4 ms·

I actually hate html+css and other developers I know hate it too. I feel like it's wasting many developer hours. I think one of the reasons its so "popular" is

by Kinnard 10y ago

I actually hate html+css and other developers I know hate it too. I feel like it's wasting many developer hours. I think one of the reasons its so "popular" is that there's no alternative that is widely supported by browsers. I think it's unlikely that mass end-user adoption can be driven by a substantially better developer experience. However there may be opportunities elsewhere . . .

flukus 10y ago
Sure it's a pain at times. But is there any other tech that makes it so easy to build apps/sites that work on anything from from a widescreen desktop to a smart phone?
- Kinnard 10y ago
  There isn't one yet and that's the problem.
  - flukus 10y ago
    When/if there is one I'd expect it to share many of the traits that made html+css so successful. In reality I'm expecting html+css to keep evolving and removing most of the pain points. Grids for example: https://www.w3.org/TR/css3-grid-layout/ https://www.w3.org/TR/css3-grid-layout/
    - Kinnard 10y ago
      I think css+html has evolved and improved a lot. That's a good example. But I think ultimately everything is being done to extend a legacy technology that was meant to add hyperlinking to texts and nothing more. I think a first-principles re-approach will be so much more powerful and free of the gravity of html+css constraints allowing developers to reach escape velocity.
      - flukus 10y ago
        XAML started off from a blank slate and got inferior (IMO) results. There are a lot of not so obvious upsides to html+css that often get thrown out. Starting from scratch could be better in theory, but I'm doubtful that it will happen in practice anytime soon.
        kristianp 10y ago
        I agree starting from scratch is unlikely to happen. XAML however, wasn't helped by being built in the era when XML was perceived as the solution to every problem.

4 ms·

I actually hate html+css and other developers I know hate it too. I feel like it's wasting many developer hours. I think one of the reasons its so "popular" is

by Kinnard 10y ago

flukus 10y ago
Sure it's a pain at times. But is there any other tech that makes it so easy to build apps/sites that work on anything from from a widescreen desktop to a smart phone?
- Kinnard 10y ago
  There isn't one yet and that's the problem.
  - flukus 10y ago
    When/if there is one I'd expect it to share many of the traits that made html+css so successful. In reality I'm expecting html+css to keep evolving and removing most of the pain points. Grids for example: https://www.w3.org/TR/css3-grid-layout/ https://www.w3.org/TR/css3-grid-layout/
    - Kinnard 10y ago
      I think css+html has evolved and improved a lot. That's a good example. But I think ultimately everything is being done to extend a legacy technology that was meant to add hyperlinking to texts and nothing more. I think a first-principles re-approach will be so much more powerful and free of the gravity of html+css constraints allowing developers to reach escape velocity.
      - flukus 10y ago
        XAML started off from a blank slate and got inferior (IMO) results. There are a lot of not so obvious upsides to html+css that often get thrown out. Starting from scratch could be better in theory, but I'm doubtful that it will happen in practice anytime soon.
        kristianp 10y ago
        I agree starting from scratch is unlikely to happen. XAML however, wasn't helped by being built in the era when XML was perceived as the solution to every problem.