For years, the default approach to web development involved shipping JavaScript-first applications—hydrating entire pages and layering interactivity everywhere. This worked flawlessly on high-end devices and fast networks, but real-world users faced a different reality. Reports trickled in: pages felt "sticky" on mobile devices, interfaces paused mid-load on corporate networks, and controls sometimes failed entirely. This wasn't a catastrophic failure but a silent, pervasive tax on usability.

Article illustration 1

The turning point came when the developer moved beyond assumptions and embraced rigorous measurement. Using tools like Next.js build analytics, Chrome DevTools Performance traces, and Core Web Vitals, they uncovered a harsh truth: up to 80% of their JavaScript wasn't enhancing user value—it was adding fragility. Bundle sizes bloated routes with unused libraries, hydration caused long main-thread tasks, and interactions like simple disclosures were over-engineered with React state. As the developer noted:

"Most of my JavaScript was not adding value. It was adding fragility. So I removed roughly 80 percent of it. The product got faster, calmer to maintain, and more accessible."

The overhaul focused on three high-impact strategies:

  1. Replacing JavaScript with Native HTML: Common UI patterns like FAQs were rebuilt using semantic elements instead of React components. For example:
<details>
  <summary>Can I share a notebook?</summary>
  <p>Yes. You can generate a link and send it to someone.</p>
</details>

This eliminated entire classes of bugs related to focus management and hydration delays while reducing bundle sizes.

  1. Auditing Interactions Like a Product Designer: Every user interaction was categorized by its necessity: "must work instantly" (core functionality) vs. "nice to have" or "doesn’t need JS." This exposed how many "interactive" features were merely presentational—solved better with CSS or HTML.

  2. Culling Dependency Bloat: Dependencies were treated as "rent" on performance. Using bundle analyzers, the developer enforced strict rules:

  • No heavy libraries in shared components.
  • No dependencies replacing native browser behavior without justification.
  • Isolate single-page dependencies to prevent route-wide leaks.
Article illustration 2

The results were profound. Performance metrics like Interaction to Next Paint (INP) and Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) improved as JavaScript no longer blocked rendering or competed with user input. Accessibility surged unexpectedly—replacing <div> click handlers with actual <button> elements restored built-in keyboard navigation, reducing focus traps. SEO also benefited, as content became crawlable earlier without hydration delays.

Crucially, JavaScript wasn't abandoned entirely. It remained valuable for features demanding rich interactivity, like collaborative editing or real-time updates. But the core philosophy shifted:

"Ship HTML first, then add JavaScript only where it makes the core job meaningfully better."

This approach, grounded in progressive enhancement, proved that simplifying web apps isn't about ideology—it's about reducing moving parts to minimize failure. As the developer concluded, fewer dependencies mean fewer bugs, faster loads, and happier users, turning a quiet tax into a silent victory.

Source: Clipnotebook Blog