Vue.js - Building UIs That Don't Suck

Vue.js is an open-source JavaScript framework that doesn't make you want to throw your laptop out the window. Created by Evan You in 2014 when he got tired of Angular's bullshit complexity, Vue has grown from a side project to a pretty solid GitHub repository with steady download numbers. Not bad for something that started because one developer wanted templates that actually looked like HTML.

Vue follows the MVVM pattern, which basically means your UI stays separate from your business logic instead of everything being a tangled mess. The reactive data system handles the binding so you don't have to manually sync everything.

You Can Actually Use It Incrementally (No Really)

Unlike React which wants you to rewrite your entire app in JSX or Angular which demands you sacrifice your firstborn to the TypeScript gods, Vue lets you dip your toes in:

• Drop-in replacement: Add Vue to one crappy jQuery widget at a time without breaking everything
• SPA when you're ready: Build full apps when management finally lets you rewrite that legacy monster
• SSR with Nuxt: When your boss discovers SEO exists and panics

This incremental approach is why Vue works great for legacy codebases. You can fix the worst parts first instead of convincing stakeholders to fund a 6-month "modernization" project that never gets approved. GitLab's migration story shows how they gradually moved from jQuery to Vue without breaking their massive codebase. Adobe uses Vue across multiple products, and BMW integrated Vue into their legacy systems without rewriting everything.

Vue 3.5: Finally Fixed the Annoying Stuff

Vue 3.5 came out in September 2024 and actually fixed some of the things that made you curse during Vue 3.0-3.4:

• Props destructuring works now: No more props.something everywhere - you can finally destructure without breaking reactivity
• TypeScript doesn't hate you: Better inference means fewer "any" types when you get lazy
• Memory leaks are less common: They optimized the reactivity system after people complained about RAM usage
• New helper functions: useTemplateRef() and useId() for when you need to grab DOM elements or generate unique IDs
• SSR hydration won't randomly break: hydrateOnVisible() and friends help prevent those mysterious hydration mismatches

If you're still on Vue 2, you're missing out. The migration was rough in 2021, but it's worth it now. The Vue 2 end-of-life support officially ended, and security updates are limited. Migration tools and compatibility build make the transition manageable.

Why Developers Don't Hate It

Vue doesn't fight you like other frameworks:

• Templates look like HTML: No weird JSX syntax that makes designers cry
• Everything in one file: .vue files keep template, script, and styles together instead of hunting through 15 different files
• Vue DevTools actually help: Time-travel debugging that works, component inspection that makes sense
• Documentation is readable: Actually explains things instead of assuming you have a PhD in JavaScript archaeology

The docs really are good. When you're stuck on weekend deployments trying to figure out why your component isn't updating, Vue's docs usually have the answer in plain English instead of academic jargon. The official guide is consistently rated higher than React's documentation in developer surveys, and their examples repo shows working code instead of theoretical concepts.

The Ecosystem Actually Works Together

Vue's ecosystem is smaller than React's but way less fragmented. The official tools actually work together instead of fighting each other:

• Vite: Dev server that starts instantly instead of waiting forever for Webpack
• Pinia: State management that doesn't require a Computer Science degree to understand
• Vue Router: Routing that works without fighting the framework
• Nuxt: Full-stack framework that handles SSR properly
• VueUse: Composables library with 200+ utilities
• Vitest: Testing framework that doesn't make you want to skip writing tests

The State of Vue 2025 report shows developers would actually want to use Vue again, which is pretty rare in this industry. Turns out when tools work together instead of fighting each other, people tend to be happier.

The ecosystem just works: Vite for dev builds, Pinia for state, Vue Router for navigation, Nuxt when you need SSR, VueUse for common utilities. Pick what you need, skip what you don't.

Vue 3.5 was released in September 2024 and fixed a bunch of stuff that made developers rage-quit. Here's what you need to know about what actually works in production, not just the marketing bullshit.

Composition API: Why Everyone Finally Uses It

The Composition API was controversial when it first dropped - people thought it looked too much like React hooks. But now most of us prefer it over the old Options API because it actually makes sense for complex components.

Options API spreads your logic across data, methods, computed sections which sucks for complex stuff. Composition API lets you keep related code together in logical chunks.

Why it's better:

• No more this hell: You know exactly where your variables come from
• Logic actually groups together: Related code lives in the same place instead of scattered across data, methods, computed
• TypeScript that works: Inference actually functions instead of giving you any for everything
• Reusable composables: Extract logic into functions instead of copy-pasting between components

The gotcha nobody tells you: Computed values can still be stale if you nest them wrong or use them in watchers. Still hit weird reactivity bugs if you try to be clever with nested refs, though 3.5 seems to have fixed most of the worst cases.

The New APIs That Actually Matter

useTemplateRef(): Fix for the Ref Nightmare

Remember when you needed DOM elements and had to do this hacky ref=\"key\" shit? Finally fixed:

// Old way (confusing as hell)
const chart = ref(null)
// Then pray it gets set correctly

// Vue 3.5 way (actually makes sense)
const chart = useTemplateRef('chart')
// Now it's obvious what this does

Production gotcha: This only works in Vue 3.5+. If your project is stuck on 3.4, you'll get ReferenceError: useTemplateRef is not defined and spend way too long debugging before realizing it's a version issue.

The gotcha: This bit me when I upgraded - the error message gives you no clue it's a version issue. Took way longer than it should have to figure out the project was still on 3.4.

useId(): Because Hardcoded IDs Suck

Generates unique IDs so you don't have to make up random strings:

const id = useId() // Gives you \"v-1\", \"v-2\", etc.
// Use it for form labels, ARIA attributes, whatever

Why this matters: SSR would generate different IDs than the client, causing Hydration node mismatch errors. Now they stay consistent and you stop getting those cryptic hydration failures.

Watch API: Now You Can Control the Madness

Finally fixed watchers so they don't kill your app's performance:

• { deep: 2 }: Watch 2 levels deep instead of the entire object tree that crashes your browser
• Pause/Resume: Turn off watchers when doing bulk updates instead of triggering 500 times
• onWatcherCleanup(): Cleanup that actually works in async watchers

Real-world fix: Vue 3.4 deep watchers would kill performance on large objects. Now you can limit the depth instead of watching every nested property and burning through CPU cycles.

SSR: Less Likely to Explode Now

SSR in Vue used to be a nightmare of hydration mismatches and random errors. Vue 3.5 finally makes it usable:

Lazy Hydration: Don't Load Everything at Once

• hydrateOnVisible(): Only hydrate when the user scrolls to it (saves bandwidth)
• hydrateOnIdle(): Wait until the browser isn't busy (better page speed scores)
• hydrateOnInteraction(): Wait for clicks/touches (great for modals)
• hydrateOnMediaQuery(): Mobile vs desktop loading strategies

Real performance impact: These features can make a difference. Dashboard app I worked on got way more responsive after implementing lazy hydration for the charts. Performance benchmarks suggest lazy hydration can improve LCP scores by 40-60%, though your mileage will vary.

Production issue: Had this happen on a busy day where product cards were all hydrating at once. I think it was around 200 products? Anyway, way too many hitting at once. Took forever to debug because the logs were useless. Lazy hydration would've prevented the whole mess.

Hydration Mismatch Hell: Finally Solved

The data-allow-mismatch attribute fixes those annoying "hydration failed" errors:

<span data-allow-mismatch>
  {{ new Date().toLocaleString() }}
</span>

Why this matters: Before this, timestamps and user-specific content would break hydration with Hydration text content mismatch errors. Now you can mark these as "intentionally different" and Vue shuts up about it.

Props Destructuring: Finally Works Like You Expect

Remember when destructuring props broke reactivity? Fixed in 3.5:

// This actually works now and stays reactive
const { name = \"Hello\", age = 0 } = defineProps<{
  name?: string;
  age?: number;
}>()

Migration gotcha: If you were using the experimental version before, you might have workarounds in your code that now cause issues. Had props updating twice because old workarounds were still there. Clean those up or you'll get weird reactivity problems.

TypeScript: Less Fighting Required

Vue 3.5 TypeScript support actually works instead of making you add any everywhere:

• Directive typing works: No more any for custom directive modifiers
• Computed types make sense: Getters and setters can have different types without TS crying
• Component refs are typed: expose() actually exposes the right types to parent components

Real improvement: You can finally use <script setup lang=\"ts\"> without wanting to throw your laptop. Way better than Vue 2's class component bullshit.

Other Fixes You'll Actually Notice

Teleport: No More Race Conditions

<Teleport defer to=\"#target\">
  <!-- Now works even if #target doesn't exist yet -->
</Teleport>

Security and Monitoring Stuff

• Trusted Types: Required for some enterprise CSP setups that are paranoid about XSS
• Better error handling: throwUnhandledErrorInProduction so Sentry actually catches your Vue errors instead of swallowing them
• Cleanup lifecycle: app.onUnmount() prevents memory leaks when hot-reloading in dev

Bottom line: Vue 3.5 fixes the annoying shit that made you Google "Vue 3 why is this broken" at 11pm. If you're still on 3.4, the upgrade is worth it.