Is Relay Starter Kit still maintained or safe to use for new projects?

No, it's deprecated and not actively maintained, as stated in the README. Using it for new projects is discouraged because it's based on Relay Classic, which lacks modern features and support—switch to Relay Modern for current development.

How do I migrate from Relay Starter Kit to Relay Modern?

Start by referring to the Relay Modern documentation and examples linked in the README. Migration involves rewriting data-fetching logic and components, as Relay Modern has a different API and architecture, so plan for a significant refactor.

What are the key differences between Relay Classic and Relay Modern?

Relay Modern is a complete rewrite with improved performance, a simpler API, and better tooling, while Relay Classic, used in this starter kit, had more complex setup and is now deprecated. Modern versions offer features like static queries and incremental adoption.

Can I use Relay Starter Kit with React 18 or newer versions?

Likely not without issues, as Relay Classic may have compatibility problems with recent React changes. The project is deprecated, so it hasn't been tested or updated for modern React ecosystems, leading to potential bugs.

Relay Classic vs Apollo Client: which is better for learning GraphQL today?

Apollo Client is generally better for learning today due to its active development, extensive documentation, and community support. Relay Classic, via this starter kit, is only useful for historical context, as it's outdated and less beginner-friendly.

Where can I find up-to-date examples for Relay?

Check the Relay Modern examples repository linked in the README, which provides current code samples. Avoid this starter kit's examples, as they're archived and don't reflect best practices for modern Relay development.

Open-Awesome

Relay Starter Kit

NOASSERTIONJavaScript

Deprecated starter kit for Relay Classic applications, now replaced by Relay Modern.

GitHub

1.0k stars235 forks0 contributors

What is Relay Starter Kit?

Relay Starter Kit was a minimal starting point for building applications with Relay Classic, Facebook's GraphQL client for React. It provided basic project structure and configuration to help developers quickly begin building Relay-powered applications. The project is now deprecated in favor of Relay Modern, which represents a complete rewrite of the Relay framework.

Target Audience

React developers who were building applications with Relay Classic (pre-1.0.0 versions) and needed a minimal starting template. It was particularly useful for those new to Relay who wanted to understand the basic setup requirements.

Value Proposition

It offered the simplest possible starting point for Relay Classic applications, eliminating configuration complexity and letting developers focus on building features. As an official Facebook project, it provided a canonical reference for Relay Classic application structure.

Overview

Barebones starting point for a Relay application.

Use Cases

Best For

Understanding historical Relay Classic application structure
Learning how Relay Classic was configured before Relay Modern
Referencing deprecated Relay patterns and practices
Studying the evolution of Facebook's GraphQL client architecture
Maintaining legacy Relay Classic applications
Educational purposes about GraphQL client history

Not Ideal For

Teams building new applications with Relay Modern (1.0.0+) who need current features and support
Projects requiring long-term maintenance, updates, or compatibility with modern React versions
Developers seeking active community support, bug fixes, or documentation for production use
Applications that rely on GraphQL best practices and tooling from the last 5+ years

Pros & Cons

Pros

Historical Reference Value

The project preserves a canonical Relay Classic setup, as noted in the README's documentation archive, making it useful for understanding deprecated patterns and Facebook's early GraphQL client architecture.

Minimal Starting Point

It offered a barebones foundation with essential configuration, reducing initial complexity and allowing developers to focus on learning Relay Classic, as described in its minimalistic philosophy.

Official Documentation Archive

The README maintains original documentation for historical interest, providing an authentic reference that's often lost in deprecated projects.

Cons

Deprecated and Unmaintained

The README explicitly states the repo is no longer actively maintained, meaning it lacks updates, security patches, and compatibility with modern tooling, making it risky for any production use.

Incompatible with Relay Modern

Since all future development shifted to Relay Modern, this starter kit is obsolete for new projects, requiring a complete rewrite to adopt current GraphQL client practices.

Limited Ecosystem Support

Relay Classic is outdated, with dwindling community and third-party integrations, so developers face challenges in finding help or extending functionality beyond the basic setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

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