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       ---

     

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       title: Picking the right tool for the job

     

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       description: There's always a consistent host of people screaming "Just fucking use HTML", while that is valid, there's some nuance to be said.

     

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       date: 2025-06-02

     

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       authors:

     

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         - name: finxol

     

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       tags:

     

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         - opinion

     

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         - tools

     

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       published: false

     

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       ---

     

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       All the ["Just Fucking use HTML"](https://justfuckingusehtml.com/) noise is quite aggressive and hard to ignore.

     

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       I think they've got a point, but that point lacks nuance.

     

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       There's a reason more complex tools were built and are as popular as they are.

     

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       Let's dive into simplicity, complexity and tooling.

     

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       ## The case for plain HTML

     

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       simpler is often better, if it can get the job done.

     

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       no need to introduce complexity when it's not actually needed.

     

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       increased overhead can easily lead to worse perf.

     

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       simple things keep things simple.

     

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       no need for build steps or complex deployments.

     

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       ## The case for more complex tooling

     

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       plain html is ugly.

     

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       css is hard.

     

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       dx is also important.

     

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       ## Exceptions

     

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       Now, if you're a nerd like me—which you probably are if you're reading this—there's some tools you want to use just because they seem cool,

     

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       not necessarily because they're needed.

     

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       I think that's a valid exception to the "pick the right tool for the job" rule.

     

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       For our little projects no one else will realistically ever use or contribute to, who cares if you're massively over-engineering

     

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       or bringing in useless complexity?

     

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       But then ultimately, just use whatever makes your life easier to make a good user experience,

     

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       because that's what really matters in the end.