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I started disabling Javascript by default a few weeks ago using uMatrix, and I find it puzzling why people would use this? I currently use Font Awesome on my ow

I started disabling Javascript by default a few weeks ago using uMatrix, and I find it puzzling why people would use this? I currently use Font Awesome on my own site, and one task on my backlog is switching out to plain svg files to save on bandwidth (and not require a webfont download). I also have two layout elements that require Javascript I want to try to get rid of as well. I think we should see more of a movement to get away from Javascript for displaying basic content.

jonknee 8y ago
> I find it puzzling why people would use this? To show icons to the 99.5% of people who use the web with Javascript? Even Font Awesome suggests people go this route today.
- wowaname 8y ago
  "Everyone else does it therefore I should too"? Do you also give into peer pressure?
- RobertRoberts 8y ago
  This is really interesting, because this changed. I noticed the default free CDN option was JS when version 5 of FA came out, but now the default is font based: https://fontawesome.com/get-started https://fontawesome.com/get-started Note the tab order, it's Font | Js | Desktop | Advanced. It used to start with JS, so I think you may be wrong on this point, even if they "recommend" it in their docs, their defaults argue otherwise.
aetherspawn 8y ago
So I guess you don’t edit many documents, book any flights or enjoy your emails automatically refreshing, huh?
- aw3c2 8y ago
  You can easily re-enable JavaScript on selective sites. After all, you don't use hundreds of editors or flight booking sites every day, do you?
- soperj 8y ago
  I think that last one is the thing I enjoy most of all. I HATE my email automatically refreshing. I'll check it when I'm good and ready!
- djsumdog 8y ago
  Have you use uMatrix? By default it does allow first-party Javascript, but I have that disabled. If I got to a website that needs Javascript, I click on uMatrix and enable just the scripts I want. It shows me all the ad and tracking domains as well. I get to see where code is coming from before I allow it to execute. It does take a little bit longer to setup. You might have to refresh a page 2 or 3 times to get the right rules, but it keeps a lot of excessive Javascript from running in the background. If I disable first-party by default, it also prevents modals, cookie warnings, pay walls and all that other garbage. It reduces my browsers memory footprint and CPU usage as well. I should have installed uMatrix years ago.
hahamrfunnyguy 8y ago
This blog post has a good summary of some of the disadvantages of using icon fonts. https://cloudfour.com/thinks/seriously-dont-use-icon-fonts/ https://cloudfour.com/thinks/seriously-dont-use-icon-fonts/ As far as JavaScript goes, it has been a part of making sites work since the 90's. End users and developers won't ever be moving away from it since there are usually improvements that are gained by using it.

jonknee 8y ago

> I find it puzzling why people would use this? To show icons to the 99.5% of people who use the web with Javascript? Even Font Awesome suggests people go this route today.

wowaname 8y ago
"Everyone else does it therefore I should too"? Do you also give into peer pressure?
RobertRoberts 8y ago
This is really interesting, because this changed. I noticed the default free CDN option was JS when version 5 of FA came out, but now the default is font based: https://fontawesome.com/get-started https://fontawesome.com/get-started Note the tab order, it's Font | Js | Desktop | Advanced. It used to start with JS, so I think you may be wrong on this point, even if they "recommend" it in their docs, their defaults argue otherwise.

aetherspawn 8y ago

So I guess you don’t edit many documents, book any flights or enjoy your emails automatically refreshing, huh?

aw3c2 8y ago
You can easily re-enable JavaScript on selective sites. After all, you don't use hundreds of editors or flight booking sites every day, do you?
soperj 8y ago
I think that last one is the thing I enjoy most of all. I HATE my email automatically refreshing. I'll check it when I'm good and ready!
djsumdog 8y ago
Have you use uMatrix? By default it does allow first-party Javascript, but I have that disabled. If I got to a website that needs Javascript, I click on uMatrix and enable just the scripts I want. It shows me all the ad and tracking domains as well. I get to see where code is coming from before I allow it to execute. It does take a little bit longer to setup. You might have to refresh a page 2 or 3 times to get the right rules, but it keeps a lot of excessive Javascript from running in the background. If I disable first-party by default, it also prevents modals, cookie warnings, pay walls and all that other garbage. It reduces my browsers memory footprint and CPU usage as well. I should have installed uMatrix years ago.

hahamrfunnyguy 8y ago

This blog post has a good summary of some of the disadvantages of using icon fonts. https://cloudfour.com/thinks/seriously-dont-use-icon-fonts/ https://cloudfour.com/thinks/seriously-dont-use-icon-fonts/ As far as JavaScript goes, it has been a part of making sites work since the 90's. End users and developers won't ever be moving away from it since there are usually improvements that are gained by using it.