Have you ever wondered how developing a new web application became so complex? You're definitely not alone. What used to be a straightforward task now requires multiple React components, written in TypeScript, a language that demands a build system to convert it into something usable by browsers. Gone are the days of simply writing HTML files that could be opened directly in a browser. It makes me wonder: where did the productivity from the days of PHP go? When did web development become so convoluted, and what are we gaining from it?
Users certainly aren't benefiting from the increased load times imposed by the many layers of JavaScript they're being forced to download (typical web pages are just around a few KB of size, while the core React lib alone is already over 100KB), just to also make their back buttons behave unpredictably (the most common issue with most SPA flows). Nor are developers, who now must wade through lengthy lists of components just to troubleshoot minor UI issues.
But all is not lost: there is a simpler way forward. Have you heard of HTMX? If not, it's worth having a look.
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