Websites using Single-spa

Okay, let s break down single-spa, covering its overview, revenue (estimated), alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

What is Single-SPA?

Single-spa is a JavaScript framework designed for building microfrontends. Think of it as a meta-framework that allows you to compose multiple, separately deployable frontend applications (written in different frameworks like React, Angular, Vue.js, etc.) into a single page application (SPA). It s particularly useful for:

• Large, complex frontend projects: Breaking down monolithic frontends into smaller, manageable pieces that can be developed and deployed independently.
• Teams working with different technologies: Allows different teams to use their preferred frameworks without creating technology silos.
• Gradual upgrades of legacy applications: New features can be built as microfrontends, gradually replacing parts of the existing application.
• Independent deployments: Each microfrontend can be deployed and updated independently, reducing the risk and impact of deployments.

Key Concepts:

• Single-spa Router: Determines which application is active based on the URL.
• Applications: Individual microfrontends, each responsible for a specific part of the user interface.
• Parcels: Reusable pieces of UI that can be shared between applications.
• Layout Engine: A way to define the layout of microfrontends within the single-page application.

Estimated Revenue:

Single-spa is an open-source project, primarily maintained by a community. As such, it does not directly generate revenue in the traditional sense of selling software licenses. The primary maintainer, Canopy, provides consulting and enterprise support.

• Indirect Revenue/Business Model: Canopy, the company behind the primary maintainers of single-spa, generates revenue through:
  • Consulting Services: Helping organizations implement and maintain single-spa based architectures.
  • Enterprise Support: Providing dedicated support and maintenance for enterprise users.
  • Training: Offering training courses and workshops on microfrontends and single-spa.

Estimating their revenue is difficult as it s not publicly disclosed. Considering the niche nature of microfrontends and the fact that single-spa is free to use, I d estimate the yearly revenue to be in the range of $1 million to $5 million. This is a very rough estimate and could be higher or lower.

Alternatives to Single-SPA:

• Module Federation (Webpack 5): A built-in feature of Webpack 5 that allows you to share code and modules between different applications. A strong competitor, particularly for projects already using Webpack. Generally considered a lighter-weight solution.
• FrintJS: A framework for building modular and scalable JavaScript applications. Similar in concept to single-spa, but with its own set of conventions and patterns.
• Qiankun: A microfrontend framework based on iFrame and import-html. Offers more isolation between microfrontends.
• Piral: A microfrontend framework that focuses on extensibility and plugin development.
• Open Components: A tool and methodology for building composable frontends.
• Custom Solutions (Iframe-based): Using iFrames to isolate and embed different applications. This is a simpler approach, but can have drawbacks in terms of communication and SEO.
• Web Components: While not a microfrontend framework in itself, Web Components can be used as a building block for creating reusable UI elements that can be shared across different applications.

Factors to Consider when Choosing an Alternative:

• Existing Technology Stack: How well does the alternative integrate with your existing frameworks and tools?
• Team Expertise: Does your team have experience with the alternative?
• Complexity: How complex is the alternative to set up and maintain?
• Isolation: How well does the alternative isolate microfrontends from each other?
• Performance: What is the performance impact of using the alternative?
• Community Support: How active and helpful is the community around the alternative?

Pricing:

Single-spa itself is free and open-source (MIT licensed). You can use it without paying any license fees.

However, if you need professional support, consulting, or training, you ll need to engage with Canopy (or potentially other consulting firms). The pricing for these services would vary depending on the scope and complexity of the project. You d need to contact Canopy directly for a quote.

Customer Care Details (Support):

Since single-spa is open-source, official customer care is limited to community support and the paid services offered by Canopy.

• Community Support:
  • GitHub: The primary place for bug reports, feature requests, and discussions. You can find the repository at https://github.com/single-spa/single-spa
  • Slack: A Slack channel for community members to connect and ask questions. You can find the link to join on the single-spa website or GitHub repository.
  • Stack Overflow: A good place to find answers to common questions and issues.
  • Documentation: The official single-spa documentation is a valuable resource.
• Paid Support (Canopy):
  • Contact Form: You can contact Canopy through their website to inquire about consulting, enterprise support, or training.
  • Email: Potentially available for direct contact for paid support clients.

Summary Table:

| Feature | Description | | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Overview | JavaScript framework for building microfrontends. | | Revenue | Open-source (no direct revenue). Canopy generates revenue through consulting, enterprise support, and training. | | Alternatives | Module Federation, FrintJS, Qiankun, Piral, Open Components, Iframe-based solutions, Web Components | | Pricing | Free and open-source. Paid support and consulting available from Canopy. | | Customer Care | Community support (GitHub, Slack, Stack Overflow, documentation). Paid support from Canopy. |

In conclusion, single-spa provides a robust foundation for microfrontend architectures. The open-source nature of single-spa makes it an attractive option for many organizations, and the paid services from Canopy offer additional support and expertise for those who need it. However, it is important to evaluate the needs and capabilities of your team, project, and technology stack before choosing single-spa to implement it.