React Three Fiber Best Practices

Comprehensive guide for React Three Fiber and the Poimandres ecosystem. Contains 60+ rules across 11 categories, prioritized by impact.

When to Apply

Reference these guidelines when:

• Writing new R3F components
• Optimizing R3F performance (re-renders are the #1 issue)
• Using Drei helpers correctly
• Managing state with Zustand
• Implementing post-processing or physics

Ecosystem Coverage

• @react-three/fiber - React renderer for Three.js
• @react-three/drei - Useful helpers and abstractions
• @react-three/postprocessing - Post-processing effects
• @react-three/rapier - Physics engine
• zustand - State management
• leva - Debug GUI

Rule Categories by Priority

Quick Reference

1. Performance & Re-renders (CRITICAL)

• perf-never-set-state-in-useframe - NEVER call setState in useFrame
• perf-isolate-state - Isolate components that need React state
• perf-zustand-selectors - Use Zustand selectors, not entire store
• perf-transient-subscriptions - Use transient subscriptions for continuous values
• perf-memo-components - Memoize expensive components
• perf-keys-for-lists - Use stable keys for dynamic lists
• perf-avoid-inline-objects - Avoid creating objects/arrays in JSX
• perf-dispose-auto - Understand R3F auto-dispose behavior

2. useFrame & Animation (CRITICAL)

• frame-priority - Use priority for execution order
• frame-delta-time - Always use delta for animations
• frame-conditional-subscription - Disable useFrame when not needed
• frame-destructure-state - Destructure only what you need
• frame-render-on-demand - Use invalidate() for on-demand rendering
• frame-avoid-heavy-computation - Move heavy work outside useFrame

3. Component Patterns (HIGH)

• component-jsx-elements - Use JSX for Three.js objects
• component-attach-prop - Use attach for non-standard properties
• component-primitive - Use primitive for existing objects
• component-extend - Use extend() for custom classes
• component-forwardref - Use forwardRef for reusable components
• component-dispose-null - Set dispose={null} on shared resources

4. Canvas & Setup (HIGH)

• canvas-size-container - Canvas fills parent container
• canvas-camera-default - Configure camera via prop
• canvas-gl-config - Configure WebGL context
• canvas-shadows - Enable shadows at Canvas level
• canvas-frameloop - Choose appropriate frameloop mode
• canvas-events - Configure event handling
• canvas-linear-flat - Use linear/flat for correct colors

5. Drei Helpers (MEDIUM-HIGH)

• drei-use-gltf - useGLTF with preloading
• drei-use-texture - useTexture for texture loading
• drei-environment - Environment for realistic lighting
• drei-orbit-controls - OrbitControls from Drei
• drei-html - Html for DOM overlays
• drei-text - Text for 3D text
• drei-instances - Instances for optimized instancing
• drei-use-helper - useHelper for debug visualization
• drei-bounds - Bounds to fit camera
• drei-center - Center to center objects
• drei-float - Float for floating animation

6. Loading & Suspense (MEDIUM-HIGH)

• loading-suspense - Wrap async components in Suspense
• loading-preload - Preload assets with useGLTF.preload
• loading-use-progress - useProgress for loading UI
• loading-lazy-components - Lazy load heavy components
• loading-error-boundary - Handle loading errors

7. State Management (MEDIUM)

• state-zustand-store - Create focused Zustand stores
• state-avoid-objects-in-store - Be careful with Three.js objects
• state-subscribeWithSelector - Fine-grained subscriptions
• state-persist - Persist state when needed
• state-separate-concerns - Separate stores by concern

8. Events & Interaction (MEDIUM)

• events-pointer-events - Use pointer events on meshes
• events-stop-propagation - Prevent event bubbling
• events-cursor-pointer - Change cursor on hover
• events-raycast-filter - Filter raycasting
• events-event-data - Understand event data structure

9. Post-processing (MEDIUM)

• postpro-effect-composer - Use EffectComposer
• postpro-common-effects - Common effects reference
• postpro-selective-bloom - SelectiveBloom for optimized glow
• postpro-custom-shader - Create custom effects
• postpro-performance - Optimize post-processing

10. Physics Rapier (LOW-MEDIUM)

• physics-setup - Basic Rapier setup
• physics-body-types - dynamic, fixed, kinematic
• physics-colliders - Choose appropriate colliders
• physics-events - Handle collision events
• physics-api-ref - Use ref for physics API
• physics-performance - Optimize physics

11. Leva (LOW)

• leva-basic - Basic Leva usage
• leva-folders - Organize with folders
• leva-conditional - Hide in production

How to Use

Read individual rule files for detailed explanations and code examples:

rules/perf-never-set-state-in-useframe.md
rules/drei-use-gltf.md
rules/state-zustand-selectors.md

Full Compiled Document

For the complete guide with all rules expanded: ../R3FBESTPRACTICES.md

Critical Patterns

NEVER setState in useFrame

// BAD - 60 re-renders per second!
function BadComponent() {
  const [position, setPosition] = useState(0);
  useFrame(() => {
    setPosition(p => p + 0.01); // NEVER DO THIS
  });
  return <mesh position-x={position} />;
}

// GOOD - Mutate refs directly
function GoodComponent() {
  const meshRef = useRef();
  useFrame(() => {
    meshRef.current.position.x += 0.01;
  });
  return <mesh ref={meshRef} />;
}

Zustand Selectors

// BAD - Re-renders on ANY store change
const store = useGameStore();

// GOOD - Only re-renders when playerX changes
const playerX = useGameStore(state => state.playerX);

// BETTER - No re-renders, direct mutation
useFrame(() => {
  const { value } = useStore.getState();
  ref.current.position.x = value;
});

Drei useGLTF

import { useGLTF } from '@react-three/drei';

function Model() {
  const { scene } = useGLTF('/model.glb');
  return <primitive object={scene} />;
}

// Preload for instant loading
useGLTF.preload('/model.glb');

Suspense Loading

function App() {
  return (
    <Canvas>
      <Suspense fallback={<Loader />}>
        <Model />
      </Suspense>
    </Canvas>
  );
}