web development

Svelte 5: The Game-Changing Framework We’re Using to Build Lightning-Fast eCommerce Apps

Hazem Abbas

Mar 29, 2025 — 7 min read

Table of Content

Let me start with a confession: I’ve been using Svelte for years now, I did not like it much comparing to Next.js and Astro, and it’s become my go-to framework for building web apps.

We’ve used it in several projects—everything from simple dashboards to full-blown internal tools—and right now, we’re working on an eCommerce platform powered by Svelte alongside Pocketbase (a lightweight backend solution).

It’s been a joyride, and with the release of Svelte 5, I’m even more excited about what this framework brings to the table.

But first, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane.

History of Svelte

Svelte isn’t new—it’s been around since 2016—but it’s always felt like the underdog compared to React and Vue. What makes Svelte stand out is its philosophy: instead of shipping a bulky runtime to the browser (like React or Angular), Svelte compiles your code into highly optimized vanilla JavaScript during build time.

This means faster apps, smaller bundles, and less boilerplate. Developers love it because it feels closer to writing plain HTML, CSS, and JS, without sacrificing power.

When SvelteKit came along (the official framework for building Svelte apps), it took things to another level. Suddenly, you had routing, server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and API routes—all baked in.

It was like Next.js but simpler, faster, and more intuitive. And now, with Svelte 5, it’s clear that Svelte is no longer just an alternative; it’s a serious contender for modern web development.

What’s New in Svelte 5? Why It’s a Game-Changer

1. Runes: The Future of Reactivity

One of the standout features in Svelte 5 is Runes. If you’ve ever worked with Svelte 4, you know how reactive statements ($:) work—they’re great, but sometimes they can feel a bit simple and magical. Runes change that.

They make reactivity explicit and predictable, giving you fine-grained control over how your app reacts to changes.

For example:

let count = $state(0); // Create a reactive variable
function increment() {
  count += 1;
}

It’s clean, simple, and easy to understand. No more guessing how reactivity works—it’s all there in plain sight.

2. Snippets: Reusability Made Easy

Another cool addition is Snippets. These are reusable chunks of markup or logic that you can drop into your components. Think of them as mini-components that don’t need their own file.

For instance, if you have a button style you use everywhere, you can define it once as a snippet and reuse it across your app.

And man, that reminds me of Meteor's Blaze, which was direct, easy to use and simple!

3. Better TypeScript Support

If you’re a TypeScript fan (and honestly, who isn’t these days?), Svelte 5 delivers big-time. It offers stricter type-checking, better error messages, and improved tooling support. Writing type-safe Svelte apps has never been easier.

4. Compiler Improvements

The Svelte compiler keeps getting smarter. With Svelte 5, bundle sizes are smaller, and build times are faster. This is crucial for us in our eCommerce project—we need blazing-fast performance, and Svelte delivers.

Again, that's also why i like it compared to other frameworks.

How Svelte Compares to Other Frameworks

Now, let’s talk comparisons. When you’re choosing a framework, it’s not just about features—it’s about how well it fits into your workflow. Here’s how Svelte stacks up against some popular alternatives:

Reactivity: Svelte vs. React vs. Vue

React: Uses hooks like useState and useEffect. While powerful, managing state and side effects can get messy.
Vue: Offers a robust reactivity system, but it still relies on a runtime.
Svelte: With Runes, reactivity is now declarative and explicit. You don’t need to think twice about how data flows—it just works.

SvelteKit vs. Next.js

Next.js is fantastic for building React apps with SSR/SSG, but it comes with the overhead of React itself. SvelteKit achieves similar results with less complexity.
SvelteKit also integrates seamlessly with tools like Pocketbase, making it ideal for full-stack development.

Svelte vs. Astro

Astro is awesome for content-heavy sites because of its “island architecture,” where only interactive parts of the page are hydrated. But for dynamic, data-driven apps (like our eCommerce project), Svelte shines brighter. Plus, SvelteKit gives you all the benefits of Astro-like optimizations while keeping everything tightly coupled.

Why We Love SvelteKit

We use SvelteKit daily, and here’s why:

Routing That Just Works: File-based routing is dead simple. No configuration needed.
Server Integration: Fetching data from APIs or databases (like Pocketbase) is a breeze.
Flexibility: Whether you want SSR, SSG, or client-side rendering, SvelteKit has you covered.
Performance: Smaller bundles mean faster load times, which is critical for eCommerce.

Use Cases Where Svelte Shines

Here’s where Svelte really excels:

eCommerce Platforms: Lightweight, fast, and scalable—perfect for handling product catalogs, carts, and payments.
Dashboards & Internal Tools: Svelte’s simplicity makes it ideal for building custom admin panels.
Real-Time Apps: Combine Svelte with WebSockets or Pocketbase for chat apps, live updates, etc.
Static Sites: With SvelteKit’s SSG capabilities, you can build blogs, portfolios, or marketing sites effortlessly.

Final Thoughts

Svelte 5 is a testament to how far this framework has come. From its humble beginnings as a “compile-away” library to becoming a powerhouse for modern web development, Svelte continues to impress. Its focus on simplicity, performance, and developer happiness sets it apart from the competition.

For our team, Svelte has become indispensable. Whether we’re building internal tools, dashboards, or eCommerce platforms, it just clicks. And with Svelte 5, we’re confident it’ll remain our framework of choice for years to come.

So, if you haven’t tried Svelte yet, give it a shot—you might just fall in love with it too. 🚀