NullReact: Compiler-First Reactive UI Engine

Zero-runtime. Rust-powered. JSX-in, reactive JavaScript out.

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Why NullReact

NullReact is not a framework — it’s a reactivity compiler. It transforms standard JSX into fine-grained reactive JavaScript without any virtual DOM, and with an optional runtime footprint of under 1KB.

Zero-runtime JSX + Signals Compiler
A fast, minimal reactive engine and compiler-first JSX runtime built for extreme speed, fine-grained reactivity, and <1KB runtime output.

Built with ❤️ in Rust + JS. Inspired by SolidJS, Qwik, and React — reimagined from scratch.

• Compiler-First — All reactivity is handled at build time, not runtime.
• No Virtual DOM — Updates are precise and direct; no diffing or reconciliation.
• Minimal Runtime (<1KB) — Optional runtime handles hydration, batching, and effects.
• Rust-Powered — Fast, parallel compilation with full memory safety.
• JSX-Compatible — Familiar syntax, radically faster output.

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Project Structure

nullreact/
├── compiler/                   # Rust JSX compiler + signal engine
│   ├── src/
│   │   ├── lib.rs              # CLI and entry point
│   │   ├── jsx.rs              # JSX → AST parser
│   │   ├── emitter.rs          # AST → optimized JS code
│   │   ├── signals.rs          # Core signal system: batching, effects
│   │   ├── bench.rs            # Performance test suite
│   │   └── runtime.js          # Shared runtime hooks
│   ├── Cargo.toml              # Rust project config
│   └── Makefile                # Build, test, benchmark commands
│
├── runtime/                    # Lightweight DOM runtime (optional)
│   ├── dist/
│   │   └── runtime.js          # Compiled ESM runtime
│   ├── signals.js              # Signal system in JavaScript
│   ├── dom.js                  # DOM operations (insert/update/remove)
│   └── index.js                # Runtime entrypoint
│
├── examples/                   # JSX demos compiled by CLI
│   ├── 10k-todos-stress.jsx
│
├── website/                    # Playground and demo UI
│   ├── public/playground.html
│   ├── src/index.ts
│   └── vite.config.ts
│
├── README.md
├── LICENSE
└── .gitignore

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Getting Started

1. Build the Compiler

cd compiler
cargo build --release

2. Compile JSX to Reactive JS

./target/release/nullreact examples/10k-filter.jsx -o dist/

3. Run in the Browser

Use the output JavaScript with runtime/index.js inside an HTML page.
Example: website/playground.html.

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Benchmarks

Measured on real devices using raw DOM operations.

Example	NullReact	React
1M Signals	~19 ms	Crashes
10K Filter Updates	~6 ms	~180 ms
UI Update Latency	~0.8 ms	~22 ms
Runtime Size	<1 KB	~43 KB

To run all benchmarks:

make bench

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Architecture

• JSX Compiler — Parses and transforms JSX to reactive instructions.
• Signal Graph — Updates are tracked and scheduled precisely.
• Code Emitter — Outputs pure JavaScript; runtime optional.
• Runtime — Handles hydration, batching, and effect flushing (if needed).

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Technology Stack

• Rust — Compiler backend, CLI, AST handling.
• Signals — Low-level reactivity system (in both Rust and JS).
• JavaScript — ESM-compatible output, no framework required.
• No Babel, No React, No Overhead — Just direct DOM instructions.

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Contributing & Testing

To test and compare performance:

make bench

You can modify or add new JSX files inside examples/ and compile them using the CLI tool.

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Author

Pawan Pediredla
GitHub: @pavanscales
Email: pawanpediredla

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License

MIT License — Free to use, fork, and contribute.