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The Return to Simplicity in Web Development

After years of increasing complexity, many developers are rediscovering the value of simple, straightforward approaches. Understanding when to embrace simplicity over sophistication leads to better outcomes.

The Complexity Problem

Modern web development often involves:

• Multiple build tools and bundlers
• Dozens of dependencies
• Complex state management
• Layers of abstraction
• Configuration files for configuration files

This complexity has costs: longer build times, harder debugging, steeper learning curves, and more points of failure.

What Simplicity Offers

Simple approaches provide tangible benefits:

Faster development: Less boilerplate and configuration means more time building features.

Easier maintenance: Simpler code is easier to understand, debug, and modify years later.

Better performance: Less code means smaller bundles and faster load times.

Reduced fragility: Fewer dependencies mean fewer breaking changes and security vulnerabilities.

Lower barrier to entry: Simpler projects are easier for new developers to understand.

Choosing Simplicity

Questions to ask before adding complexity:

• Do I actually need this framework/library?
• Will plain HTML/CSS/JS solve this problem?
• Am I adding this because it’s necessary or because it’s familiar?
• Will this make maintenance easier or harder?
• What’s the simplest thing that could work?

Often, the answer reveals that simpler approaches suffice.

Where Complexity Is Justified

Simplicity isn’t always best. Large applications with complex state, real-time features, or intensive user interactions may benefit from frameworks and sophisticated tooling.

The key is choosing complexity deliberately, when benefits outweigh costs, rather than defaulting to complex solutions for all problems.

Practical Simplicity

Ways to embrace simplicity:

• Start with plain HTML/CSS before reaching for frameworks
• Use platform features instead of libraries when possible
• Minimize build steps and dependencies
• Choose boring, proven technologies over new, exciting ones
• Delete code when possible rather than adding more

Conclusion

The web’s foundation—HTML, CSS, JavaScript—remains remarkably capable. Many problems don’t require complex solutions.

Embracing simplicity where appropriate leads to faster development, better performance, and more maintainable code. The challenge is resisting the siren song of complexity when simple solutions suffice.

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For more on web development simplicity, explore vanilla JavaScript and progressive enhancement approaches.