Project Scaffolding and Code Generation Tools Comparison
yeoman-generator vs plop vs create-react-app vs sao
1 Year
yeoman-generatorplopcreate-react-appsaoSimilar Packages:
What's Project Scaffolding and Code Generation Tools?

Project scaffolding and code generation tools streamline the setup and development process by automating the creation of project structures, boilerplate code, and repetitive tasks. These tools help developers quickly bootstrap new projects or generate components, ensuring consistency and reducing the time spent on setup. They cater to different needs, from simple project initialization to more complex code generation based on templates, enhancing productivity and maintaining best practices in code organization.

NPM Package Downloads Trend
Github Stars Ranking
Stat Detail
Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
yeoman-generator907,3301,219138 kB77 days agoBSD-2-Clause
plop692,2337,22186.4 kB75a year agoMIT
create-react-app137,958102,91438.4 kB2,284-MIT
sao12,0261,048-675 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: yeoman-generator vs plop vs create-react-app vs sao

Ease of Use

  • yeoman-generator:

    Yeoman Generator provides a comprehensive command-line interface that can be slightly overwhelming for beginners, but it offers extensive documentation and a wide range of generators, making it powerful once learned.

  • plop:

    Plop is straightforward to set up and use, requiring minimal configuration to define your templates. It is particularly user-friendly for developers familiar with JavaScript, making it easy to generate code snippets on the fly.

  • create-react-app:

    Create React App is designed for simplicity and ease of use, allowing developers to get started with React projects quickly without deep configuration knowledge. It provides a ready-to-go setup with minimal commands required to initialize a project.

  • sao:

    SAO offers a flexible CLI that allows developers to scaffold projects easily, but it may require some initial setup to define templates. Its flexibility comes with a slight learning curve compared to simpler tools.

Customization

  • yeoman-generator:

    Yeoman Generator offers a vast ecosystem of generators, allowing for high customization. Developers can create their own generators or use existing ones, providing flexibility in project setup.

  • plop:

    Plop excels in customization, allowing developers to create tailored templates and helpers that fit their specific project needs, making it highly adaptable for various coding scenarios.

  • create-react-app:

    Create React App is less customizable out of the box, focusing on providing a solid default configuration. However, it allows for 'ejecting' to gain full control over the configuration, which can complicate maintenance.

  • sao:

    SAO is highly customizable, supporting various template engines and allowing developers to create complex project structures. It is ideal for teams that require specific configurations and templates.

Community and Ecosystem

  • yeoman-generator:

    Yeoman Generator has a well-established community with a rich ecosystem of generators for various frameworks and libraries, providing ample resources and support for developers.

  • plop:

    Plop has a smaller community compared to others, but it is growing steadily. Its simplicity and focus on code generation make it popular among developers looking for lightweight solutions.

  • create-react-app:

    Create React App is widely used within the React community, benefiting from a large user base and extensive documentation, making it easy to find solutions and community support.

  • sao:

    SAO has a niche community, primarily focused on developers who need advanced scaffolding capabilities. Its flexibility attracts users who require more control over project templates.

Performance

  • yeoman-generator:

    Yeoman Generator can be slower for large projects due to its extensive setup process, but it is efficient for generating boilerplate code and project structures.

  • plop:

    Plop's performance is generally good as it generates code snippets quickly, but it may not be as efficient for larger projects due to the need for manual integration of generated code.

  • create-react-app:

    Create React App is optimized for performance with built-in scripts for production builds, ensuring that applications are efficient and fast without manual configuration.

  • sao:

    SAO is designed to be fast and efficient, allowing for quick scaffolding of projects. Its performance can vary based on the complexity of the templates used.

Learning Curve

  • yeoman-generator:

    Yeoman Generator has a steeper learning curve due to its comprehensive features and extensive documentation, but it provides a robust framework for those willing to invest the time.

  • plop:

    Plop is easy to learn for developers familiar with JavaScript, but it may require some time to understand how to effectively create and manage templates.

  • create-react-app:

    Create React App has a gentle learning curve, making it accessible for beginners who want to start with React development without dealing with complex configurations.

  • sao:

    SAO has a moderate learning curve, particularly for those unfamiliar with its templating system. However, once learned, it offers powerful capabilities for project scaffolding.

How to Choose: yeoman-generator vs plop vs create-react-app vs sao
  • yeoman-generator:

    Choose Yeoman Generator if you require a comprehensive scaffolding tool that integrates with the Yeoman ecosystem, providing a wide range of generators for different frameworks and libraries, and enabling you to create complex applications with a structured approach.

  • plop:

    Choose Plop if you need a lightweight and customizable code generator that allows you to define your own templates and helpers, making it ideal for generating repetitive code snippets or components tailored to your specific project needs.

  • create-react-app:

    Choose Create React App if you want a quick and easy way to set up a new React project with sensible defaults, including a development server, build configuration, and testing setup, without needing to configure Webpack or Babel manually.

  • sao:

    Choose SAO if you are looking for a highly customizable and flexible scaffolding tool that allows you to create and manage project templates, supporting various template engines and making it suitable for more complex project setups.

README for yeoman-generator

Generator npm Build Status Coverage Status Gitter

Rails-inspired generator system that provides scaffolding for your apps

Getting Started

If you're interested in writing your own Yeoman generator we recommend reading the official getting started guide. The guide covers all the basics you need to get started.

A generator can be as complex as you want it to be. It can simply copy a bunch of boilerplate files, or it can be more advanced asking the user's preferences to scaffold a tailor made project. This decision is up to you.

The fastest way to get started is to use generator-generator, a Yeoman generator to generate a Yeoman generator.

After reading the getting started guide, you might want to read the code source or visit our API documentation for a list of all methods available.

API documentation for v4.x.

Debugging

See the debugging guide.

Contributing

We love contributors! See our contribution guideline to get started.

Sponsors

Love Yeoman work and community? Help us keep it alive by donating funds to cover project expenses!
[Become a sponsor]

License

BSD license Copyright (c) Google