WordPress or React for the Public site?

[IkeHunter]

Intro

The primary question is this:

Should the public/marketing site for Jukebox be built in React or WordPress?

Up until last Spring, I was planning on having the public site be the 5th "domain" of the React app (along side Admin, Auth, Boards, and Members). However, I saw some interest in WordPress stuff and have gone back and forth on whether to include WP in this project.

Pros

• WordPress is more beginner friendly
• Allows Jukebox contributors to have some practice with WordPress - which about half the internet runs on (ref: HubSpot)
• Allows quicker page development and design, especially for people who are still relatively new to web dev
• Exposes contributors to a tech stack that's popular among freelancers and indie developers, enabling less reliance on technology only used by large employers. These developers can fall back to this stack in between jobs and during economic downturns for extra cash

Cons

• Add yet another tech stack to the project, possibly overwhelming people even more with options on how to contribute to the project
• Is another domain of the project to be maintained
• Future tech leads will need to be well versed in WordPress in addition to the litany of other tech stacks used in this project
• Design coordination might drift over time, requiring work to keep up-to-date

Discussion

What do you think? Should we stick to React, or branch out and experiment with WordPress? Let us know your thoughts!

Isaac Hunter,
PHP Skeptic