4 ms·

Are you backend? That would make sense why you predict that. I would predict the opposite.

bdcravens 4y ago
I've done both. Heavy front-ends really don't add much to a bottom line. They create a better experience for the user, but you can create a very functional application without needing the whole component-and-compilation circus.
- wszfahwbwbaha 4y ago
  - bdcravens 4y ago
    Do you have a critique of the idea, or just an ad hominem?
    - brycelarkin 4y ago
      I’ve worked at SaaS companies that invested in ui/ux and one of the common reasons we’d win deals is our app looked “nicer” than our competitors. However, I do believe you can build a lasting saas business with a strong backend / weak frontend, but can’t do it with a weak backend / strong frontend.
      - bdcravens 4y ago
        Appearance is definitely important. Of course, you can generally have the same design whether the site is server-rendered or client-rendered, with the difference being interactivity more than visual appeal. Additionally, you can get very far with over-the-wire approaches like LiveView/Hotwire.
        js-enjoyer 4y ago
        I work mostly on frontend and even I agree that you often "need" a good backend more than you need a good frontend. That doesn't mean it isn't valuable, see GP. I'm actually impressed and surprised by how many frontend jobs DevQuarterly sees (https://devquarterly.com/insights/trends/ https://devquarterly.com/insights/trends/). Big tech companies typically have many more backend developers than frontend developers. It depends on how many of those fullstack jobs are frontend heavy, but from what I've seen these job postings from smaller companies are often looking for frontend developers with some basic backend and cloud skills to build a product 0 to 1. Backend at that scale can be quite simple and is not out of the wheelhouse of a frontend developer that can actually code. Doesn't look like many people have bought into Hotwire with Rails ;) The "component and compilation circus" is pretty easy these days and improves the potential for your site. People see the billion dollar SaaS companies with fancy websites built on React and follow them.
        bdcravens 4y ago
        I don't necessarily disagree with anything you said. The original point is that when companies have to spend their money more judiciously, front end is low-hanging fruit. (especially when there are alternatives to accomplish the same business objectives)
  - dang 4y ago
    You've been breaking the site guidelines so badly and so frequently that I've banned the account. If you don't want to be banned, you're welcome to email hn@ycombinator.com and give us reason to believe that you'll follow the rules in the future. They're here: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html.
    - wszfahwbwbaha 4y ago
- strikelaserclaw 4y ago
  This is very true unfortunately.

I've done both. Heavy front-ends really don't add much to a bottom line. They create a better experience for the user, but you can create a very functional application without needing the whole component-and-compilation circus.

wszfahwbwbaha 4y ago
- bdcravens 4y ago
  Do you have a critique of the idea, or just an ad hominem?
  - brycelarkin 4y ago
    I’ve worked at SaaS companies that invested in ui/ux and one of the common reasons we’d win deals is our app looked “nicer” than our competitors. However, I do believe you can build a lasting saas business with a strong backend / weak frontend, but can’t do it with a weak backend / strong frontend.
    - bdcravens 4y ago
      Appearance is definitely important. Of course, you can generally have the same design whether the site is server-rendered or client-rendered, with the difference being interactivity more than visual appeal. Additionally, you can get very far with over-the-wire approaches like LiveView/Hotwire.
      - js-enjoyer 4y ago
        I work mostly on frontend and even I agree that you often "need" a good backend more than you need a good frontend. That doesn't mean it isn't valuable, see GP. I'm actually impressed and surprised by how many frontend jobs DevQuarterly sees (https://devquarterly.com/insights/trends/ https://devquarterly.com/insights/trends/). Big tech companies typically have many more backend developers than frontend developers. It depends on how many of those fullstack jobs are frontend heavy, but from what I've seen these job postings from smaller companies are often looking for frontend developers with some basic backend and cloud skills to build a product 0 to 1. Backend at that scale can be quite simple and is not out of the wheelhouse of a frontend developer that can actually code. Doesn't look like many people have bought into Hotwire with Rails ;) The "component and compilation circus" is pretty easy these days and improves the potential for your site. People see the billion dollar SaaS companies with fancy websites built on React and follow them.
        bdcravens 4y ago
        I don't necessarily disagree with anything you said. The original point is that when companies have to spend their money more judiciously, front end is low-hanging fruit. (especially when there are alternatives to accomplish the same business objectives)
- dang 4y ago
  You've been breaking the site guidelines so badly and so frequently that I've banned the account. If you don't want to be banned, you're welcome to email hn@ycombinator.com and give us reason to believe that you'll follow the rules in the future. They're here: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html.
  - wszfahwbwbaha 4y ago
strikelaserclaw 4y ago
This is very true unfortunately.