Optimization: Generate inline ReactElements

[rauhs]

Starting with React 0.14, we can feed React object literals instead of calls to React.createElement:

{ type: 'div', props: { className: 'foo', children:
  [ bar, { type: Baz, props: { }, key: 'baz', ref: null } ]
}, key: null, ref: null }

This would allow some possible speedup. A gotcha is when the ref is set to a string or a potential string. Then they need to go through createElement. Though this method is discouraged nowadays and callbacks should be used instead.

Also see React issue #3228

[r0man]

@rauhs I thought about this as well. I think it's also possible in React versions before 0.14, provided the object literals have a key called $$typeof with the symbol Symbol.for("react.element"). Just haven't had a chance to look into this more deeply. Patch welcome! :)

[rauhs]

So I've actually been wanting a "sablono light" that does not come with a runtime interpreter. You may have seen my hacks here: https://gist.github.com/rauhs/38b8598c6549f2fe09ad4d257382ec32 (yeah I know, they're ugly :) )

This prompted me to basically rewrite/fork sablono that removes the interpreter and is way less powerful.

I don't actually want to publish a fork of sablono so my question now is basically: Would you be interested in a "sablono.light" namespace living in this repository for users that want this functionality? It still uses much of your code.

I'm away now for 2 weeks but let me dump a gist here:
https://gist.github.com/rauhs/936fff632f42eb627f442b7d988dfc4b

[r0man]

@rauhs I'm not sure about this "light" namespace. I think supporting a 3rd way to build React nodes is a bit too much. However, I'm still interested in the object literal approach.