Building Web Apps in 2025

The web development landscape has evolved dramatically, but sometimes the best solutions are the simplest ones.

The Complexity Trap

Modern web development often feels like this:

Frontend Framework A + State Management B + Build Tool C + 
TypeScript + Testing Framework D + CSS-in-JS E + 
Component Library F + ... = Complexity Overload

Back to Basics

What if we focused on:

1. Progressive Enhancement

Start with HTML that works, then add CSS for beauty, then JavaScript for interaction. This old principle is more relevant than ever.

<!-- Works without JavaScript -->
<form method="POST" action="/submit">
  <input type="text" name="message" required>
  <button type="submit">Send</button>
</form>

2. Server-Side Rendering

Let the server do what it does best. Send complete HTML pages. Your users will thank you with faster load times.

3. Static First

If it doesn't need to be dynamic, make it static:

• Faster delivery
• Better security
• Easier caching
• Lower costs

The Tens City Approach

This blog itself is built on these principles:

• Markdown files are the source of truth
• Server renders complete HTML pages
• JSON-LD provides structured data
• No client-side JavaScript for core functionality
• Progressive enhancement for interactive features

Modern Static Site Generators

Tools that embrace simplicity:

1. Hugo - Fast, powerful, and simple
2. Eleventy - JavaScript-based, flexible
3. Jekyll - Ruby classic, GitHub Pages compatible
4. Astro - Modern with island architecture

API Design in 2025

REST is still great, but consider:

GraphQL for Complex Data

query {
  user(id: "123") {
    name
    posts(first: 10) {
      title
      excerpt
    }
  }
}

JSON-LD for Structured Data

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "BlogPosting",
  "headline": "Building Web Apps in 2025",
  "author": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Alex Rivera"
  }
}

Performance Matters

Three golden rules:

1. Measure first - Use Lighthouse, WebPageTest
2. Optimize images - Use modern formats (WebP, AVIF)
3. Lazy load - Don't load what you don't need

Accessibility is Not Optional

Building accessible sites is:

• The right thing to do
• Better for SEO
• Improves UX for everyone
• Often required by law

<!-- Good accessibility example -->
<button aria-label="Close modal" onclick="closeModal()">
  <span aria-hidden="true">×</span>
</button>

Conclusion

The future of web development isn't about the newest, shiniest framework. It's about:

• Understanding fundamentals
• Choosing the right tool for the job
• Prioritizing user experience
• Keeping things maintainable

Build websites that last. Build them simple. Build them right.

What's your approach to web development? Share your thoughts!