The Web Didn't Need a Revolution. It Needed a Remix.
In the rush to build complex single page applications, the web development community lost something important: a deep respect for the platform itself. We built complex client side state management systems, convoluted data-fetching logic, and brittle abstractions that fought against the natural grain of the web. Remix is a powerful counter-movement. It is a full-stack web framework that focuses on web fundamentals to deliver a superior user experience with faster page loads, more resilient data mutations, and a simpler developer experience.
But this "back to basics" philosophy requires a developer to have a deep understanding of how the web actually works. A developer who only knows client side React and has never thought about HTTP methods, form submissions, or browser caching will fail to grasp the power of Remix. They will try to reinvent the wheel, bringing client side complexity into a framework that is designed to eliminate it.
An engineer who can create a route is not a Remix expert. An expert understands the power of `loader` functions to fetch data on the server, how `action` functions provide a robust and progressively enhanced way to handle data mutations, and how to leverage Remix's nested routing to build resilient and fast UIs. This playbook explains how Axiom Cortex finds the developers who think like true web architects.
Traditional Vetting and Vendor Limitations
A nearshore vendor sees "Remix" on a résumé and treats it as a synonym for "React." The interview process focuses on React component logic and completely misses the full-stack, web-native concepts that make Remix unique.
The predictable results of this flawed vetting are common:
- Client Side Data Fetching: Instead of using `loader` functions, the developer uses `useEffect` to fetch data on the client, re-introducing the loading spinners and client-server waterfalls that Remix is designed to eliminate.
- Manual Form Handling: The team writes complex client side JavaScript to handle form submissions with `onSubmit` handlers and `useState`, instead of using Remix's powerful, HTML-native `action` functions.
- Ignoring Nested Routing: The team fails to leverage Remix's nested routing and layouts, leading to duplicated code and inefficient data loading.
How Axiom Cortex Evaluates Remix Developers
Axiom Cortex is designed to find engineers who have a deep appreciation for the web platform. We test for the skills that are essential for building fast and resilient full-stack applications with Remix. We evaluate candidates across three critical dimensions.
Dimension 1: Data Loading with `loader` Functions
This is a core concept in Remix. This dimension tests a candidate's ability to fetch data efficiently on the server.
We provide a UI requirement and evaluate their ability to:
- Write a `loader` Function: Can they write a loader that fetches data from a database or an external API and returns it as JSON?
- Handle Data in the Component: Can they use the `useLoaderData` hook to access the data in their React component?
Dimension 2: Data Mutations with `action` Functions
This dimension tests a candidate's understanding of Remix's powerful and progressively enhanced approach to data mutations.
We present a form submission requirement and evaluate if they can:
- Write an `action` Function: Can they write an action that handles a form submission, performs a mutation, and returns a response or a redirect?
- Build a Progressive Form: Do they understand that a Remix form works even without JavaScript enabled? Can they use the `useFetcher` or `useSubmit` hooks to enhance the form with a modern, SPA-like experience?
Dimension 3: Nested Routing and UI Architecture
An elite Remix developer leverages the framework's routing conventions to build optimized user interfaces.
We evaluate their knowledge of:
- Nested Layouts: Can they use nested routes and
<Outlet />components to build a UI where parts of the page can be updated without re-rendering the entire layout? - Error Boundaries: Do they know how to use `ErrorBoundary` components to handle errors gracefully at a granular level within the UI?
From a Client Side Mess to a Resilient Web Platform
When you staff your team with engineers who have passed the Remix Axiom Cortex assessment, you are investing in a team that can build web applications that are faster, more resilient, and simpler to maintain. They will leverage the power of web fundamentals to create a superior user experience, moving away from the complexity of client side-heavy SPAs and towards a more robust and elegant full-stack architecture. For those building on Next.js, many of these full-stack principles also apply. For different frameworks, see our playbooks for Svelte or Angular.