Rebuilding our tech stack for the new facebook.com (engineering.fb.com)

Article summary

Facebook has rebuilt its tech stack for the new facebook.com using React and Relay, aiming to improve performance and user experience. The new architecture reduces CSS and JavaScript files, improves image rendering, and introduces code-splitting and conditional dependencies. This rebuild addresses issues with the old site, such as slow loading times and difficulties in introducing new features. The new site also includes features like dark mode and improved accessibility.

Main themes

• web development complexity
• user experience
• performance optimization
• dark mode and accessibility
• native apps vs web apps
• feature bloat and simplicity
• engineering trade-offs
• design choices and personal preferences

What commenters say

• The new Facebook interface is slow and less information-dense, making it harder to use.
• The complexity of modern web development is unnecessary and a result of poor design choices.
• The use of dark mode is a matter of personal preference, with some finding it helpful for eye strain and others preferring light mode.
• The engineering efforts behind the new Facebook site are impressive but ultimately unnecessary for a simple website.
• The trend of making websites more like applications is a mistake and leads to unnecessary complexity.
• The addition of new features and functionality to Facebook over the years has made it slower and more bloated.
• The use of native apps on mobile devices is preferable to web-based solutions in many cases.
• The desire for more dynamic and interactive web experiences has led to the development of complex and resource-intensive technologies.