alt Hacker NewsI just don't see the appeal when it's much easier to just build a nice website using JavaScript.
Google Search doesn't work without JavaScript.
Seriously, what's the point? Don't just reflexively downvote me. Try to articulate why this is a good idea. It's not that hard to use your words.
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Lots of important points already posted, from reliability over accessibility to SEO. To add a personal reason: speed. I hate slow computer things. If I open a page I e.g. don't have to use for work or similar (like Google Ads or Linkedin or similar horror shows), and loading the page takes longer than a second, I just bounce.
I built and maintain a static site for a company, and it's just wonderful. It opens instantly (which the search engines like), rebuilding and deploying is trivial, I am not forced to update every week because the JS framework has a new vuln.(There are a few dynamic, JS-based parts that load dynamically and fail gracefully.)
> when it's much easier to just build a nice website using JavaScript
I'm currently building a web-based tool that uses dynamic forms for UI, without the help of of a framework (yeah I know; I have reasons). This is the result: https://github.com/KaliedaRik/sc-filter-builder/blob/main/js...
It's not "easier" using Javascript; raw Javascript websites are a nightmare to build, maintain and reason about. It is "easier" with Javascript + current-favourite-framework-of-the-day.
Also: accessibility, SEO, the all-new Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) thing, etc.
i'd say it really depends on the website you're building and what you define as "using javascript"
are you comparing fully client rendering vs SSR without client JS at all? are you building a marketing site or a dashboard type tool?
there is subtly to why each decision would be made based on these.
i think HN tends to demonize JS because we're all well aware of how bad the state of a lot of web apps have become with developers only knowing react and having no background in web fundamentals or accessibility.
i see no reason to completely shun JS, just use it intentionally and not reflexively.
Why wouldn't google work without javascript? Just use some forms, submit the text the user entered, get back a page with the search results...
You're pre-emptive hostility seems rather unwarranted.
This article is my usual go-to and lists several reasons why JavaScript might not be available, and thus why you shouldn't take it for granted: https://piccalil.li/blog/a-handful-of-reasons-javascript-won...