Websites using Selectize

Okay, let s break down Selectize.js in terms of an overview, revenue (since it s open-source), alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

Overview of Selectize.js

• What is it? Selectize.js is a free and open-source JavaScript library that provides a highly flexible and feature-rich replacement for traditional HTML <select> elements. It transforms these basic dropdowns into user-friendly, searchable, and customizable input fields.
• Key Features:
  • Searchable: Allows users to quickly filter options by typing.
  • Tags: Supports creating tags/pills as you select items.
  • Multiple Selections: Enables selecting multiple items from a list.
  • Customizable: Highly adaptable through options, CSS styling, and plugin architecture.
  • Create New Options: Can be configured to allow users to add new options not already in the list.
  • AJAX Support: Can load options dynamically from a server.
  • Extensive Plugin System: Allows for extending functionality through third-party plugins.
  • Lightweight: Has a small file size, contributing to faster page loading.
  • Accessibility: Follows accessibility best practices (though thorough testing is still recommended in specific contexts).
  • Cross-browser Compatibility: Works well across modern web browsers.
• Who Uses it? Web developers who need more than what a standard <select> element provides, and who need advanced features, like search and tags.
• Development: Actively maintained by community contributors and is hosted on GitHub.

Revenue (and its Lack Thereof)

• Open-Source & Free: Selectize.js is completely free to use. It s licensed under the Apache 2.0 license.
• No Revenue: As an open-source project, Selectize.js does not generate direct revenue. Its development relies on the community and code contributions rather than a financial model.
• Indirect Value: While it doesn t generate direct income, its value is in the web development community, facilitating efficient web forms and improved UI/UX. Companies can save significant development effort by using it.

Alternatives

Selectize.js has several popular alternatives, some with overlapping features and others with unique strengths:

1. Chosen: (jQuery based) - Known for its intuitive search and elegant appearance. It s a bit heavier than Selectize.js.
2. Select2: (jQuery based) - Highly popular, feature-rich, very customizable and well-documented. Similar functionality to Selectize.js.
3. Tom Select: (Dependency-Free) - Successor to Selectize.js, focuses on performance, ease of use and accessibility. It is recommended as a replacement for Selectize.js
4. React Select: (React specific) - Provides similar functionality for React apps, and more customizable.
5. MUI Select: (React specific) - Part of Material-UI, a popular UI library. Useful when using Material UI components.
6. Ant Design Select: (React Specific) - Part of Ant Design, another UI library.
7. Downshift: (React based) - A lower-level component that offers more control over the underlying mechanism, great for creating custom select UIs.
8. Awesomplete: (No Dependencies) - Lightweight auto-complete library that could be considered for simpler cases.

Key Differences Between Selectize and Alternatives

• Dependencies: Selectize.js is jQuery based whereas alternatives like Tom Select and Awesomplete are dependency-free.
• Framework Specific: Alternatives like React Select or Material UI Select are suitable for usage in React applications only.
• Customizability and Functionality: Selectize, Select2 and Tom Select are usually very similar feature-wise, whereas alternatives like Downshift offer lower-level control.
• Maintenance: Selectize.js is no longer actively maintained, so you may want to switch to an actively maintained alternative.

Pricing

• Completely Free: Selectize.js is free to use, modify, and distribute as it is licensed under the Apache 2.0 license. This applies to all use cases, personal and commercial.

Customer Care (Support)

• Community Support: As an open-source project, Selectize.js relies on community support.
  • GitHub Repository: The main source of support and issue reporting is the official GitHub repository. You can:
    • Report bugs
    • Request features
    • View the code
    • Find help in the issues and pull requests section
  • Stack Overflow: Often helpful to search for existing questions or post new ones using the selectize tag.
• No Dedicated Support Team: There is no dedicated team that you can contact for support. You are expected to participate in the community or seek alternative solutions.
• Self-Service: Due to its nature, users are expected to debug, learn, and customize on their own using the available documentation, tutorials, and community support.

In Summary

Selectize.js is a powerful and free JavaScript library that significantly enhances <select> elements. Its features, customizability, and large community make it a valuable tool for web developers. The fact that it s free and open-source eliminates the concern of licensing, but its reliance on community support requires more self-sufficiency for problem-solving. If you re starting new projects, Tom Select is a great and actively maintained alternative to look at.