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What language/frameworks should I use for simple web apps in 2023?

by ymolodtsov on 9/6/23, 9:30 PM with 4 comments

The last time I developed anything proper for the web was around 2010, when I was writing my own CMS on PHP 5.3 with a little of JQuery. Ended up on a very different career trajectory, but always been around software development.

I've been thinking about building something but struggled with adopting the modern approach of writing SPAs in Type/Java-script. It does seem like an overkill for a personal side project. And I'm not looking for job opportunities.

I'm happy to make another attempt into learning modern Javascript or something else. My questions is, is there a particular framework/language combo that will: 1. Allow me to build simple web apps with some interactivity (but not necessarily a full API-based SPA) 2. Have a viable community to learn from and ask questions if needed (doesn't have to be the biggest one)

The way people use something like Next.js just to build a personal blog seems a bit weird to me, and since I don't need this skill, I don't think I should invest in learning this.

I'm pretty comfortable with my two static blogs on Hugo, built my themes for both of theme and heavily adjusted their internal templates. I also knew Python well enough and still like it as a language.

What do you think is a good option for people like me? Commit to JavaScript (so I have to master just one language) and find a more reasonable option there? Get back to PHP, which has changed a lot (I guess Laravel+Livewire?)? Use Django with some frontend framework?

I liked some philosophy behind Basecamp's products (Turbo/Hotwire) in terms of being simple, but this community is definitely a bit too small (also works best with Rails). Even though I attached TurboLinks to my blog and like how it works.

Really open to recommendations here, spent a few days actively googling but useless SEO websites have filled everything by now.

  • by Leftium on 9/7/23, 6:31 PM

    I personally really like https://kit.svelte.dev. One of SvelteKit's philosophies is "use the platform." So it sticks close to vanilla HTML/CSS/JS and adds enhancements where it makes sense. Also the SvelteKit community is pretty active and helpful.

    The base SvelteKit skeleton project provides a minimal site using best practices so you can get started right away on the unique features of your app. You don't have to use any of SvelteKit's extra enhancements, but they are designed to cut down the boilerplate almost every project needs.

    I have built several small projects with SvelteKit. Here is one of my latest projects, built in an afternoon or two (the biggest feature is hidden away):

    - https://github.com/Leftium/transform/commits/main

    - https://tt.leftium.com/

    ---

    On the other hand, there is merit in using tech you are already proficient with. (StackOverflow uses .net because that's what the devs were familiar with.) It is possible to use PHP/Python/Django for the backend and just use SvelteKit on the frontend.

  • by shortrounddev2 on 9/7/23, 1:00 AM

    Idk what your backend needs are but c# is the best language for backend development. I would just do vanilla js on the front-end if you don't want to make an SPA

  • by devmurtada on 9/7/23, 6:14 AM

    Express JS

  • by sedocmiv on 9/6/23, 10:19 PM

    Astro?