This blog post discusses the top challenges faced by web developers in 2021 based on a quarterly survey. The findings reveal that the top pain points remain consistent with previous years, including browser compatibility, testing, documentation, debugging, framework usage, and security/privacy concerns. The survey data highlights the difficulties developers face in keeping up with evolving web standards and the ever-expanding ecosystem of tools and frameworks. Cross-browser compatibility and testing remain significant hurdles. While initiatives like Compat 2021 aim to address these challenges, their impact is yet to be fully realized. The data consistently shows the need for improved developer tooling and a more streamlined web development experience.
This post explores the ever-evolving landscape of web technologies and their compatibility across different browsers and platforms. It examines tools like iwanttouse.com and other resources to determine what web features can be safely used in 2021. The discussion will also include insights from industry experts like Jason and Mathias Bynens regarding JavaScript best practices. Finally, the post proposes the innovative concept of adopting a "quirks mode" but tailored to specific years, which could offer greater control over web development.
Check out Browser Bug Searcher, a tool created by Robert Nyman and Eric Bidelman that helps you easily search for bugs across major browser engines. It's a super handy resource for staying up-to-date on the status of web platform features. I wish more bug trackers, like crbug and webkit, had easy RSS feed options like this so I could integrate them into my personal dashboard.
Web design faces several persistent challenges. Tooling is complex and constantly evolving, making it difficult for designers to keep up. Demonstrating the value of design process to non-designers remains a hurdle. Cross-browser compatibility, especially for older browsers like IE11, continues to hinder progress. Responsive design, while desired, is still difficult to implement effectively across all devices and contexts, and existing tools aren't always adequate. Ultimately, the core issues boil down to process, tools, and achieving recognition for the value of design.
