Redux. It's one of those tools everyone talks about like it’s some golden key to manage state across your app. The truth? You probably don’t need Redux, and if you think you do, you're most likely falling into a trap of over-engineering. Let’s break down why Redux is overkill for most apps and crush some common justifications for using it.
The Myth of "Global State Management"
Ah, yes. The classic "we need a global store" argument. You've got a couple of components that need to share data, and someone pipes up: "Let's install Redux!" Slow down, champ. You can handle shared state easily without dragging in an entire library that brings complexity, boilerplate, and more code than you need.
Here’s a hot take: In most cases, your global state is just a few variables that can be handled with simpler tools like React's useContext and useReducer. Don’t reach for Redux just because you think global state management is some unsolvable puzzle. If your app doesn't need multiple developers syncing state across hundreds of components, Redux is just dead weight.
"But My App Is Growing, We'll Need It Later!"
You’ve got a small app now, but you’re sure it’s going to blow up with features and complexities later, right? Yeah, no. That’s called YAGNI. You don’t add Redux just because you might need it down the road. The future is unpredictable and planning for a problem that doesn’t exist yet is a recipe for wasted effort and unnecessary complexity.
React’s built-in tools have improved so much over the years that for many apps, adding Redux is like throwing a boulder onto a raft. Your app's complexity might never reach the point where Redux becomes necessary. If it does? You can always refactor and add it later, when you actually understand the scope of the problem.
"We Need Predictable State!"
This one sounds reasonable. Redux's immutability and strict update patterns do offer predictable state transitions. But unless you're building something with deep, intricate state management (think: a collaborative editing platform or financial dashboard), you can get predictable state with much less code using React hooks or lightweight alternatives like Zustand or Jotai.
The truth is, for many apps, Redux becomes an excuse to micromanage state to a level that doesn’t match the real-world complexity of your UI. Your state management problem might not even be a problem—you’re just looking for one because you learned Redux at a bootcamp and now think it’s a “best practice.”
Boilerplate Madness
Redux is a hotbed for boilerplate. Actions, reducers, types, store setups—it’s a massive pile of scaffolding you have to maintain for the life of your app. Every single state change requires jumping through the same hoops again and again. For small-to-medium apps, this is just a waste of time.
Meanwhile, React’s own state management is far more concise. Hooks like useState, useContext, and useReducer can give you nearly everything you need, with a fraction of the code. Are you really solving a problem with Redux, or are you just burning time setting up infrastructure you don’t need?
"It Helps with Debugging!"
Yeah, Redux DevTools are cool. No denying that. Time travel debugging can help in some rare cases, but let’s be real: you’re not going to need this level of debugging in a majority of apps. For most bugs, a few well-placed console.logs will save your day just fine.
When You Actually Need Redux
Alright, let’s calm down. Redux is useful—in very specific scenarios:
Huge, Complex Applications: If you're dealing with an app that has hundreds of connected components and deeply nested state that must be shared across multiple parts of the app, Redux starts to make sense. Even then, alternatives like Zustand or Recoil might be a lighter choice.
Multiplayer or Real-Time Collaboration Tools: Building something like Google Docs where the state changes need to be carefully synchronized between multiple users? Redux’s predictable state transitions and strict updates might be your best bet.
Highly Regulated Environments: If you're working on apps that require very strict and auditable state transitions (think: financial apps, medical record systems), Redux’s patterns could be invaluable.
But the rest of us? Yeah, we’re wasting our time with it.
Conclusion
In summary, Redux is like a chainsaw when you need a pocket knife. It has its place, but it's not everywhere. 99% of the time, simpler solutions will not only get the job done—they'll save you time, mental energy, and avoid bloating your codebase. Keep things simple, stop over-engineering, and remember: You aren’t gonna need it.