Star History Monthly December 2025 | React
React entering the Linux Foundation this year marks a new chapter for one of the world’s most influential open-source projects. Governance is opening, the ecosystem is expanding, and developers are rallying around tools that push React toward a faster, more modular future.
This month, we highlight four standout React projects shaping how teams build interfaces, data flows, dashboards, and developer tooling:
| React Scan | Real-time performance profiler for React |
| xyflow | Visual graph/diagram engine for React |
| TanStack Query | Server-state management for React apps |
| refine | Full-stack React framework for CRUD apps |
React Scan
→ Real-Time React Performance Insights
React Scan is an innovative runtime profiler that overlays component rendering behavior directly in your UI. With a single import, developers can see precisely which components re-render — and why.
- Strengths: Instant feedback, zero-config setup, powerful for production debugging.
- Limitations: Early-stage project; API and features evolve quickly.
👉 React Scan represents the new wave of DX-first React tooling, helping teams catch performance regressions before they ship.
xyflow
→ Building Node-Based Editors & Graph Interfaces
Xyflow is the engine behind some of today’s most polished workflow editors — including Cloudflare Workers’ visual editor. From node-based diagrams to no-code builders, it provides a flexible canvas for interactive graph-based UIs.
- Strengths: Production-ready, highly customizable, large ecosystem.
- Limitations: Complex use cases may require learning its layout/custom node APIs.
👉 xyflow shows how far React can stretch — powering the next generation of low-code tools, editors, and data visualizations.
TanStack Query
→ Server-State Management Done Right
TanStack Query (formerly React Query) remains one of the most essential libraries in modern React apps. It simplifies fetching, caching, mutations, retries, pagination — everything related to "server state".
- Strengths: Predictable async flows, strong TypeScript model, works across frameworks.
- Limitations: Not intended for client state; pairs best with Zustand/Jotai/Redux.
👉 A stable, battle-tested cornerstone of enterprise React, TanStack Query continues to grow steadily as apps become more data-heavy.
refine
→ Full-Stack React Framework for Internal Tools
Refine is a full-stack React framework designed for building dashboards, admin panels, and CRUD-heavy apps. It integrates cleanly with UI kits (Ant Design, Mui, Chakra), authentication providers, and backend services from Supabase to NestJS.
- Strengths: Strong conventions, extensible providers, accelerates CRUD development.
- Limitations: Best suited for internal tools; not a general-purpose app framework.
👉 Refine brings a Rails-like productivity layer to React — ideal for teams that need fast, maintainable tools.
📈 Star History Overview
To compare growth and momentum, here’s the combined star-history chart:
🎉 Wrapping Up
React’s move into the Linux Foundation signals a more open and community-driven future. These projects — from performance profilers to visual editors and full-stack frameworks — showcase the breadth and momentum of today’s React ecosystem.
