The Framework Wars Are Over: React Owns Shopify Dev

By nuwudorder | September 23, 2025

Introduction

For years, developers debated which framework would dominate e-commerce: Angular, Vue, or React. With Shopify betting fully on Hydrogen (React/Remix), the war is effectively over.

This post takes a strong POV: React has won. Angular has lost. Vue is niche. Here’s what that means for headless commerce.

Shopify’s Bet on React

  • 🟢 Hydrogen = React/Remix → React is now Shopify’s default.
  • 🌍 Oxygen runtime → React bundles, React patterns.
  • 📦 Ecosystem fit → npm libraries, React components, Tailwind, Next.js knowledge.
  • 📈 Hiring pool → React devs far outnumber Angular/Vue in commerce roles.

👉 If you want to build for Shopify, you need React literacy.

Angular’s Decline

  • ❌ Heavy, opinionated framework → less flexible for commerce.
  • ❌ Limited community adoption in headless.
  • ❌ Shopify never invested in Angular tooling.
  • 📉 Few agencies specialize in Angular + Shopify.

👉 Angular is strong in enterprise dashboards, not storefronts.

Vue’s Position

  • ✅ Nuxt (Nitrogen) provides Shopify integration for Vue devs.
  • ⚠️ Community-driven, not Shopify-backed.
  • ⚠️ Smaller app/plugin ecosystem.
  • ⚠️ Oxygen hosting not supported.

👉 Vue is viable for Vue-native agencies, but not a universal answer.

What React’s Dominance Means

For Hiring

  • Agencies prioritize React skills.
  • Easier to staff projects with React devs.
  • Angular/Vue specialists risk shrinking opportunities in commerce.

For Tooling

  • Most Shopify apps publish React-first SDKs + examples.
  • Community OSS supports React integrations.

For Merchants

  • Safer long-term bet to invest in React Hydrogen.
  • Ecosystem support + Shopify roadmap alignment.

Case Example: Agency Shift

  • Agency had 30% of team in Angular.
  • After Shopify doubled down on React, they retrained in Hydrogen.
  • Result: 2x faster project delivery, expanded client base.

Guardrails

  • ✅ Agencies: train teams in React if you haven’t already.
  • ✅ Merchants: avoid Angular commerce bets — long-term support unlikely.
  • ✅ Vue: fine for niche teams, but plan migration paths if ecosystem lags.

Conclusion

The headless commerce framework wars are over. Shopify has crowned React the winner with Hydrogen. Angular is effectively irrelevant, and Vue is niche.

React isn’t just a framework choice anymore — it’s the Shopify standard.

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