Building an HTML-first site doubled our users overnight (mohkohn.co.uk)

Article summary

The author built an HTML-first site for a utility company, which resulted in a significant increase in users completing the form. The site was designed to work on every machine possible, with poor connections, and without losing user data. The author used Astro and built a web component for form validation, which enhanced the user experience without relying on JavaScript. This approach led to a doubling of users completing the form.

Main themes

• HTML-first approach
• Accessibility
• Form validation
• Server-side rendering
• JavaScript usage
• User experience

What commenters say

• Using the right tools for the job is important, and defaults matter in web development.
• A good developer can still produce a decent result with suboptimal tools, but it's not ideal.
• Some argue that any technology can be used to build a crappy website, and it's up to the developer to do better.
• Others believe that certain technologies, like React, can lead to slower and more cumbersome websites if not used carefully.
• The importance of accessibility and user experience is highlighted, with some arguing that HTML-first approaches are more suitable for certain use cases.
• The cost difference between client-side and server-side rendering is considered negligible by some, while others point out that server-side rendering can affect all users if it becomes slow.
• Some commenters note that doubling users may actually refer to halved form abandonment, which is a more significant metric.
• Empathy and respect for users are essential in web development, and shipping large amounts of data per page can be seen as impolite or disrespectful.