The official React docs now instruct you to go straight to Next.js: https://react.dev/learn/start-a-new-react-project
When React "is just a library" but the installation instructions tell you to install some large, VC-backed framework immediately - it just doesn't sit right with me.
That is an absolutely fair criticism - it’s unfortunate that vercel has so much influence over the future of react.
It takes five minutes to bootstrap a new react project in Vite or Next. You are significantly exaggerating how hard this all is.
I’m not saying that part is hard or particularly relevant. It takes a lot more time than 5 minutes to figure out how the new framework and/or build system works and all the implications of that, though.
Use CRA + webpack, now use Vite instead, you know what? Screw CRA you should just immediately jump to Next.js instead (which seemed like a huge overkill initially, but actually seems kind of nice).
Unless you’re working on a single project or continuously following what’s new it just seems confusing and overwhelming. If I got comfortable with CRA and came back after a year or two should I still use it for a new project even if it’s bo longer the default? Will new packages/etc. still work with it? Maybe… who knows. I just know that I now have to waste time figuring that out.