Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to BDC – Ergonomic, sub 1KiB virtual DOM library

BDC is a simple library for updating the DOM to match a javascript description. Does not require JSX or a compilation step. clobber( document.body, h("marquee", [ h("span", {"style": "font-weight: bold"}, "Hello"), ", ", h("blink", "world"), "!", ]), ); Very fast to first render, moderately slow on subsequent updates. Prompted by the post on millionjs, which compiles user code to hit the same outrageously small size target.

BDC is a lightweight virtual DOM library under 1 kilobyte that updates the DOM based on JavaScript descriptions without requiring JSX or compilation. Developers write code using simple function calls to create and… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. BDC – Ergonomic, sub 1KiB virtual DOM library launched in 2022; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   1kb virtual DOM - it's fast!▲14

   Optimizing compiler for React. Contribute to aidenybai/million development by creating an account on GitHub.

   2021 · github.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   CalDOM: An agnostic, reactive and minimalist JavaScript UI library▲107

   An agnostic, reactive & minimalist (3kb) JavaScript UI library with direct access to native DOM.

   2021 · caldom.org · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Bhvr, a Bun and Hono and Vite and React Starter▲128

   Hey all! I've been using this stack personally for a while now and decided to automate it a bit by turning it into a template I can reuse. Hope others might find it helpful!

   2025 · bhvr.dev · its alternatives →

4. 4
   HMPL▲200

   HMPL.js is a lightweight server-oriented template language for JavaScript. Fetch HTML, render it safely, and keep apps dynamic, modern, and small. Alternative to HTMX and Alpine.js.

   Dec 2025 · hmpl-lang.dev · its alternatives →

5. 5
   SkateJS – a cross framework web components based library▲144

   Effortless custom elements powered by modern view libraries. - skatejs/skatejs

   2016 · github.com · its alternatives →

6. 6IM
   I made React with a faster Virtual DOM▲109

   Hi! I made a React compatibility library for a Virtual DOM library (https://github.com/aidenybai/million). The idea is to have much faster rendering (a compiler optimizes virtual DOM beforehand) while ensuring the same developer experience React provides. This is very, VERY early stage, so be prepared for weird bugs / plugin incompatibility / etc. If you have any suggestions, I'd be more than happy if you replied in a comment with it! You can spin up the demo here >> https://stackblitz.com/github/aidenybai/million-react-compat

   2022 · its alternatives →

7. 7
   1 KB JavaScript library for building front end apps▲242

   1kB-ish JavaScript framework for building hypertext applications - hyperapp/hyperapp

   2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Million.js▲153

   A fast, <1kb virtual DOM

   2021 · github.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Fast DOM manipulation with jQuery-like syntax▲31

   fasterDOM.js - faster DOM manipulation. Contribute to bndr/fasterDOM.js development by creating an account on GitHub.

   2013 · github.com · its alternatives →

10. 10MN
    My new JavaScript MVC framework▲304

    2014 · lhorie.github.io · its alternatives →

11. 11
    µJS, a 5KB alternative to Htmx and Turbo with zero dependencies▲161

    I built µJS because I wanted AJAX navigation without the verbosity of HTMX or the overhead of Turbo. It intercepts links and form submissions, fetches pages via AJAX, and swaps fragments of the DOM. Single tag, one call to `mu.init()`. No build step, no dependencies. Key features: patch mode (update multiple fragments in one request), SSE support, DOM morphing via idiomorph, View Transitions, prefetch on hover, polling, and full HTTP verb support on any element. At ~5KB gzipped, it's smaller than HTMX (16KB) and Turbo (25KB), and works with any backend: PHP, Python, Go, Ruby, whatever.…

    Mar 2026 · mujs.org · its alternatives →

12. 12WJ
    Wiv.js – A library for a more wiggly div▲265

    2018 · jjkaufman.github.io · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Lowdefy – Build internal tools with YAML on an open-source framework▲107

    We're excited to announce Lowdefy V4, a full-stack web framework built on top of Next.js that simplifies building web applications, internal tools, admin panels, BI dashboards, and CRUD apps using YAML or JSON configuration files. New in V4: Next.js: Lowdefy now runs on top of the Next.js framework. All of Auth.js: App auth is now handled by Auth.js supported providers, adapters and callbacks and events, easy to configure, but all of which can be customized. Plugin extensibility: Apps can now be extended with any npm or pnpm workspace plugins. Our story: We have developed a simple…

    2021 · lowdefy.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Umbrella JS, a 2.5kb jQuery alternative▲132

    :umbrella: Lightweight javascript library for DOM manipulation and events

    2018 · umbrellajs.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Monkberry – a JavaScript library for building web user interfaces▲115

    Monkberry is blazingly fast, small 1kb and simple JavaScript library for building web user interfaces.

    2016 · monkberry.js.org · its alternatives →

16. 16
    1kb JavaScript library for building front end applications▲187

    1kB-ish JavaScript framework for building hypertext applications - hyperapp/hyperapp

    2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

17. 17EA
    Expounder – A small JavaScript library for more engaging tutorials▲134

    2016 · skorokithakis.github.io · its alternatives →

18. 18
    1 KB JavaScript library for building applications▲116

    1kB-ish JavaScript framework for building hypertext applications - hyperapp/hyperapp

    2017 · github.com · its alternatives →

19. 19LA
    LemonadeJS – A micro JavaScript library for building web interfaces▲57

    Reactive components with React-like patterns at ~9 KB gzip. Zero dependencies, zero build step, designed for humans and AI agents.

    2021 · lemonadejs.net · its alternatives →

20. 20
    RE:DOM▲6

    Tiny turboboosted JavaScript library for user interfaces

    2017 · redom.js.org · its alternatives →

21. 21
    FastDom – Lightweight replacement of React and MobX▲41

    Full reactivity JS/TS framework. Lightweight replacement of React + MobX + React Router. Very small and fast !! - PxyUp/Revact

    2019 · github.com · its alternatives →

22. 22AD
    A DOM text-selection highlight renderer▲93

    A simple and fast zero-dependencies-library to transform text-selections into serializable markings.

    2015 · bowlingx.github.io · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Tiny jQuery alternative with inline Locality of Behavior▲30

    🗿 Mini jQuery alternative. Dependency-free animations. Locality of Behavior. Use one element or arrays transparently. Pairs with htmx. Vanilla querySelector() but better! - gnat/surreal

    2023 · github.com · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Zero – DX focused non framework to interact with the DOM▲33

    Experimental jsxdom. Contribute to nhh/zero development by creating an account on GitHub.

    2024 · github.com · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →