The craft of building websites evolves when it follows web browsers, instead of fighting against them
Websites have evolved over the years, but in the name of evolution, there seems to be mistaken thinking that the process of building a website needs to get more complex, using Javascript frameworks and modern backend systems; when at the end of the day, browsers still only need static HTML content to interpret.
What comes out of this is a broken web. And a path in the wrong direction that may permanently damage the democratized web, where websites are meant to be built by anyone. Leading to a future where websites run on the promises of AI and Web3 blockchain tech, and we have to do a rain dance to the machine gods and pray things work.
The wrong path
The reason social media platforms have taken over people's content is because there is a perception that setting up a website is inherently difficult. While there is certainly some work involved, the amount of effort some people put into their social media posts is more work than getting a domain, finding a host, and uploading some HTML templates to publish their content.
And when someone wants to get a website designed professionally, they are told they need performant server hardware to handle Javascript frameworks to translate their Figma designs into HTML. When we can do it all without the Javascript framework, without Javascript altogether, and without even having to use design apps! Our tools are supposed to make things easier for us but seem to be getting more complicated, with added layers to the process that just creates more unnecessary work.
With these layers comes a sluggish user experience for websites. It also ends up missing the full range of features that browsers offer. There was a recent discussion about why mobile websites suck. It's not because our mobile phones are less capable, but because the way websites are being built has gotten so bad that people are gravitating towards using apps that do the same things websites are able to do.
It seems like the misguided perception of needing to use complex tools and frameworks to build a website comes from a thinking that web browsers are inherently limited. When, in fact, browsers have evolved to a tremendous degree. We're just not utilizing its development model correctly.
"Ten or fifteen years ago, the gap between the web and native apps on mobile was entirely technical. There were certain things that you just couldn't do in web browsers. That's no longer the case now. The web caught up quite a while back."
— Jeremy Keith, The web on mobile
The right path
Just because browsers support Javascript doesn't mean we should try to use it as much as possible. Javascript frameworks may make sense for developing web apps (and even there in a limited amount), but for websites, it was always meant to be used only for specific cases. The same goes for special backend server software. Content is always just HTML and there is actually very little that needs to be done outside the scope of displaying content that would require any special server software or any Javascript at all.
Even in cases where there used to be a need for Javascript, browsers have adapted by building in patterns that have become standard practice. For example, submitting forms used to require Javascript for validating fields. Now, it's no longer the case -- browsers do it all, and in a way that's more accessible.
CSS continues to move forward in browsers with year-over-year feature additions that also replace the need for Javascript, including robust layout techniques, animation and transitions, and even logic! When it comes to design tools for the web, CSS is in fact a design tool. And more designers should learn to utilize it as such.
Javascript and CSS frameworks just end up recreating features that are already built into the browser, and worse, end up fighting against the way browser technology works. The development experience is worse off with bloated code that's difficult to maintain.
"...truly understanding how HTML and CSS worked unlocked my ability to create actually user-friendly interfaces. That's our job as designers. It's not to pontificate over design tools and their ever expanding features; it's to design things for people."
— Andy Bell, The time for designers to learn to code is now
Correcting the path
The bad news is Javascript frameworks, and costly servers to handle them, are big business, and companies are being convinced that having both for their website is what keeps them relevant. The good news is, with the bad in place, we are able to comparatively show how much better things can be when done right. And the right way to code for the web is not only better for users and designers but also for companies.
There's no need to use platforms controlled by companies that lock you into their ecosystem or whose business model works to serve their advertisers above their users. We can own and control our own content. And it can be affordable and accessible.
The browser itself is a framework: HTML and CSS (with a sprinkling of Javascript). A framework that is flexible enough that we can publish all of our content using it, for any website, big, or small. And, the web itself is a platform: of domain addresses and host servers that anyone can have access to setting up, and send anyone to easily pull up.
"What's brand new today starts to show its age much more quickly than something that's already stood the test of time."
— Harry Roberts, Build for the Web, Build on the Web, Build with the Web
Changing the future
Going down this path leads towards the right kind of innovation for the web of the future. With improved ways to design, and better tools, that follow core browser functionality for producing our content.
It frees us from platform lock-in and leads towards #indieweb principles, for a truly decentralized model that we're each in control of, allowing us to feel more empowered over platforms.
It leads towards the original promise of the democratized web for more people to publish their thoughts and ideas.
It leads towards us taking back the web!
"What have we done?! We've signed up to Facebook, the site formerly known as Twitter, GMail, Medium and all the other convenient services. Now our lives are full of shitty ads, we're being tracked wherever we go and someone else is controlling the content we see, all the while profiting from whatever content we create."
— Markus Hofer, Let's take back the Web!
Ovi has been designing and building websites for over 20 years via Distinctive Quality. He is the co-founder of the Blocks Edit visual CMS, and the founder of Indie Aisle, tools for independent creators.
Member comments