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In Critical Defense of Frontend Development · Jens Oliver Meiert

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In Critical Defense of Frontend Development · Jens Oliver Meiert

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With this understanding of frontend development as unappealing and irrelevant likely being more common, we’re dealing with two problems: On the one hand the definition is inaccurate, as there’s more to frontend development than HTML, CSS, and JavaScript; on the other hand the definition’s interpretation is faulty, as HTML, CSS, and JavaScipt alone are more complex, more interesting, and more important than perhaps most of what information technology offers to study and practice today.

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In Critical Defense of Frontend Development

Frontend development is a field that's not unfamiliar with being misunderstood, and its value being underestimated or missed. We had another opportunity to experience that when the other week, Shopify's CEO made frontend development an affair only of junior developers. The comment may have been imprecise -it was published on Twitter-, but that doesn't save it from appearing disconnected from the scope and importance of the field.

1. What Is Frontend Development?

2. Problem 1: Frontend Development Is Much Larger

3. Problem 2: Frontend Development Is Much More Complex

4. Start Respecting Frontend Development

What Is Frontend Development?

According to Wikipedia, frontend development is "the practice of converting data to a graphical interface, through the use of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript."

For someone who thinks lowly of HTML, treats CSS as if it was a programming language, and knows JavaScript from exposure to a JavaScript framework, problems may start right there, because viewed this way the frontend development world looks unappealing and irrelevant.

With this understanding of frontend development as unappealing and irrelevant likely being more common, we're dealing with two problems: On the one hand the definition is inaccurate, as there's more to frontend development than HTML, CSS, and JavaScript; on the other hand the definition's interpretation is faulty, as HTML, CSS, and JavaScipt alone are more complex, more interesting, and more important than perhaps most of what information technology offers to study and practice today.

Problem 1: Frontend Development Is Much Larger

First, frontend development is much more than HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and our definitions, like the one quoted from Wikipedia, seem too narrow. (For an account of how I personally thought that frontend development was too small, and how I almost became a software developer, check out my story as told at beyond tellerrand 2018.)

What more is frontend development? In essence, frontend development is user-facing, and as such, the user is at the heart of the different priorities of frontend development. Frontend development is not just development:

Engineering

Accessibility

Security

Performance

SEO

Internationalization

Design

Typography

Information design

Graphic design

Interaction design

User experience

Information architecture

Usability

Human-computer interaction

...and the list goes on. (A quick note, while that list may be useful to make a more organized attempt at redefining frontend development, it does not imply a frontend developer would need to be an expert in all of this-but rather to have some basic understanding, and recognize and consider the respective avenues for further specialization.)

In order to become a better frontend developer you don't become a backend developer, you become a better designer and advocate for the user -in a sense of acquiring an understanding of design as well as empathy for users.

When other developers look and talk down on frontend developers they don't only show ignorance of the scope and size of frontend development, they then also distract frontend developers from their mission -because that mission is not to walk further into the server room, but to open the windows and look at the users out there.

Problem 2: Frontend Development Is Much More Complex

Then, frontend development is also much more complex than commonly thought, even if it was "only" HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. That one part above, about HTML thought lowly of, CSS being treated as a programming language, and JavaScript only being explored through frameworks-now that part already gives it away:
Frontend development is not properly understood.
HTML, from what we can observe, must really be thought lowly of. Many developers (including frontend developers) invest a few hours into "learning" HTML, think they got it, and then, 1, 5, 10, or 20 years later still write lowest-quality markup. When you look at how poorly HTML is written, by professionals, the situation is an embarrassment. Given how much goes wrong around HTML, whether it's the decades-lasting refusal to validate HTML code , the under-use of HTML elements, or the rare optimization of HTML for production, it's downright pathetic what's going on in this part of the field, even if HTML was not the most important (document) language on the Web.

How's this for CSS? CSS has long spun out of control. Symbolically, I peg it all on the day we introduced custom properties: On the server side we were always able to work with variables, but somehow the mindset snuck in that CSS better was a programming language and that therefore, variables had to be brought into the spec. I'm bending the story but it matters little- CSS has exploded and while that has had many benefits, it also threw a wrench into us ever understanding, mastering, exhausting CSS. We will never get there anymore: No one will ever fully understand, master, and exhaust CSS. Except for the junior frontend developers, as we now get told, who also better take on other engineering positions.

And JavaScript? Who actually writes native JavaScript? Doesn't everyone now go for the Node ecosystem, plus one or more JavaScript frameworks on top? What has happened with CSS had earlier already begun for JavaScript-that developers started to go for abstractions instead of mastering the language. jQuery is still the most prominent example, but other frameworks like qooxdoo are even older; and these days we don't even hire anymore for native development skills-we hire by abstractions.

What these paragraphs want to say is that HTML, CSS, and JavaScript alone-the key technologies for frontend development-are so huge, so important, also so messy, that learning a programming language is a joke. A bad joke, it turns out, ending with people outside the field ridicule it, and people inside take shortcuts at every opportunity.

Start Respecting Frontend Development

That bad joke now, and our bad joking, must stop.

That joke-telling, this false narrative, has cost us dearly.

While the digging started early, with web design and development becoming commoditized (thanks first to FrontPage and Dreamweaver), it was a small part of the field then (vendors and standards contributors) that made web development super-cool, but also super-complex. That commoditization and complication of the Web that has progressed over two or one decade, respectively, was accompanied by a large part of the field that looked on, and that thereby helped frontend development perhaps not to a grave, but to quite a spacious hole.

Where we're at now, the baseline quality of the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript that professional developers write is abysmal. A way you can tell this is when you consider that in the 90s and the early 2000s, we complained about career jumpers, people who had just learned HTML and CSS and who called themselves web designers (rather: web decorators), and who in consequence undermined the field's output quality and reputation. For years now we've instead been complaining about our own, our peers. Exclusively. Those peers, who may well not be able to write a document, style sheet, or script by hand. And now, thanks to the easily disparaging remarks of a tech company CEO, we get reminded that this pendulum swung so far, so hard, that we get the idea frontend development was irrelevant. That's how messed up this is by now.

It's time this changes. This was in parts a rant, but here are some suggestions.

1. Respect HTML.

2. Respect CSS.

3. Respect JavaScript.

4. Understand that these three languages, especially in conjunction, are more complex than any programming language. Frontend development is document, formatting, and script language territory.

5. Understand that frontend development rests on a robust understanding of these languages, an understanding that's near impossible to obtain (and ridiculous to ask for from a junior developer).

6. Understand that frontend development goes beyond HTML, CSS, and JavaScript-not in the direction of where software development may want to have it, the backend, but towards the user: accessibility; performance; usability; design; information architecture; &c. pp.

7. If you're not one of them, leave frontend developers alone. They don't tell you how to do your work, either.

8. Respect frontend development.

When we do that, we quell the insinuation that frontend developers were second-class developers who should at the first opportunity become backend or "full stack" or other types of developers.

No: We would recognize frontend developers as first-class developers, and support them to get order into the chaos that "web development as a commodity" and "web development as software development" have caused.

Finally, as frontend developers and frontend development managers we need to show more respect to our own field and ask for more from ourselves, too. That some of the industry's output is pathetic-I will say it again-is largely our own responsibility. While others need to understand what frontend development really means, we need to clean up our own backyard.

Let's all do this. Thank you.

Many thanks to Jad Joubran for reviewing this post.

* Let's admit, however, that frontend developers are also quite easy to distract. I don't know a single one who would not aspire to be a great software developer, too. When that part of the frontend developer's ego kicks in, we look behind us again, to the back end, and not ahead, to the front end.

† We've for too long played down the validation blind spot, not realizing how all the invalid code would eat the craft and the profession from the inside. Imagine your mechanic, your lawyer, or your doctor would go about their craft as frontend developers go about HTML. If they did they would end up in the same mess frontend developers find themselves today-evidently lacking basic professional standards, in a field constantly in or at the brink of identity crisis, questioned and bullied by neighboring disciplines, and-rightly so-not trusted by everyone.

About Me

I'm Jens Oliver Meiert, and I'm an engineering manager and author. I've worked as a technical lead for Google, I'm close to the W3C and the WHATWG, and I write and review books for O'Reilly. Other than that, I love trying things, sometimes including philosophy, art, and adventure. Here on meiert.com I share some of my views and experiences.

If you have questions or suggestions about what I write, please leave a comment (if available) or a message.

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In Critical Defense of Frontend Development · Jens Oliver Meiert

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The field of frontend development is in another crisis, largely due to an incomplete, misinterpreted definition and a bizarre mess created by "web development as a commodity" and "web development as software development." How frontend development is more than development, and what we can (and should) do.

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Importance of Front End Development for Business Success – DigitalSevaa.Com (Follow us for latest Digital Marketing Trends,Tips,Products and More)

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Importance of Front End Development for Business Success – DigitalSevaa.Com (Follow us for latest Digital Marketing Trends,Tips,Products and More)

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A book is always judged by its cover! A business needs to possess a website that is completely clean, attractive and functional. Now-a-days, websites play a very important role in uplift of your business. The more attractive and infatuate your website is, more are the people attracted towards it. To make your website attract and hold visitors on it, front end development plays a very important role.

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Importance of Front End Development for Business Success – DigitalSevaa.Com (Follow us for latest Digital Marketing Trends,Tips,Products and More)

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Take your business to new heights with the best front end development services

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WebAssembly, supported by all the major browsers (i.e. from the major vendors Google, Apple, Mozilla and Microsoft), is the only alternative to JavaScript for running code in web browsers (without the help of plug-ins, such as Flash, Java or Silverlight; all being discontinued, as browsers are dropping plug-in support). Prior to its adoption, there was asm.js (a subset of JavaScript; and thus strictly works in all browsers), that's also used as a compiler target with efficient support in browsers such as Internet Explorer 11

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Front-end web development is the development of the graphical user interface of a website, through the use of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, so that users can view and interact with that website.

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What is Front-end development? Why it is important? - MechoMotive

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What is Front-end development? Why it is important? - MechoMotive

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Whatever the client sees in the web browser termed as ” Front-end development”. The predominantly concentrates on designing , flow of content and simplicity of work.

Front-end development isn’t only about coding. It has to know the clients requirements, so that it needs surveys, discussion and further meetings with client.

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In a website building, Front-end plays a first and foremost role. As a result of good Front-end development, the website can reach more people and serve the purpose.

Front-end development

Whatever the client sees in the web browser termed as " Front-end development". The predominantly concentrates on designing , flow of content and simplicity of work.

Front-end development isn't only about coding. It has to know the clients requirements, so that it needs surveys, discussion and further meetings with client.

Before the actually coding, we need to do designing which is UI/UX designing. Initially low fidelity model crafted and only if its approved by client then high fidelity model takes place.

For designing, the layout for the website supposed to made. The prototyping and buttons for the website also supposed to designed for layouts.

The languages used for front-end development include HTML, CSS, JS. The HTML helps for formatting the web page, while CSS made for designing the web page. JS helps to fix the behavior.

The importance of Front-end development

Optimizes navigation

Front-end development helps optimizes navigation on a website which makes easier for visitor to find what they are looking for on the site. It calls for a clean, well-structed and carefully planned layout.

Improves performance

If your loading speed is low, you can easily lose customers to other. The front-end maintenance requires site performances so that it could load faster.

Its maintenance can also helps to ensure that your website reflects the main purpose of your website. It helps to manipulate the graphics and design that will provide a welcoming experience to the visitor.

By displaying a quality content a user can get the accurate answer. All in all ,it prompts the visitor to bookmark your website and become your loyal customer,

Final notes

A perfect developer should understand the need and requirements of the customer and always achieve as much as possible in stipulated time. The design of site must related for the website cause. It should be easier for user to use.

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What is Front-end development? Why it is important? - MechoMotive

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In a website building, Front-end plays a first and foremost role. As a result of good Front-end development, the website can reach more people and serve the purpose. Whatever the client sees in the web browser termed as " Front-end development". The predominantly concentrates on designing , flow of content and simplicity of work.

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Why Is Front-End Development Important? | SiteUptime Blog

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Why Is Front-End Development Important? | SiteUptime Blog

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Your website is often the first thing customers see, so if it doesn’t work well or isn’t designed carefully, this will form a negative impression about your business.

The front-end developers will take that into account and make sure that they come up with a good front-end strategy that will enhance the user experience, draw traffic, and gain customers.

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According to one study, your website only has 50 milliseconds to make a good impression on anyone who finds and visits your site.

With such a short amount of time, you have to make sure your website is essentially flawless. To do that, many businesses hire a front-end development service.

But is that really necessary? It actually is, so keep reading to find out why!

First Impression

Your website is often the first thing customers see, so if it doesn't work well or isn't designed carefully, this will form a negative impression about your business.

The front-end developers will take that into account and make sure that they come up with a good front-end strategy that will enhance the user experience, draw traffic, and gain customers.

While the website being attractive is helpful, the developers will make sure the customers can easily find what they're looking for.

Good Navigation

The developers will also make sure that your site is laid out nicely so that people can find what they're looking for.

The website should be structured well, clean, and planned out well. If customers spend hours searching on the website for something and they can't find it, they'll just leave and go to your competitor's site where they can find it.

Faster Development

As a business owner, you probably don't have time to sit there and design a website. By hiring a developer, you'll free up your own time and your employees.

Plus, since they have the expertise of how to create a good website, they'll come up with a great plan and be able to finish the project in just a few days.

Business Continuity

When you're marketing your business, you should make sure that the logo, message, and personality of the brand are all cohesive.

Developers will take that into account and create pages that will display content that's relevant to what your visitors are looking for.

They'll also make sure to constantly update the website and bring back people who had visited it originally.

Foster Trust

When customers go to your page, they'll be frustrated if it has too many errors, HTML problems, or fuzzy images. They likely won't trust your company because, in their minds, you can't even put together a decent website.

They may also wonder if it's a scam and associate that with your business. That's why developers will make sure that they create a product that customers can put their faith in.

If you're interested in enjoying all these benefits, click this link.

Learn More About Why Front-End Development Service is Important

These are only a few reasons why front-end development service is important, but there are many more reasons you should invest in one!

We know that running a business can be difficult to manage, but we're here to help you out.

If you enjoyed this article, make sure that you explore our website to find more articles just like this one!

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Why Is Front-End Development Important? | SiteUptime Blog

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According to one study, your website only has 50 milliseconds to make a good impression on anyone who finds and visits your site. With such a short amount of time, you have to make sure your website is essentially flawless. To do that, many businesses hire a front-end development service.

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Why Front-End Development is So Important for Business Success

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Why Front-End Development is So Important for Business Success

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In an increasingly web-based world, a business’s webpage is often its first impression as well as its first interaction with customers. The website’s programmers need to take this into account as they plan out a successful front end development strategy. The attractiveness of the website alone is not enough. It must be attractive specifically to the type of customer the company wishes to attract and offer exactly what these consumers need right away.

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Understand How You can Take your Business to the Next level with Front-End Development 

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Understand How You can Take your Business to the Next level with Front-End Development 

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If you want to improve user Experience of your business application than go for front end development. Why? Read this article to get clear idea.

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We live in a highly digital world underpinned by apps - be it on the mobile or the web. It, then, follows that any business looking to attract its user's attention for the long term would do well to not ignore front-end development. Of course, it does much more than just catch customers' attention.

Also referred to as client-side development, i is the practice of producing web applications or web site by utilizing CSS, HTML, and JavaScript that could enable users to interact and see directly. The challenges associated with this development approach involve techniques and tools due to which developers need to be aware and how it is developing. The objective for site development must be about when the customer visits the site when they can understand the relevance.

Here is a list of the many other front-end development benefits which make it crucial for any modern business' success.

1. Establish brand image: Nothing takes a toll on the brand's image quite like an unnecessarily complicated interface and poor design. So, if you are planning to win over customers right off the bat, as any company must, it is vital to ensure that you pay ample attention to your front-end development plan among other things.

2. Better visuals: One of the first things any customer notices when engaging with an app is visual appeal. As you can imagine, the app's visuals, then, constitute a critical part of a good first impression. To ensure that your app passes this first test with flying colors, a robust front-end development strategy offers the opportunity to deliver a good user experience from the get-go, ensuring customers are motivated to continue engaging with the app.

3. Improved customer engagement and retention: Retaining customers is one of the key bases of any successful business. So, how does one go about doing that in a digital world? Via apps - apps that entice the company's users to keep coming back and continue engaging with the business. Front-end development can help in this regard as well, ensuring the app's performance is at par with expectations and that too across a variety of devices and browsers. Oh, and did we mention front-end development also ensures quick loading speed for the app, a factor that also plays a crucial role in keeping users interested.

4. Foster trust: A sub-standard front-end can be extremely detrimental to customers' trust in your business application. Think about it, if you happen to visit an app or a website that fails to deliver even a quality front-end - imagine how customers would, then, struggle to even try to trust the app's ability to function as expected and deliver the expected experience. It is bound to frustrate users, of course. Thankfully, this situation is easily avoided via the provision of an app that impresses users right off the bat with a good front-end experience and then takes it up a few notches with an ace experience across the app. Make sure that your app ticks these boxes as well before you make it available to your customers.

As the discussion above demonstrates, front-end development is about so much more than simply coding. It is essentially the foundation of a high-quality user experience and also helps businesses with other aspects of their operations. So, if you too want to take your business to the next level with a modern app that can also help deliver better customer experiences, garner new users' interest, retain existing users' business, etc., you ought to start looking for a trusted front-end web development company. Make sure to verify their expertise, preferably in the same industry as yours, for their experience and skills will play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of your front-end development as well as general app development-related endeavors.

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Front-End Development: How it Affects Businesses

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We live in a highly digital world underpinned by apps - be it on the mobile or the web. It, then, follows that any business looking to attract its user's attention for the long term would do well to not ignore front-end development. Of course, it does much more than just catch customers' attention.