smoother deployment process, allowing developers to focus on content creation without worrying about deployment complexities. It supports rapid iteration on content changes with its incremental build feature.

Integration with Gatsby

  • @mdx-js/react: @mdx-js/react is designed to work seamlessly with React applications, but it can also be integrated into Gatsby projects. It allows for a straightforward setup for rendering MDX content, making it easy to incorporate into existing Gatsby sites without additional complexity.
  • gatsby-transformer-remark: gatsby-transformer-remark is a core Gatsby plugin that integrates with the Gatsby data layer, allowing for the transformation of Markdown files into HTML. It is a fundamental tool for any Gatsby project that requires Markdown support, ensuring compatibility with Gatsby's architecture.
  • gatsby-plugin-mdx: gatsby-plugin-mdx is built for Gatsby and leverages its data layer, allowing developers to query MDX content using GraphQL. This tight integration ensures that MDX files can be treated like any other data source in Gatsby, facilitating a smooth development workflow.
  • gatsby-plugin-gatsby-cloud: gatsby-plugin-gatsby-cloud is specifically tailored for Gatsby, enhancing the deployment experience. It integrates directly with Gatsby Cloud, providing features that optimize the build and deployment process, making it essential for projects hosted on Gatsby's platform.

Learning Curve

  • @mdx-js/react: @mdx-js/react has a moderate learning curve, especially for developers familiar with React but new to MDX. Understanding how to effectively use JSX within Markdown may take some time, but the flexibility it offers is worth the investment.
  • gatsby-transformer-remark: gatsby-transformer-remark is easy to use for those familiar with Markdown. Its setup is simple, and it requires minimal configuration, making it accessible for developers new to Gatsby or those looking for basic Markdown support.
  • gatsby-plugin-mdx: gatsby-plugin-mdx has a learning curve similar to that of using MDX itself. Developers need to understand both Markdown and JSX, which may require some initial effort but ultimately leads to powerful content capabilities within Gatsby.
  • gatsby-plugin-gatsby-cloud: gatsby-plugin-gatsby-cloud is straightforward to implement, especially for those already familiar with Gatsby. Its primary focus on deployment means that developers can quickly learn to use it without extensive prior knowledge of deployment processes.

Performance Optimization

  • @mdx-js/react: @mdx-js/react can lead to performance improvements by allowing developers to create reusable components that can be rendered within Markdown. This reduces the need for repetitive code and enhances the maintainability of content-heavy applications.
  • gatsby-transformer-remark: gatsby-transformer-remark is efficient in converting Markdown to HTML, but it may not offer the same performance optimizations as MDX-based solutions. However, it is still effective for straightforward Markdown content without the need for interactive components.
  • gatsby-plugin-mdx: gatsby-plugin-mdx enhances performance by allowing for optimized rendering of MDX content. It integrates with Gatsby's static site generation capabilities, ensuring that the site is fast and responsive while serving dynamic content.
  • gatsby-plugin-gatsby-cloud: gatsby-plugin-gatsby-cloud significantly optimizes performance during deployment with features like incremental builds, which only rebuild the parts of the site that have changed. This leads to faster build times and improved site responsiveness.
How to Choose: @mdx-js/react vs gatsby-transformer-remark vs gatsby-plugin-mdx vs gatsby-plugin-gatsby-cloud
  • @mdx-js/react: Choose @mdx-js/react if you want to use MDX in a React application outside of Gatsby or if you need a lightweight solution for rendering MDX content. It allows you to write JSX directly in Markdown files, making it ideal for projects that require a blend of static content and dynamic components.
  • gatsby-transformer-remark: Use gatsby-transformer-remark if you are working with standard Markdown files and need to convert them into HTML. This plugin is suitable for projects that do not require JSX capabilities in Markdown but still want to leverage Gatsby's data layer and GraphQL queries for Markdown content.
  • gatsby-plugin-mdx: Select gatsby-plugin-mdx if you want to use MDX within a Gatsby project. This plugin allows you to write MDX files and integrates seamlessly with Gatsby's data layer, enabling you to use GraphQL to query your MDX content. It's perfect for projects that require a combination of Markdown and React components, enhancing content flexibility.
  • gatsby-plugin-gatsby-cloud: Opt for gatsby-plugin-gatsby-cloud if you are deploying your Gatsby site to Gatsby Cloud. This plugin optimizes the build process, enabling faster deployments and better performance through features like incremental builds and preview capabilities. It's best for projects that prioritize deployment efficiency and scalability.
Similar Npm Packages to @mdx-js/react

@mdx-js/react is a powerful library that allows developers to use MDX (Markdown for JSX) in their React applications. It enables the seamless integration of Markdown content with React components, making it easier to create rich documentation, blogs, and other content-driven applications. By using MDX, developers can write Markdown alongside JSX, allowing for a more flexible and interactive approach to content creation.

While @mdx-js/react provides a robust solution for integrating MDX into React, there are other libraries in the MDX ecosystem that serve different purposes. Here are a couple of alternatives:

  • @mdx-js/loader is a Webpack loader that allows you to compile MDX files into JavaScript modules. This loader is essential for projects that use Webpack as their build tool, enabling the transformation of MDX content into a format that can be imported and used within your React components. If your project is set up with Webpack and you want to leverage MDX, using the @mdx-js/loader is a necessary step to ensure your MDX files are processed correctly.

  • @mdx-js/mdx is the core package for working with MDX. It provides the necessary tools to parse and compile MDX content into React components. This package is useful for developers who want to work directly with MDX files and need the underlying functionality to transform MDX into usable React components. If you are looking to build a custom MDX solution or need to manipulate MDX content programmatically, @mdx-js/mdx is the foundational package to consider.

To see how @mdx-js/react compares with @mdx-js/loader and @mdx-js/mdx, check out the comparison: Comparing @mdx-js/loader vs @mdx-js/mdx vs @mdx-js/react.

Similar Npm Packages to gatsby-plugin-mdx

gatsby-plugin-mdx is a powerful plugin for Gatsby that enables developers to use MDX (Markdown with JSX) in their projects. This allows for a seamless integration of Markdown content with React components, providing a flexible way to create rich, interactive documentation, blogs, or any content-driven site. With gatsby-plugin-mdx, you can write your content in Markdown while also utilizing the full power of React components, making it a popular choice for developers looking to enhance their content with interactivity.

While gatsby-plugin-mdx is a great option, there are several alternatives that also cater to different needs in the Gatsby ecosystem:

  • @mdx-js/react is the core library for using MDX in React applications. It provides the necessary components and utilities to render MDX content. While it can be used independently of Gatsby, it is often paired with Gatsby plugins to enhance the development experience. If you are looking to use MDX in a non-Gatsby React application or want more control over how MDX is rendered, @mdx-js/react is a suitable choice.
  • gatsby-plugin-gatsby-cloud is a plugin designed to optimize Gatsby sites for deployment on Gatsby Cloud. While it does not specifically handle MDX, it enhances the overall performance and build process of Gatsby applications. If your primary focus is on deploying your Gatsby site efficiently and you want to leverage Gatsby Cloud's features, this plugin is essential.
  • gatsby-transformer-remark is another popular Gatsby plugin that allows you to use Markdown files in your Gatsby projects. It transforms Markdown files into HTML and provides various options for customizing the output. While it does not support JSX like MDX, it is a solid choice for projects that do not require the interactivity that MDX offers. If your content is primarily static and you want a straightforward Markdown solution, gatsby-transformer-remark may be the right fit.

To explore how these packages compare, check out the comparison: Comparing @mdx-js/react vs gatsby-plugin-gatsby-cloud vs gatsby-plugin-mdx vs gatsby-transformer-remark.

README for @mdx-js/react

@mdx-js/react

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React context for MDX.

Contents

What is this?

This package is a context based components provider for combining React with MDX.

When should I use this?

This package is not needed for MDX to work with React. See ¶ MDX provider in § Using MDX for when and how to use an MDX provider.

If you use Next.js, do not use this. Add an mdx-components.tsx (in src/ or /) file instead. See Configuring MDX on nextjs.org for more info.

Install

This package is ESM only. In Node.js (version 16+), install with npm:

npm install @mdx-js/react

In Deno with esm.sh:

import {MDXProvider} from 'https://esm.sh/@mdx-js/react@3'

In browsers with esm.sh:

<script type="module">
  import {MDXProvider} from 'https://esm.sh/@mdx-js/react@3?bundle'
</script>

Use

import {MDXProvider} from '@mdx-js/react'
import Post from './post.mdx'
// ^-- Assumes an integration is used to compile MDX to JS, such as
// `@mdx-js/esbuild`, `@mdx-js/loader`, `@mdx-js/node-loader`, or
// `@mdx-js/rollup`, and that it is configured with
// `options.providerImportSource: '@mdx-js/react'`.

/** @type {import('mdx/types.js').MDXComponents} */
const components = {
  em(properties) {
    return <i {...properties} />
  }
}

console.log(
  <MDXProvider components={components}>
    <Post />
  </MDXProvider>
)

👉 Note: you don’t have to use MDXProvider and can pass components directly:

-<MDXProvider components={components}>
-  <Post />
-</MDXProvider>
+<Post components={components} />

See ¶ React in § Getting started for how to get started with MDX and React. See ¶ MDX provider in § Using MDX for how to use an MDX provider.

API

This package exports the identifiers MDXProvider and useMDXComponents. There is no default export.

MDXProvider(properties?)

Provider for MDX context.

Parameters
  • properties (Props) — configuration
Returns

Element (JSX.Element).

useMDXComponents(components?)

Get current components from the MDX Context.

Parameters
Returns

Current components (MDXComponents from mdx/types.js).

MergeComponents

Custom merge function (TypeScript type).

Parameters
Returns

Additional components (MDXComponents from mdx/types.js).

Props

Configuration for MDXProvider (TypeScript type).

Fields

Types

This package is fully typed with TypeScript. It exports the additional types MergeComponents and Props.

For types to work, make sure the TypeScript JSX namespace is typed. This is done by installing and using the types of your framework, as in @types/react.

Compatibility

Projects maintained by the unified collective are compatible with maintained versions of Node.js.

When we cut a new major release, we drop support for unmaintained versions of Node. This means we try to keep the current release line, @mdx-js/react@^3, compatible with Node.js 16.

Security

See § Security on our website for information.

Contribute

See § Contribute on our website for ways to get started. See § Support for ways to get help.

This project has a code of conduct. By interacting with this repository, organization, or community you agree to abide by its terms.

License

MIT © Compositor and Vercel

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