Eric Meyer reflects on the ten years since the release of his book, "Designing for Performance," lamenting the lack of significant progress in web performance. While browsers have gotten faster, web page bloat has outpaced these improvements, resulting in a net loss for users. He points to ever-increasing JavaScript execution times and the prevalence of third-party scripts as primary culprits. This stagnation is particularly frustrating given the heightened importance of performance for accessibility, affordability, and the environment. Meyer concludes with a call to action, urging developers to prioritize performance and break the cycle of accepting ever-growing page weights as inevitable.
Eric Meyer, in his June 7, 2024 blog post entitled "A decade later, a decade lost (2024)," reflects with a palpable sense of disappointment on the state of web development a decade after his original post in 2014 lamenting the stagnation of the field. He posits that the intervening ten years have not witnessed the advancements he had hoped for, specifically in the realm of layout tools. While acknowledging some marginal improvements, such as the wider adoption of Flexbox and Grid, he argues these developments have not fundamentally altered the landscape or resolved the core issues that plagued web design in 2014. He expresses particular frustration with the enduring prevalence of single-column layouts and the lack of substantial innovation in layout modules beyond Flexbox and Grid.
Meyer details his earlier optimism for advancements inspired by the print design world, such as regions and exclusions, which have failed to materialize in any meaningful way. He laments the lack of development in areas like multi-column layout handling overflow, fragmentation, and spanning, emphasizing the limitations of existing tools when dealing with these complex scenarios. Furthermore, he notes the continued dominance of JavaScript frameworks and libraries, which he views as adding complexity and overhead while often failing to deliver truly novel or efficient layout solutions. He suggests these frameworks, while providing some structure, often obscure or even hinder access to the underlying CSS layout capabilities that could be leveraged for more elegant and performant design.
His disappointment extends to the perceived lack of focus within the web standards community on pushing the boundaries of layout technology. He contrasts the relative stagnation in this area with the significant advancements made in other aspects of web development, such as the proliferation of new JavaScript frameworks. This, he suggests, implies a misdirection of effort and a lack of appreciation for the fundamental importance of robust and flexible layout tools. He concludes with a renewed plea for the development community to revisit and prioritize innovation in layout, arguing that the current state of affairs represents a significant missed opportunity and a detriment to the evolution of the web. He underscores the ongoing need for more advanced layout tools to unlock the true potential of the web platform and facilitate the creation of richer, more dynamic, and ultimately more user-friendly web experiences.
Summary of Comments ( 127 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43054069
Commenters on Hacker News largely agree with Eric Meyer's sentiment that the past decade of web development has been stagnant, focusing on JavaScript frameworks and single-page apps (SPAs) to the detriment of the core web platform. Many express frustration with the complexity and performance issues of modern web development, echoing Meyer's points about the dominance of JavaScript and the lack of focus on fundamental improvements. Some commenters discuss the potential of Web Components and the resurgence of server-side rendering as signs of positive change, though others are more pessimistic about the future, citing the influence of large tech companies and the inherent inertia of the current ecosystem. A few dissenting voices argue that SPAs offer legitimate benefits and that the web has evolved naturally, but they are in the minority. The overall tone is one of disappointment with the current state of web development and a desire for a return to simpler, more performant approaches.
The Hacker News post "A decade later, a decade lost (2024)" linking to Eric Meyer's blog post has generated a significant number of comments discussing the stagnation and perceived decline in web development over the past ten years.
Several commenters echo Meyer's sentiment, expressing frustration with the increasing complexity and bloat of modern web development. They point to the prevalence of JavaScript frameworks and libraries, which, while offering powerful tools, often lead to over-engineered solutions and performance issues. Some argue that the focus has shifted away from core web technologies like HTML and CSS in favor of these JavaScript-heavy approaches. This, they believe, has created a barrier to entry for newcomers and contributed to the decline in accessibility and overall user experience.
The dominance of large tech companies like Google, Facebook (now Meta), and Apple is also a recurring theme. Commenters suggest that these companies' pursuit of their own interests, often at the expense of open web standards, has stifled innovation and led to a fragmented web ecosystem. The increasing use of proprietary technologies and the influence of advertising models are cited as contributing factors to this fragmentation.
Some commenters express a sense of nostalgia for the "simpler" web of the past, where websites were built with leaner codebases and focused on delivering content efficiently. They lament the loss of this perceived simplicity and the increasing difficulty in building and maintaining performant websites.
However, not all comments share this pessimistic view. Some argue that the web has undeniably evolved and improved in many ways, pointing to advancements in mobile responsiveness, rich media integration, and interactive experiences. They acknowledge the complexities of modern web development but contend that these complexities are often necessary to address the increasing demands of users and the ever-evolving landscape of the internet.
The discussion also touches upon the challenges of web standardization and the slow pace of browser adoption for new features. Some commenters express disappointment with the lack of interoperability between browsers and the difficulties in implementing consistent user experiences across different platforms. They suggest that this lack of standardization further contributes to the complexity and fragmentation of the web.
Overall, the comments reflect a mix of frustration, nostalgia, and cautious optimism about the future of web development. While many lament the perceived decline in simplicity and accessibility, others acknowledge the advancements made and express hope for a more collaborative and standards-driven approach to web development in the years to come. The conversation highlights the ongoing tension between innovation and standardization, and the challenges of balancing the needs of users, developers, and the powerful tech companies that shape the web landscape.