Clemens Helm

Snappy UI needs no Single-Page Application

Single-Page Applications are often overkill. Build faster, simpler UIs by sending HTML over the wire instead of JSON.

Snappy UI needs no Single-Page Application
#1about 1 minute

How SPAs came to dominate frontend development

Modern frontend development has become synonymous with frameworks like React and Angular, shaping developer identity and career paths.

#2about 8 minutes

The evolution from server rendering to AJAX

Web development moved from full-page reloads to asynchronous updates with AJAX, which improved user experience but introduced complexity like callback hell.

#3about 10 minutes

The rise and trade-offs of single-page applications

SPAs offer fast navigation and offline capabilities but create challenges with large bundles, SEO, complexity, and memory leaks.

#4about 3 minutes

Demonstrating a snappy UI without a single-page application

A task list application demo shows how to achieve a highly interactive user experience without a full page reload.

#5about 7 minutes

How Turbo Frames work under the hood

The demo works by having the server return HTML snippets wrapped in `turbo-frame` tags, which a small JavaScript library uses to update the DOM.

#6about 4 minutes

The benefits of a server-centric interactive approach

Using a server-driven approach like Turbo Frames results in faster initial loads, less complexity, and centralized application logic.

#7about 1 minute

Identifying the right use cases for SPAs

Single-page applications are the right choice for applications requiring rich interactivity, complex state management, or offline support.

#8about 3 minutes

When to use alternatives to single-page applications

Server-rendered approaches are ideal for page-based applications like e-commerce sites where fast initial loads and SEO are critical.

#9about 2 minutes

Choosing the right tool and managing architectural complexity

Developers should consciously evaluate trade-offs and avoid adopting trends like SPAs or microservices without considering the added complexity.

Related jobs
Jobs that call for the skills explored in this talk.

Matching moments

Questioning the default choice of SPAs for web development
02:19 MIN

Questioning the default choice of SPAs for web development

Why HTMX is crushing React, Vue & Svelte.

The hidden complexities of single-page applications
04:25 MIN

The hidden complexities of single-page applications

Why HTMX is crushing React, Vue & Svelte.

Understanding single page application architecture
02:50 MIN

Understanding single page application architecture

A Primer in Single Page Application Security (Angular, React, Vue.js)

The case for progressive enhancement in legacy applications
03:32 MIN

The case for progressive enhancement in legacy applications

petite-vue - Progressively enhancing every application?

Prioritizing user needs over developer convenience
05:12 MIN

Prioritizing user needs over developer convenience

The State Of The Web

Q&A on refactoring SPAs and page transitions
03:54 MIN

Q&A on refactoring SPAs and page transitions

The Lean Web

Comparing frameworks for building multi-page applications
02:49 MIN

Comparing frameworks for building multi-page applications

Marko.js: Unsung Hero of Scalable Web Frameworks

Tracing the architectural evolution to microfrontends
06:11 MIN

Tracing the architectural evolution to microfrontends

Microfrontends with Blazor: Welcome to the Party!

Featured Partners

Related Videos

See all videos
Catching up on the basics you don't really need that much code14:44

Catching up on the basics you don't really need that much code

Chris Heilmann

The Lean Web46:46

The Lean Web

Chris Ferdinandi

Front-End Micro Apps35:17

Front-End Micro Apps

Serg Hospodarets

Independently together: how micro-applications improve developer experience + app performance28:05

Independently together: how micro-applications improve developer experience + app performance

Bilal Cinarli

Why I Recommend Svelte to Every New Web Developer31:21

Why I Recommend Svelte to Every New Web Developer

Markus Hatvan

A Primer in Single Page Application Security (Angular, React, Vue.js)36:39

A Primer in Single Page Application Security (Angular, React, Vue.js)

Thomas Konrad

Why HTMX is crushing React, Vue & Svelte.29:04

Why HTMX is crushing React, Vue & Svelte.

Felix Eckhardt & Benedikt Stemmildt

On tour with heroes == Moving from Angular to WebComponents43:08

On tour with heroes == Moving from Angular to WebComponents

Benjamin Glusa

Related Articles

View all articles
BR
Benjamin Ruschin
The HTML Elements That You’re Probably Over-Engineering
As frameworks have become more and more commonplace in the world of web development, so too has the over-engineering of features made possible by our humble old friend, HTML. The mental models that come with using state management in React, Vue and o...
The HTML Elements That You’re Probably Over-Engineering
DC
Daniel Cranney
Web Developer Portfolio Inspiration and Examples - March 2025
Every developer needs a portfolio… of some sort. Whether it’s an all-singing all-dancing portfolio page, a blog, or a simple links page, it’s important to let others know what you have done, what you can do, and how they can contact you. A portfolio ...
Web Developer Portfolio Inspiration and Examples - March 2025

From learning to earning

Jobs that call for the skills explored in this talk.