I've been developing single-page applications (SPAs) for SaaS products, but recently I wanted to dive into server-side rendering (SSR) to see how it works. I know SSR isn't the usual choice for interactive web apps, but I'm curious to explore it. While doing my research, I stumbled upon the concept of progressive enhancement, which intrigued me and has led me on a challenging journey over the past few months.
Progressive enhancement isn't just about SSR, but implementing it with SSR seems to introduce more complexities. Since SSR apps render on the server first, there's a moment where users might see an unresponsive page until JavaScript kicks in. This requires making the app usable without any JavaScript, which I find appealing for robustness. However, I've encountered several challenges where I need to sacrifice features that rely on JavaScript just to maintain this functionality.
For instance, dropdown menus and reactive forms are tough to get right with progressive enhancement. I worry that achieving both robustness and a good user experience feels impossible. How do you manage this tradeoff in your own SSR applications? Is anyone else finding it as challenging as I am?
5 Answers
Coming from an era before SPAs, progressive enhancement brings back memories. You're right—custom components, dropdowns, and reactive forms can't work fully without JavaScript, and that's okay. Start with standard forms and a simple submit button. Once that's done, you can enhance it with JS for a better experience. I find that developing with SSR and basic forms is often faster and leads to better accessibility. You might consider using some lightweight custom HTML elements to add functionality without the weight of a heavy framework.
It can be tricky to nail down the right patterns for progressive enhancement. If you're building a search feature, for example, make sure the form works as a full-page POST by default. You can layer in some JavaScript enhancements afterward, like async search or dropdowns, but always remember to keep the initial experience functional. Consider using libraries like Datastar or HTMX to bring interactivity without investing heavily in JavaScript.
Progressive enhancement is a clever way to ensure your web applications function regardless of user settings. Build your core experience without JavaScript, then layer in JS additions. This way, you ensure a baseline experience is always available before embellishing with enhancements. It’s not about restricting features but rather ensuring users have a path to functionality first, which is the heart of building resilient apps.
I totally agree that progressive enhancement can lead to frustrating UX issues. My approach is to aim for a solid HTML base first, then build on it with JavaScript for advanced features, accepting that some functionalities may need JS. For dropdowns, starting with native HTML elements works best. If you can make interactions flow more naturally without JS, that's a win. On the backend, using tools like Hasura or Supabase can streamline data handling on SSR apps.
I've found success with a clear HTML-first philosophy. Maintain graceful fallbacks for dynamic elements and keep things usable even without JS. Instead of making enhancements religiously adhere to 'no JS,' treat progressive enhancement as a spectrum. Since you're delving into SSR, think about designing applications to function fully without JavaScript before you add enhancements. There are plenty of resources out there that can help guide you on this journey!
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