interact.js

Pros of Draggable

• Lightweight and focused specifically on drag-and-drop functionality
• Seamless integration with Shopify's ecosystem and design patterns
• Extensive documentation and examples for quick implementation

Cons of Draggable

• Limited to drag-and-drop interactions, lacking other gesture support
• Less flexible for complex, multi-touch scenarios
• Smaller community and fewer third-party extensions compared to Interact.js

Code Comparison

Draggable:

import { Draggable } from '@shopify/draggable';

const draggable = new Draggable(document.querySelectorAll('ul'), {
  draggable: 'li'
});

draggable.on('drag:start', () => console.log('Drag started'));

Interact.js:

import interact from 'interactjs';

interact('.draggable').draggable({
  listeners: {
    start (event) { console.log('Drag started') },
    move (event) { event.target.style.transform = `translate(${event.dx}px, ${event.dy}px)` }
  }
});

Both libraries offer straightforward APIs for implementing drag functionality. Draggable focuses on list-like structures, while Interact.js provides more granular control over the drag behavior and supports a wider range of interactions beyond dragging.

Pros of react-beautiful-dnd

• Specifically designed for React applications, offering seamless integration
• Provides a smooth, natural dragging experience with animations
• Excellent accessibility features, including keyboard support

Cons of react-beautiful-dnd

• Limited to drag-and-drop functionality within React applications
• Less flexible for complex interactions or non-React projects
• Larger bundle size compared to interact.js

Code Comparison

react-beautiful-dnd:

import { DragDropContext, Droppable, Draggable } from 'react-beautiful-dnd';

<DragDropContext onDragEnd={onDragEnd}>
  <Droppable droppableId="list">
    {(provided) => (
      <ul {...provided.droppableProps} ref={provided.innerRef}>
        {items.map((item, index) => (
          <Draggable key={item.id} draggableId={item.id} index={index}>
            {(provided) => (
              <li ref={provided.innerRef} {...provided.draggableProps} {...provided.dragHandleProps}>
                {item.content}
              </li>
            )}
          </Draggable>
        ))}
        {provided.placeholder}
      </ul>
    )}
  </Droppable>
</DragDropContext>

interact.js:

interact('.draggable')
  .draggable({
    inertia: true,
    modifiers: [
      interact.modifiers.restrictRect({
        restriction: 'parent',
        endOnly: true
      })
    ],
    autoScroll: true,
    listeners: {
      move: dragMoveListener,
    }
  });

Both libraries offer drag-and-drop functionality, but react-beautiful-dnd is more React-specific and declarative, while interact.js provides a more flexible, imperative approach for various interaction types across different frameworks.

Pros of Sortable

• Specifically designed for drag-and-drop sorting, making it more intuitive for list reordering tasks
• Lighter weight and faster for simple sorting operations
• Easier to set up for basic sorting functionality with less configuration required

Cons of Sortable

• Less versatile compared to Interact.js, focusing primarily on sorting and reordering
• Limited support for complex gestures and multi-touch interactions
• Fewer options for customizing drag behavior and constraints

Code Comparison

Sortable basic implementation:

new Sortable(document.getElementById('list'), {
  animation: 150,
  ghostClass: 'blue-background-class'
});

Interact.js basic drag-and-drop:

interact('.draggable').draggable({
  inertia: true,
  modifiers: [
    interact.modifiers.restrictRect({
      restriction: 'parent',
      endOnly: true
    })
  ],
  autoScroll: true,
  listeners: { move: dragMoveListener }
});

Summary

Sortable is more focused and easier to use for simple sorting tasks, while Interact.js offers greater flexibility and support for various interaction types. Choose Sortable for straightforward list reordering, and Interact.js for more complex drag-and-drop scenarios or when additional gestures are needed.

Pros of Moveable

• More comprehensive set of features, including resizing, rotating, and snapping
• Better support for touch devices and mobile interactions
• Extensive customization options for visual feedback and styling

Cons of Moveable

• Steeper learning curve due to more complex API
• Larger file size and potentially higher performance overhead
• Less focus on accessibility features compared to Interact.js

Code Comparison

Moveable:

import Moveable from "moveable";

const moveable = new Moveable(document.body, {
  target: document.querySelector(".target"),
  draggable: true,
  resizable: true,
  rotatable: true
});

moveable.on("drag", ({ target, transform }) => {
  target.style.transform = transform;
});

Interact.js:

import interact from 'interactjs';

interact('.target')
  .draggable({
    listeners: {
      move (event) {
        const target = event.target;
        const x = (parseFloat(target.getAttribute('data-x')) || 0) + event.dx;
        const y = (parseFloat(target.getAttribute('data-y')) || 0) + event.dy;

        target.style.transform = `translate(${x}px, ${y}px)`;
        target.setAttribute('data-x', x);
        target.setAttribute('data-y', y);
      }
    }
  });

Both libraries offer powerful interaction capabilities, but Moveable provides a more feature-rich experience at the cost of simplicity, while Interact.js focuses on a simpler API with a stronger emphasis on accessibility.

Pros of Dragula

• Simpler API and easier to set up for basic drag-and-drop functionality
• Lightweight with minimal dependencies
• Better out-of-the-box support for touch devices

Cons of Dragula

• Less feature-rich compared to Interact.js
• Limited support for advanced interactions like resizing or multi-touch gestures
• Fewer customization options for drag behavior and animations

Code Comparison

Dragula:

dragula([document.querySelector('#left'), document.querySelector('#right')])
  .on('drop', function (el) {
    console.log('Dropped: ' + el.textContent);
  });

Interact.js:

interact('.draggable')
  .draggable({
    listeners: {
      move: function (event) {
        var target = event.target;
        var x = (parseFloat(target.getAttribute('data-x')) || 0) + event.dx;
        var y = (parseFloat(target.getAttribute('data-y')) || 0) + event.dy;
        target.style.transform = 'translate(' + x + 'px, ' + y + 'px)';
        target.setAttribute('data-x', x);
        target.setAttribute('data-y', y);
      }
    }
  });

Summary

Dragula is simpler and more lightweight, making it ideal for basic drag-and-drop functionality. Interact.js offers more advanced features and customization options, but with a steeper learning curve. Choose Dragula for quick implementation of simple drag-and-drop, and Interact.js for more complex interaction requirements.

Pros of react-sortable-hoc

• Specifically designed for React applications, providing seamless integration
• Offers a higher-level abstraction for sortable lists and grids
• Provides built-in support for keyboard accessibility

Cons of react-sortable-hoc

• Limited to sorting functionality, while interact.js offers a broader range of interactions
• May have a steeper learning curve for developers not familiar with higher-order components
• Less flexible for non-React projects or complex custom interactions

Code Comparison

react-sortable-hoc:

import { SortableContainer, SortableElement } from 'react-sortable-hoc';

const SortableItem = SortableElement(({value}) => <li>{value}</li>);

const SortableList = SortableContainer(({items}) => {
  return (
    <ul>
      {items.map((value, index) => (
        <SortableItem key={`item-${index}`} index={index} value={value} />
      ))}
    </ul>
  );
});

interact.js:

interact('.draggable')
  .draggable({
    inertia: true,
    modifiers: [
      interact.modifiers.restrictRect({
        restriction: 'parent',
        endOnly: true
      })
    ],
    autoScroll: true,
    listeners: { move: dragMoveListener }
  })