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Show HN: We Built the 1. EU-Sovereignty Audit for Websites
3 months ago
- Free scanner checks website dependency on Non-EU services.
- Analyzes hosting, fonts, analytics, CDNs, video embeds, chat tools, social widgets, and maps.
- Highlights EU alternatives for services like Google Fonts, Analytics, and Cloudflare.
- Future-proof websites aim for 100% EU score due to potential invalidation of EU-US Data Privacy Framework.
Notes on Starting to Use Django
3 months ago
- Django is preferred for its explicitness over Rails, making it easier to return to projects after long breaks.
- Django's built-in admin interface is highly customizable with minimal code.
- The Django ORM simplifies database operations with features like automatic JOINs using '__'.
- Automatic migrations in Django handle database schema changes effortlessly.
- Django's documentation is comprehensive and user-friendly, aiding in quick learning.
- Using SQLite with Django is straightforward and efficient for small-scale projects.
- Django is 'batteries-included', offering built-in features like CSRF protection and email handling.
- The settings.py file in Django can be intimidating due to its reliance on global variables.
- The author is exploring more Django features like form validation and authentication systems.
The Origin of Cascades - on the History of CSS (2020)
3 months ago
- Hidde de Vries gave a presentation at CSS Café.
- CSS was proposed 25 years ago as a language to style the web.
- CSS has evolved through platform changes since the late nineties.
- Key features like the cascade, specificity, and various values/units contributed to CSS's success.
- Some users adapted CSS to better meet their needs.
- The talk highlighted CSS's simplicity and flexibility, which keep it relevant today.
4chan founder created /pol/ board after meeting with Epstein
3 months ago
- The web application is heavily interactive and requires JavaScript.
- Simple HTML interfaces are possible but not utilized here.
- Post by Possum A-ko criticizes m00t for establishing /pol/ on 4chan.
- m00t's decision is linked to a meeting with Jeffrey Epstein.
- The post includes a quote or embedded content.
- Date of the post: January 31, 2026.
Founder of 4chan created /pol/ days after meeting Jeffrey Epstein
3 months ago
- The web application is heavily interactive and requires JavaScript.
- Simple HTML interfaces are possible but not applicable here.
- The post is by Andy Vitek from avitek.bsky.social.
- The user expresses frustration with the statement 'I'm losing my mind.'
- The post was made on January 31, 2026, at 03:56:47 UTC.
When will CSS Grid Lanes arrive?
3 months ago
- CSS Grid Lanes is a new tool for creating masonry-style layouts in CSS.
- Current implementations: Safari Technology Preview has finalized syntax; Edge, Chrome, and Firefox are making progress.
- Firefox was first to propose masonry-style layouts in CSS Grid Level 3 (2019-2020).
- Safari picked up the implementation in 2022, enabled by default in Safari Technology Preview 163 (Feb 2023).
- Chrome and Edge experimented with an alternative proposal but are updating to the finalized syntax.
- Developers can start using Grid Lanes with progressive enhancement techniques.
- Option 1: Use a JavaScript polyfill (e.g., Masonry.js) as a fallback for unsupported browsers.
- Option 2: Use alternative CSS layouts like Grid Level 1, Flexbox, or Multicolumn instead of Grid Lanes.
- Option 3: Use Grid Lanes with a CSS fallback (e.g., Grid Level 1) for unsupported browsers.
- Feature queries (@supports) help conditionally apply CSS based on Grid Lanes support.
- Developers can force uniform aspect ratios and truncate text for fallback layouts.
- Progressive enhancement allows using Grid Lanes before full browser support.
The Vanilla Web Is Wonderful
3 months ago
- The author expresses satisfaction with their progress in web development, particularly with vanilla web technologies.
- They highlight the evolution of vanilla web capabilities since 2015, mentioning the shift from floats to flexbox.
- Astro.js is used in personal projects, but the author appreciates the simplicity and manual nature of vanilla web development.
- The vanilla web approach has reduced barriers to coding, enabling a better flow state and less need for research.
- Several features have been added to the website, including paper clip-like buttons, image components with styled figcaptions, and a JS-generated table of contents.
- Future plans include implementing the View Transitions API and completing Projects and Bookshelf pages.
- The author finds working with vanilla web technologies enjoyable and looks forward to exploring its boundaries further.
DNS Explained – How Domain Names Get Resolved
3 months ago
- DNS translates domain names into IP addresses, making it easier to access websites without memorizing IPs.
- DNS is organized hierarchically: Root servers know TLD servers, which know domain servers, which know subdomains.
- Common DNS record types include A (IPv4), AAAA (IPv6), CNAME (aliases), MX (mail), and TXT (text for verification).
- TTL (Time To Live) determines how long DNS records are cached, affecting propagation speed when changes are made.
- DNS resolution involves multiple steps: browser cache, OS cache, router cache, ISP resolver, root servers, TLD servers, and authoritative nameservers.
- Resolvers (like Google's 8.8.8.8) fetch DNS records, while nameservers store them (e.g., Cloudflare, AWS Route 53).
- DNS can be used for load balancing, failover, and geographic routing by returning different IPs based on conditions.
- Debugging DNS issues involves checking and clearing caches (browser, OS) and using tools like `nslookup` and `dig`.
A Broken Heart
3 months ago
- The dashboard of a web app was taking 10 seconds to load, initially suspected to be a React issue.
- After analyzing with Claude, React issues were found but fixing them made little difference.
- Further investigation revealed the problem was specific to Safari, with layout passes taking 100x longer than expected.
- Binary search with Claude identified a heart emoji in a 'Send Feedback' button as the culprit.
- The emoji was using Noto Color Emoji font, which caused significant layout delays in Safari.
- A minimal reproduction case was created, showing Safari's slow layout performance with Noto Color Emoji.
- Noto Color Emoji uses COLRv1, which falls back to SVG in Safari, causing the slowdown.
- The bug was reported to the Safari team, with a suggested workaround to use Apple Color Emoji first.
- Claude was instrumental in both identifying the problem and helping to debug it, though it also introduced the problematic font initially.
- Coding agents like Claude are powerful tools but can introduce new issues while solving others.
Browser.html – a web browser built with web technologies using Servo as web ren
3 months ago
- The Web is seen as the only platform offering permissionless user agency.
- The project aims to build a Web-based user agent with new capabilities.
- Mascot is a beaver, symbolizing environmental healing and rewilding the internet.
- Built on Servo to diversify the Web, avoiding Blink forks.
- Long-term goal: suite of Web user agents for various devices, moving beyond existing OS dependencies.
- Community engagement via Servo's Zulip.
- Prerequisites include installing 'forkme' utility and setting up Servo build dependencies.
- Desktop builds involve updating with 'forkme apply' and building with specific cargo commands.
- Mobile builds tested on Pixel 3a with Mobian; requires sysroot setup and specific build scripts.
- Environment variables needed for mobile execution: SURFMAN_FORCE_GLES=1 and WAYLAND_DISPLAY=wayland-0.
Google Chrome 145 Released with JPEG-XL Image Support
3 months ago
- Google Chrome 145 has been released with JPEG-XL image support reinstated.
- JPEG-XL decoding is back in Chrome/Chromium, now using the Rust-based jxl-rs decoder for better memory safety.
- The feature is enabled via the 'enable-jxl-image-format' flag in Chrome 145.
- Other new features include support for the text-justify CSS property, column wrapping in multicol, and an SQLite backend for IndexedDB.
- Chrome 145 also introduces device-bound session credentials, reduced user-agent strings by default, and Upsert functionality.
- The update is available across Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.
Show HN: Building My Own Google Analytics for $0
3 months ago
- Building a custom Google Analytics alternative for $0.
- Understanding the basic architecture: User's Browser → Tracking Script → Backend API → Database → Dashboard.
- Reverse engineering Google Analytics reveals it sends collect requests on almost every event.
- Problem 1: CORS preflight requests doubling the number of HTTP calls. Solution: Use query parameters instead of JSON body.
- Problem 2: Bots skewing analytics data. Solution: Two-layer bot detection (client-side and server-side) with Cloudflare Worker for edge filtering.
- Problem 3: Session management. Solution: Client-side session tracking using sessionStorage.
- Problem 4: Tracking route changes in SPAs. Solution: Intercepting History API calls.
- Final architecture includes Cloudflare CDN for the tracking script, Cloudflare Worker for bot detection, Backend API, MongoDB Atlas, and a Dashboard.
Components will kill pages
3 months ago
- The internet is changing, with AI tools like ChatGPT providing instant answers, reducing the need for traditional website navigation.
- Frontend engineering is shifting focus from page navigation to AI-driven interactions, questioning the future of user signups and journeys.
- Chat interfaces may replace traditional websites, with AI rendering visual components directly in chat to maintain brand interaction without leaving the app.
- Libraries like json-render and Kumo enable AI to generate UI components in JSON, allowing for dynamic, branded responses within chat applications.
- The future of user interaction lies in AI-first approaches, where users get instant answers and perform actions through simple queries, bypassing traditional page navigation.
- Investing in high-quality, AI-ready components is crucial for brands to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
From 34% to 96%: The Porting Initiative Delivers – Hologram v0.7.0
3 months ago
- Hologram v0.7.0 marks a significant milestone in the Elixir-to-JavaScript porting initiative, increasing Erlang runtime coverage from 34% to 96%.
- The release includes 150 newly ported Erlang functions across 19 modules, enhancing Elixir standard library readiness from 74% to 87%.
- Key functionalities now available client-side include string manipulation, collections, sets, binary operations, Unicode normalization, math, time operations, and file path handling.
- Notable improvements include faster compilation, cross-platform mix setup, NixOS compatibility, and enhanced :erlang.float_to_binary/2 options.
- Bug fixes address issues like quota exceeded during navigation, map immutability, template interpolation, and URL parameter encoding.
- Infrastructure enhancements lay the groundwork for upcoming features, including client-side ERTS, reference type overhaul, and ETS infrastructure.
- The release acknowledges contributions from 49 individuals, with special thanks to key contributors and sponsors supporting the project's development.
Experiments with CodeMirror: Building a code review tool
3 months ago
- The author discusses the need for a more advanced text/code editor in web applications, moving beyond simple textareas.
- CodeMirror 6 is highlighted as a modular and customizable editor library, preferred over Monaco for its flexibility.
- The importance of a code review mode in editors is emphasized, especially with the rise of LLMs, for accepting or rejecting changes.
- Various text editor options are reviewed, including simple textareas, HTML datalists, and libraries like Ace, Monaco, and CodeMirror 5.
- CodeMirror 6's architecture is explained, focusing on its modular design, state management, and the concept of facets for extensions.
- A practical example is provided for implementing a unified merge view in CodeMirror 6 for code review functionality.
- The author shares future experiments with CodeMirror 6, including custom decorations, Lezer for parsing, and LSP integration.
- A self-contained code snippet for a review tool extension is included, demonstrating how to implement review mode in CodeMirror 6.
WebMCP Proposal
3 months ago
- WebMCP API is a JavaScript interface for web developers to expose web application functionality as tools.
- Tools are JavaScript functions with natural language descriptions and structured schemas.
- WebMCP enables collaborative workflows between users and agents within the same web interface.
- Agents are autonomous assistants that understand user goals and take actions on their behalf.
- Browser's agents can be built into the browser or hosted via extensions.
- AI platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, or Google’s Gemini provide agentic assistants.
- The Navigator interface is extended to provide access to the ModelContext.
- ModelContext interface allows web applications to register and manage tools for agents.
- Methods include provideContext, clearContext, registerTool, and unregisterTool.
- ModelContextTool dictionary describes tools with name, description, inputSchema, execute callback, and annotations.
- ToolAnnotations dictionary provides metadata like readOnlyHint.
- ModelContextClient interface represents an agent executing a tool, with methods like requestUserInteraction.
Show HN: A Unix environment in a single HTML file (420 KB)
3 months ago
- A Unix environment encapsulated in a single HTML file, running entirely in the browser.
- Includes shell, filesystem, git, npm, vi, and over 200 commands, with a size of ~420 KB gzipped.
- No server required; operates offline with all functionalities running client-side.
- Features a POSIX-like filesystem using IndexedDB, with commands like stat, readdir, readFile, etc., persisting across page reloads.
- Supports real npm tarballs from the registry, JavaScript execution with node, and TypeScript bundling with esbuild.
- Enables full git operations (init, add, commit, diff) client-side via isomorphic-git.
- Allows for capturing the entire filesystem into a GIF for transfer between instances.
- Supports scripting with pipes, redirects, variables, and other POSIX features.
- Self-contained with all JS/CSS inlined, deployable on GitHub Pages, S3, or locally.
Farewell Rust
3 months ago
- Author's journey from learning Pascal in high school to mastering C and eventually transitioning to web development with PHP, Python, and Ruby.
- Initial love for C due to precise memory control and low-level programming, but moved away due to the dynamic nature of web development.
- Discovered Rust, appreciating its modern tooling, memory safety, and performance, leading to building a web application in Rust.
- Challenges with Rust in web development included templating, localization, dynamic query building, and long compilation times.
- Transitioned to Node.js for faster development cycles, better ecosystem maturity for web development, and improved type-safety in templates and i18n.
- Reflection on the importance of choosing the right tool for the job, with Rust excelling in CPU-heavy tasks but Node.js being more suited for dynamic web applications.
Web Components: The Framework-Free Renaissance
2 months ago
- Web components, custom elements, shadow DOM, and native event systems enable building sophisticated web interfaces without frameworks like React, Vue, or Angular.
- Web standards provide stability and backward compatibility, reducing maintenance burdens compared to frameworks.
- Custom Events allow components to communicate elegantly without tight coupling, using the DOM as infrastructure.
- Shadow DOM encapsulation prevents style leaks and simplifies component styling.
- AI assistants can accelerate learning and implementation of web components.
- Web components are ideal for long-term projects due to their stability and reduced complexity.
- Hybrid approaches allow gradual integration of web components into existing framework-based applications.
- The web platform now offers capabilities that rival or surpass those of traditional frameworks.
Linux Foundation Announces the Formation of the React Foundation
2 months ago
- The Linux Foundation announced the launch of the React Foundation and the contribution of the React project by Meta Platforms, Inc.
- The React Foundation will provide long-term open governance and operational support for React, React Native, and related components.
- Initial Platinum members include Amazon, Callstack, Expo, Huawei, Meta, Microsoft, Software Mansion, and Vercel.
- The Foundation aims to ensure React remains open, community-driven, and sustainable for future development.
- Supporting quotes from major tech leaders highlight the importance of React in modern web development and their commitment to its future.

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#web development

Show HN: We Built the 1. EU-Sovereignty Audit for Websites

Notes on Starting to Use Django

The Origin of Cascades - on the History of CSS (2020)

4chan founder created /pol/ board after meeting with Epstein

Founder of 4chan created /pol/ days after meeting Jeffrey Epstein

When will CSS Grid Lanes arrive?

The Vanilla Web Is Wonderful

DNS Explained – How Domain Names Get Resolved

A Broken Heart

Browser.html – a web browser built with web technologies using Servo as web ren

Google Chrome 145 Released with JPEG-XL Image Support

Show HN: Building My Own Google Analytics for $0

Components will kill pages

From 34% to 96%: The Porting Initiative Delivers – Hologram v0.7.0

Experiments with CodeMirror: Building a code review tool

WebMCP Proposal

Show HN: A Unix environment in a single HTML file (420 KB)

Farewell Rust

Web Components: The Framework-Free Renaissance

Linux Foundation Announces the Formation of the React Foundation