Overview

This skill provides best practices, patterns, and anti-patterns for developing with SolidJS. It focuses on the "Render Once" mental model, fine-grained reactivity, and avoiding common pitfalls when transitioning from React.

Capabilities

• •Reactivity Guidance: Correct usage of Signals, Effects, and Memos.
• •Component Patterns: Proper props handling, control flow, and composition.
• •Performance Optimization: Store usage, batching, and code splitting.
• •Debugging: Identifying memory leaks and hydration issues.
• •React Migration: Checklist for converting React components to SolidJS.

Usage

Consult this skill when:

• •Writing or refactoring SolidJS components.
• •Debugging reactivity issues (e.g., components not updating).
• •Migrating code from React to SolidJS.
• •Setting up new SolidJS project structures.

SolidJS Best Practices Guide

1. Foundational Concepts: The Mental Model Shift

1.1 "Render Once" Architecture

SolidJS components execute exactly once to set up reactive dependencies. This is the most critical difference from React.

// ❌ WRONG: React mental model - expecting re-execution
function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = createSignal(0);
  console.log("This runs ONCE, not on every update"); // Only logs once
  return <button onClick={() => setCount(count() + 1)}>{count()}</button>;
}

// ✅ CORRECT: Use effects for reactive logic
function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = createSignal(0);
  
  createEffect(() => {
    console.log("Count changed:", count()); // Logs on every change
  });
  
  return <button onClick={() => setCount(count() + 1)}>{count()}</button>;
}

1.2 Fine-Grained Reactivity vs Virtual DOM

React re-renders component trees; SolidJS updates individual DOM nodes. Updates are O(1) per signal, not O(n) per component tree.

2. Reactive Primitives: The Core API

2.1 Signals: Always Use Getter/Setter Pattern

createSignal returns a tuple: [getter, setter]. Never destructure the getter.

2.2 Derived State: Use createMemo

For expensive computations depending on signals. Automatically memoized.

// ✅ CORRECT: Only recalculates when dependencies change
const expensiveResult = createMemo(() => heavyCalculation(props.data()));

2.3 Side Effects: Use createEffect

For DOM manipulation, logging, or external state sync. Cleanup is mandatory for subscriptions.

createEffect(() => {
  const handler = () => console.log("clicked");
  document.addEventListener("click", handler);
  onCleanup(() => document.removeEventListener("click", handler));
});

2.4 Async Data: Use createResource

Handles loading, error states, and integrates with <Suspense>.

3. Component Patterns & Composition

3.1 Props Handling: No Destructuring

Props are reactive proxies. Destructuring breaks the proxy.

// ❌ WRONG: Destructuring loses reactivity
function MyComponent({ name }) { ... }

// ✅ CORRECT: Access props directly
function MyComponent(props) {
  return <div>{props.name}</div>;
}

// ✅ CORRECT: Use splitProps for partial access
const [local, others] = splitProps(props, ["name"]);

3.2 Control Flow: Use Solid's Components

Never use .map or ternaries directly in JSX for dynamic lists/conditions. Use <For>, <Show>, <Switch>, and <Match>.

// ✅ CORRECT
<For each={items()}>
  {(item) => <div>{item.name}</div>}
</For>

4. Performance Best Practices

• •Minimize Signal Granularity: Use createStore for collections, not arrays of signals.
• •Batch Updates: Use batch(() => { ... }) to group multiple updates.
• •Lazy Loading: Use lazy(() => import(...)) for routes.

5. Common Pitfalls & Anti-Patterns

• •Infinite Loops: Never update a signal you read in the same effect.
• •Hydration Mismatches: Use isServer checks or <ClientOnly> for browser APIs/random values.
• •Mutating Resources: Treat resources as immutable; use the mutate helper.

6. Migration Checklist from React

• • Replace useState with createSignal
• • Replace useMemo with createMemo
• • Replace useEffect with createEffect + onCleanup
• • Replace useContext with useContext (similar API)
• • Remove useCallback and React.memo (not needed)
• • Replace .map() with <For>
• • Replace ternaries with <Show>
• • Access props as props.name (no destructuring)