react-scripts is a set of scripts and configuration used by Create React App (CRA) to streamline the development process of React applications. It abstracts away the complexities of configuring build tools like Babel and Webpack, allowing developers to focus on writing code without worrying about the underlying setup. With react-scripts, you can easily run, build, and test your React applications with minimal configuration.

While react-scripts provides a convenient solution for many developers, there are several alternatives that offer different levels of customization and control over the build process. Here are a few notable alternatives:

• babel is a widely-used JavaScript compiler that allows developers to use the latest JavaScript features while ensuring compatibility with older browsers. Babel transforms modern JavaScript (ES6+) into a version that can run in older environments. It is often used in conjunction with other tools like Webpack to create a complete build process. If you need fine-grained control over your JavaScript transpilation and want to leverage modern syntax, Babel is a great choice.
• gulp is a task runner that automates repetitive tasks in the development workflow, such as minification, compilation, and image optimization. It uses a code-over-configuration approach, allowing developers to write tasks in JavaScript. Gulp is particularly useful for projects that require custom build processes and workflows. If you prefer a more hands-on approach to managing your build tasks and want to create a tailored workflow, Gulp is an excellent option.
• webpack is a powerful module bundler that allows developers to bundle JavaScript files and assets for usage in a browser. It provides a highly configurable environment for managing dependencies, optimizing assets, and transforming code through loaders and plugins. Webpack is ideal for larger applications that require advanced features like code splitting, tree shaking, and hot module replacement. If you need a robust and flexible solution for managing your application's assets and dependencies, Webpack is a strong contender.

To see how react-scripts compares with babel, gulp, and webpack, check out the comparison: Comparing babel vs gulp vs react-scripts vs webpack.

react-app-rewired is a tool that allows developers to customize the configuration of a Create React App (CRA) project without ejecting. By using react-app-rewired, you can override the default Webpack configuration and add custom settings, plugins, or loaders while keeping the benefits of CRA's built-in features. This makes it easier to maintain your project and upgrade CRA versions without losing your custom configurations. It's particularly useful for developers who want to tweak their build process without the complexity of managing a fully ejected configuration.

There are several alternatives to react-app-rewired that also provide ways to customize CRA projects:

• customize-cra is a library that works in conjunction with react-app-rewired to provide a more structured way to customize the CRA configuration. It allows developers to create a configuration file where they can define their customizations using a series of helper functions. This approach makes it easier to manage and understand the modifications being made to the Webpack configuration, and it promotes better code organization.
• react-scripts is the default package that comes with Create React App. It includes all the necessary scripts and configuration for building and testing React applications. While it provides a solid foundation for most projects, it does not allow for customization without ejecting. If you are satisfied with the default configurations and do not need any custom settings, using react-scripts directly is a straightforward option.

To see how react-app-rewired compares with customize-cra and react-scripts, check out the comparison: Comparing customize-cra vs react-app-rewired vs react-scripts.

customize-cra is a package that allows developers to customize the configuration of Create React App (CRA) without ejecting. By using customize-cra, you can modify the default Webpack configuration, add plugins, and make other adjustments to suit your project needs while still benefiting from CRA's built-in features. This package provides a simple and flexible way to extend CRA's capabilities, making it easier to integrate additional libraries or tools into your React application.

There are several alternatives to customize-cra that also facilitate customization of Create React App configurations:

• craco (Create React App Configuration Override) is a tool that allows you to customize the CRA configuration without ejecting. It provides a straightforward configuration file where you can override the default settings, including Webpack, Babel, ESLint, and more. craco is highly extensible and supports plugins, making it a popular choice for developers who want more control over their CRA setup while maintaining the simplicity of CRA's default configuration.
• react-app-rewired is another alternative that enables customization of the CRA configuration without ejecting. It allows you to override the default Webpack configuration by creating a config-overrides.js file in your project. react-app-rewired is particularly useful for developers who want to modify the CRA setup without the complexity of ejecting, but it may require more manual configuration compared to craco.

To compare these packages, check out the following link: Comparing craco vs customize-cra vs react-app-rewired.