deka-dom-el/README.md

WIP (the experimentation phase) | source code on GitHub | mirrored on Gitea

Deka DOM Elements (dd<el> or DDE)

Vanilla for flavouring — a full-fledged feast for large projects

…use simple DOM API by default and library tools and logic when you need them

// 🌟 Reactive component with clear separation of concerns
document.body.append(
	el(EmojiCounter, { initial: "🚀" })
);

function EmojiCounter({ initial }) {
	// ✨ State - Define reactive data
	const count = S(0);
	const emoji = S(initial);

	/** @param {HTMLOptionElement} el */
	const isSelected= el=> (el.selected= el.value===initial);

	// 🔄 View - UI updates automatically when signals change
	return el().append(
		el("p", {
			className: "output",
			textContent: S(() =>
				`Hello World ${emoji.get().repeat(clicks.get())}`),
		}),

		// 🎮 Controls - Update state on events
		el("button", { textContent: "Add Emoji" },
			on("click", () => count.set(count.get() + 1))
		),

		el("select", null,
			on("change", e => emoji.set(e.target.value))
		).append(
			el(Option, "🎉", isSelected),
			el(Option, "🚀", isSelected),
			el(Option, "💖", isSelected),
		)
	);
}
function Option({ textContent }){
	return el("option", { value: textContent, textContent });
}

Creating reactive elements, components, and Web Components using the native IDL/JavaScript DOM API enhanced with signals/observables.

Features at a Glance

• ✅ No build step required — use directly in browsers or Node.js
• ☑️ Lightweight — ~10-15kB minified (original goal 10kB) with zero/minimal dependencies
• ✅ Declarative & functional approach for clean, maintainable code
• ✅ Signals and events for reactive UI
• ✅ Memoization for performance — optimize rendering with intelligent caching
• ✅ Optional build-in signals with support for custom reactive implementations
• ✅ Server-side rendering support via jsdom
• ✅ TypeScript support (work in progress)
• ☑️ Support for debugging with browser DevTools without extensions
• ☑️ Enhanced Web Components support (work in progress)

Why Another Library?

This library bridges the gap between minimal solutions like van/hyperscript and more comprehensive frameworks like solid-js, offering a balanced trade-off between size, complexity, and usability.

Following functional programming principles, dd<el> starts with pure JavaScript (DOM API) and gradually adds auxiliary functions. These range from minor improvements to advanced features for building complete declarative reactive UI templates.

A key advantage: any internal function (assign, classListDeclarative, on, dispatchEvent, S, etc.) can be used independently while also working seamlessly together. This modular approach makes it easier to integrate the library into existing projects.

Getting Started

Installation

npm

# TBD
# npm install deka-dom-el

Direct Script

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/jaandrle/deka-dom-el/dist/iife-with-signals.min.js"></script>
<script type="module">
	const { el, S } = DDE;
</script>

Documentation

• Interactive Guide: WIP
• Examples: TBD/WIP

Understanding Signals

Signals are the reactive backbone of Deka DOM Elements:

• Signals — what's going on behind the scenes
• The Evolution of Signals in JavaScript
• TC39 Signals Proposal (future standard)
• Observer pattern (underlying concept)

Inspiration and Alternatives

• vanjs-org/van - World's smallest reactive UI framework
• adamhaile/S - Simple, clean, fast reactive programming
• hyperhype/hyperscript - Create HyperText with JavaScript
• potch/signals - A small reactive signals library
• jaandrle/dollar_dom_component - Functional DOM components without JSX/virtual DOM
• mxjp/rvx: A signal based frontend framework