Understanding Multiple React Apps in AEM
Yes, it is possible to have multiple React applications working on a single page in Adobe Experience Manager (AEM). This approach can offer developers increased modularity and flexibility in their frontend architecture. However, implementing multiple React apps on one AEM page requires careful consideration and proper configuration to avoid conflicts.
Benefits of Using Multiple React Apps
Utilizing multiple React applications in AEM can provide several advantages:
Modularity: Developers can create separate apps for different functionalities, making the codebase more manageable.
Reusability: Components from one React app can potentially be shared across other apps within the AEM ecosystem.
Performance optimization: By splitting the application into smaller, focused apps, developers can potentially improve load times and overall performance.
Easier maintenance: Smaller, specialized apps are often easier to maintain and update than a single, monolithic application.
Challenges and Solutions
While running multiple React apps on a single AEM page is possible, it comes with some challenges:
Webpack runtime conflicts: When using Create React App (CRA), the default Webpack runtime can cause issues if multiple apps are present on the same page.
Solution: Customize the Webpack configuration to use unique names for each app’s runtime object.
Component mapping: Ensuring that components from different React apps are correctly mapped to their corresponding AEM components.
Solution: Utilize the AEM SPA Editor framework to properly map React components to AEM components across multiple applications.
State management: Coordinating state changes between multiple React apps can be complex.
Solution: Implement a shared state management solution, such as Redux, to maintain consistency across apps.
Implementing Multiple React Apps in AEM
To successfully implement multiple React apps on a single AEM page:
Use a customization mechanism like customize-cra or react-app-rewired to modify the Webpack configuration without ejecting from CRA.
Ensure each React app has a unique Webpack runtime object name to prevent conflicts.
Leverage the AEM SPA Editor framework to properly map React components to AEM components across all apps.
Implement a shared state management solution if the apps need to communicate or share data.
Carefully manage clientlibs to ensure proper loading and initialization of each React app.
By following these guidelines, developers can successfully implement and manage multiple React applications on a single AEM page, leveraging the benefits of modular architecture while maintaining the advantages of the AEM ecosystem.