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I keep checking those minimalism-related websites and guidelines, as well as software projects, just to find out how much views on such a seemingly simple thing

I keep checking those minimalism-related websites and guidelines, as well as software projects, just to find out how much views on such a seemingly simple thing vary. For instance, this article argues against unnecessary elements, yet it's about 1.8 MB, has rather useless (IMO) pictures, and I had to scroll down 1.5 screens (in a desktop FF) to see the beginning of the article. And then there are regular vague advices. Apparently some focus on visual minimalism, others -- on pages being lightweight, yet others -- on minimal technologies. And what some would see as necessity others see as bloat.

godshatter 7y ago
Agree. Shouldn't a "minimal" website have everything it needs on one page? Huge images you have to scroll past to read anything useful isn't being minimal, it's just cruft. Surely it's possible to build a website that doesn't take up a lot of screen real-estate, has everything necessary to function, and still looks professional and aesthetically pleasing?
- joevandyk 7y ago
  You might have more engagement from more people with larger, more prominent images.
- MaxBarraclough 7y ago
  > Surely it's possible to build a website that doesn't take up a lot of screen real-estate, has everything necessary to function, and still looks professional and aesthetically pleasing? Given that we're on HackerNews, I think we can answer that with certainty. Well, I suppose looks professional and aesthetically pleasing are subjective, but I wouldn't change HackerNews's look.
HelloNurse 7y ago
With Internet Explorer (and some cruel and unusual filters, proxies and firewalls) the linked article loads but it is displayed as a solid black rectangle. No better way to prove the importance of avoiding useless complication, in this case gratuitous ornamental Javascript.
janci 7y ago
Also the scroll position indicator is unnecessary noise, as they call it in the article.

godshatter 7y ago

Agree. Shouldn't a "minimal" website have everything it needs on one page? Huge images you have to scroll past to read anything useful isn't being minimal, it's just cruft. Surely it's possible to build a website that doesn't take up a lot of screen real-estate, has everything necessary to function, and still looks professional and aesthetically pleasing?

joevandyk 7y ago
You might have more engagement from more people with larger, more prominent images.
MaxBarraclough 7y ago
> Surely it's possible to build a website that doesn't take up a lot of screen real-estate, has everything necessary to function, and still looks professional and aesthetically pleasing? Given that we're on HackerNews, I think we can answer that with certainty. Well, I suppose looks professional and aesthetically pleasing are subjective, but I wouldn't change HackerNews's look.

HelloNurse 7y ago

With Internet Explorer (and some cruel and unusual filters, proxies and firewalls) the linked article loads but it is displayed as a solid black rectangle. No better way to prove the importance of avoiding useless complication, in this case gratuitous ornamental Javascript.

janci 7y ago

Also the scroll position indicator is unnecessary noise, as they call it in the article.