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Discussion on: In defense of the modern web

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twigman08 profile image
Chad Smith

My issue isn't with applications are too complex really. I develop complex applications too at work.

My issue is with all the moving parts with a modern web application. Fighting if I can use certain language features. Oh I can't, now I have to bother with setting up and making sure I can use Babel or something to do it properly, or even loading in polyfills (cool just added another dependency the browser has to load before the application can be used).

That still hasn't covered bundling everything. What's the correct way bundle this? Well crap I now have to go and correctly configure WebPack. Unless you're one of the VERY FEW experts on that ,that will take time to figure out to get right. Ok so I think it bundles right, well now how should I lazy load this code for the user? What should be lazy loaded? What should i use to set it up?

That's just the beginning. I could go on and on about the other complex moving parts with a modern web application.

I am not asking anyone to make applications like it is 1999. All I'm asking for is a more modern and simpler process that is a STANDARD.

Maybe it is because I come from compiled language background. Where I have to worry about that one single binary. I only have to worry if the compiler supports the language version I'm using. Where I can just pass in a single flag to the compiler for the optimization level I want.

Yes I will be the first to say that in some areas of modern web application development we have taken steps forward. I just wonder if we have taken steps back in some areas to take those steps forward.

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gotofritz profile image
fritz • Edited

All I'm asking for is a more modern and simpler process that is a STANDARD ...
Maybe it is because I come from compiled language background ...

Well I am sorry, but web development is a complete different kettle of fish. We download all the parts that make up an application asynchronously, on a wide variety of devices, with different specs and rendering capabilities - all things which the app, once downloaded, need to adapt to. We have progressive rendering and respond to all sort of sensors. All while ensuring boot up time for the app is in the microseconds range and security for both you who download the code and the server.

Your expectations are simply unrealistic, sorry.

Also, we always had polyfills, even "back in the day". Except that back then everyone had to bake their own. In fact, we had browser wars and appalling browser (IE5 for the Mac, anyone??!?) and it was a real pain in the neck.