HTML First (html-first.com)

Article summary

The article discusses the concept of 'HTML First', an approach to web development that favors using native browser capabilities and reducing layers of abstraction. This approach is seen as a response to the complexity and overhead of modern web development frameworks like React. The article argues that it is possible to build fast, accessible, and maintainable web software using primarily native languages and capabilities of the web. The goal of the article is to provide a resource for developers who are interested in this approach but lack the language or concepts to implement it.

Main themes

• HTML First
• Native Web Development
• Separation of Concerns
• Locality of Behavior
• Web Frameworks
• CSS and HTML Relationship

What commenters say

• Some commenters argue that the 'HTML First' approach is too simplistic and will eventually lead to complexity and maintenance issues.
• Others believe that using a framework like React is unnecessary and that native HTML and CSS can be used to build complex and maintainable applications.
• There is disagreement about the importance of separation of concerns and locality of behavior in web development, with some arguing that these principles are poorly defined or overly abstract.
• Some commenters think that the 'HTML First' approach is suitable for small to medium-sized projects, but may not be scalable for larger and more complex applications.
• Others argue that the use of frameworks like React is not necessary and that a more lightweight approach can be more efficient and effective.
• There is also discussion about the role of CSS and its relationship to HTML, with some arguing that CSS classes should be used semantically and others believing that they are not as important in modern web development.