@mattwilcox@mstdn.social
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

mattwilcox

@mattwilcox@mstdn.social

Middle aged white guy trying to become less ignorant over time. I build websites the "traditional" way.

I’ve been building websites for ~20yrs. Progressive Enhancement, HTML/CSS/JS, and accessible practices will always be core to quality work. Frameworks come and go.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

sarajw, to random
@sarajw@front-end.social avatar

I am wearing proper barefoot shoes. They feel nice just plodding around the house. Going on my bike to pick up the kids will be a nice test.

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@sarajw Nice, hope they work out for you. I love mine. Like wearing slippers everywhere.

mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

The mis-selling of Tailwind is honestly the biggest weight around everyone's necks.

Of course engineers like it. They're sold it as a cure-all to their design woes. They're ignorant of what CSS and HTML even do beyond their initial need of "make my thing look good". So of course they can be mis-sold a solution.

The problem compounds because it further devalues the actual things HTML and CSS exists to answer that are not just "how things look".

And tailwind users think they're using...

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

...the right tool because they were sold it as being a tool that does everything they believe "design" is. So of course they get defensive about its use. And because they're largely ignorant - they don't like being told the end product is not very good quality. Many don't even know what to look for in assessing quality. They're using a tool designed to enable them to ignore those aspects.

It's so frustrating.

It's like having someone claim a hospital made from only Ikea is fine.

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

To be very very clear: Tailwind has its place.

It's just that where it's a good choice trade off is in a lot fewer places than where it actually ends up.

mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

Weird to properly internalise that we (and everything, really) are just very very short lived blips crawling around on little rafts of land that are floating about on a big ball.

And that even our most gigantic issues - even our species entire evolution - is barely noticeable at this level of scale. https://mastodon.social/@coreyspowell/111134221689484833

AstroMigration, to random

Recommendation

Some feedback regarding this curated account has been that some users do not like how the practice of boosting so many posts floods their home feed. Here is a suggestion...

With the new Mastodon 4.2 release you can now remove the contents of any List from your home feed. Create a list for this topic, add this account, and go to settings (slider bar icon at top right) and toggle "Hide these posts from home". Your home feed will no longer receive boosted posts from this account, but you will be able to view them by clicking on the list.

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@AstroMigration That’s an amazing suggestion, I’ve had the same issue - I like the content, but not as a solid wall of posts miles long interrupting my feed. I’ll do this, thanks!

mikestreety, to random
@mikestreety@hachyderm.io avatar

Anyone else see "AI" and just switch off?

If I'm looking for some new software or a SaaS, or I open an article and it mentions AI, I immediately go back or close the tab. I'm just so fed up of it appearing in everything.

I get it has a use (I wouldn't even say it's a purpose) but it seems some products have gone hard on it and I'm just bored of hearing about it now.

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@mikestreety I am very close to adding it to my "grifter topics" filter. Which currently contains:

  • web3
  • NFT
  • crypto
  • bitcoin
  • 10x engineer
  • blockchain
skwee357, to CSS
@skwee357@mstdn.social avatar

People who complain about Tailwind. I dare you to show me how you handle responsive design and dark mode.

Tailwind is not just fancy class names for css styles.

#tailwindcss #css

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@skwee357 Media queries, container queries, and dynamic CSS constants.

It’s far simpler.

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@skwee357 You are aware that Tailwind is just using a limited sub-set of actual CSS? It is literally less than the full deal.

Is tailwind faster? For people that haven't learned CSS... yeah. Does it produce a result of equal quality? No.

Is it the right tool for "rapid protoypes" - sure, if you don't have a CSS person around. Is it the right tool for production sites? No.

@keithjgrant

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@skwee357 @keithjgrant That’s the danger. You are not the person to be building production CSS if you don’t care. In the same way someone who doesn’t care about proper practice or code quality and only uses high level abstractions without understanding what that means isn’t a person to build a production app. The presentation aspect of building a site is just as complex as any other layer - because it’s not purely about the visuals.

But, this is why it’s misunderstood.

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@skwee357 @css @keithjgrant You can not use the argument that being ignorant is easier than learning. Thats not a sound argument. We can all decide that doing a thing properly is hard so why not just do the bare minimum that seems to end up with a similar result. That doesn’t make both results the same thing.

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@skwee357 @css @keithjgrant CSS is not that hard. HTML is not that hard. The time taken to learn them properly pays off and isn’t that long.

Here’s why people don’t like these takes about tailwind being great; they’re made by people who disregard CSS and HTML as having no value other than what can be seen on screen. To be blunt; by people who are ignorant of what those technologies actually do. Who are in no position to have a good opinion on Tailwinds’ issues.

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@skwee357 @css @keithjgrant Because they believe tailwind is purely about making a thing look how they want. Because, to them, it is. But they’re unaware that the fundamental nature of the platform they work on can not be made to only be about looks. Tooling like tailwind still works on top of that other fundamental stuff.

You don’t want a decorator doing your architectural plans and building your house. “Looks the same!” Doesn’t mean it got built right.

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@skwee357 Because "getting the job done" is not getting the same job done.

As software engineers can cobble together all sorts of things from all sorts of different foundations; and end up with a thing that looks like that same sort of end product. But how well the end product works and for who it works will vary vastly.

A website built with wordpress is not the same as one built bespoke. "But they're both just websites doing the same thing". See?

@css @keithjgrant

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@skwee357 Believing that using Tailwind will have results as good or efficient or robust as having an expert use HTML and CSS, is exactly the same as arguing that a site made using Wordpress plugins is as good as doing it in PHP by experts. Wordpress is, after all, just some high level abstractions over PHP. Right? So why build bespoke sites? That's just not realistic. Wordpress gets the job done.

@css @keithjgrant

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@skwee357 It's not about superiority; it's about how using higher level abstractions when you are ignorant of the fundamentals leads to producing inaccessible and inefficient solutions.

In some cases, there are legal responsibilites to make sure websites are accessible. You stand a better chance if you're not allowing yourself to remain ignorant by leaning on higher level abstractions.

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@skwee357 The long and short of it is; you can't know that Tailwind does things right if you haven't learned what "right" is.

Lighthouse has nothing to do with entire aspects of code quality. The fact you say that shows the ignorance - and I'm not being mean - I mean just that you're literally unaware of what you're not aware of.

You can not automate a11y tests. You have to know it. It's a skill that can't be abstracted out.

But you don't even know that your choices have an impact.

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@skwee357 The point here isn't whether wp devs are real devs.

The point is, is it right to build an Amazon on top of Wordpress?

No. Clearly.

The right tools for the right things. Wordress has it's place. Tailwind has it's place. But neither are right as default choices, neither come without costs.

@css @keithjgrant

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@skwee357 On this issue, you are speaking from ignorance.

You asked how people not using Tailwind can do things tailwind can.

You were shown an answer, and an explanation that Tailwind is a sub-set of CSS.

Arguments about how anyone can build crap from anything are ... missing the point. CSS allows us to do anything Tailwind can, but without the assumptions and baked in trade offs.

If you don't know what they are, you are in a poor position to argue.

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@skwee357 And visa versa.

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@skwee357 It does though. It's a new way to make bad choices.

When the use of abstractions masks a hole in knowing what the abstraction is doing and why, then you can easily walk into problems - and, worse, assume you're safe and that whoever implemented the abstraction took care of whatever they needed to for however you're using it.

They give a false sense of security. People should understand what abstractions are doing to use them responsibly.

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@skwee357 @css @keithjgrant Hope you have a good flight - and fingers crossed you enjoy learning some CSS when you get chance. An expanded toolbox is always a good thing; even if it turns out not to be something you want to use all that often.

rem, to random
@rem@front-end.social avatar

Ah, September

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@rem Yeah, spotted this on the 12th in my local Tesco...

https://mstdn.social/@mattwilcox/111076263570783023

mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

I was about to post a rant about Cruella Braverman. Then I caught myself.

Anyway, aren’t puppies cute? Puppies are great. Imagine a little puppy having a snooze on your desk right now. It’s tiny little breathing.

Isn’t that better. Lovely.

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@brucelawson That would put her within striking range, and honestly my imagination goes in a different direction at that point.

lyonsinbeta, to random
@lyonsinbeta@mastodon.social avatar

I have written functioning code! 😤

It is ugly and arranged like baby's-first bash script but God damn it works and solves an actual problem for me. 😎

👨‍💻

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@lyonsinbeta Nicely done!

mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

People that ask questions; so you point to a source that answers their question pretty quickly. And then they ask something more about it.

Nah mate, I just pointed you at the answer. I’m not going to fucking read it out for you. Go read what you couldn’t be arsed to Google but got shown to you.

I have a low tolerance for zero effort people.

mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

Wait up… is “money game: part three” techno? Thats a new one for Ren!

Wait, how the hell do you get techno and the sort of insightful commentary of the previous money game songs mixing?

mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

Aaaaand my machine just hard crashed.

I'd also had photoshop open to edit a screenshot.

Now, I don't want to make aspersions about Adobe's software quality - but over the years, when I've had the rare hard crash to reboot on my Mac... Photoshop being open in the background is the number one common denominator.

mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

Ok, since when has the Chrome "Responsive Design" tool not shared the log-in state with the exact same page that's not in the Responsive view?

Because holy mother of Satans left bollock - that's been hours of "what's wrong with my code?" and there is nothing wrong with my code. It's just Chrome behaving like I'm logged out IF I'm in responsive mode in the Inspector, and logged in if I'm not!

So, I'm logged in - but Right Click, Inspector > Toggle Device Toolbar will act as though I'm not.

A screenshot of a website UI showing that I'm currently logged in, while in the Responsive Design mode of Chrome's Inspector.

mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

When you have a Twitch stream on in the background you've zoned out of, but then snap to attention when you hear the normally calm person loudly protesting:

"Fuck you Safari, you garbage ass browser - you always ruin my day!"

And toggle over to see - sure enough - "caniuse" and that lone column of red.

Safari has such a huge hole it dug for itself that it's still got to climb out of.

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@lyonsinbeta Yes, sort of. They really didn’t want web apps to be a valid alternative to their App Store. So they pivoted from web apps (which was initially the iPhone app strategy Steve endorsed), and instead spent a decade trying to hobble the web by shipping dog-shit browsers and not allowing any other browser engine to be installed.

Their hand has been forced by legal stuff, and now they’re playing catchup, hoping that Safari won’t get eaten by Chrome when choice is mandated

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@lyonsinbeta Trouble is, it’s a long time to fall behind, and a long time to seriously piss off an entire industry. Who will not forget.

Safari deserves to be hated by developers. It’s entirely Apples’ fault. Despite the best efforts of their developers; the suits in charge made choices that have long term consequences.

mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

I don't like OO code, or Classes in general.

Give me functional programming please.

mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

In general, the sort of sites we build are very light on javascript. That's a good thing.

I've just hit sufficient complexity in one project to require using ESM modules "properly", with export and import, because it's loading some things asynchronously and functions that were manipulating the DOM needed to be called post-interaction rather than just after page load.

All of which is to say:

  • I like ESM quite a bit
  • You don't always need bundlers
  • Starting simple will take you far
mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

It's so easy to look at other people's content and work and assume you must need a ton of tooling and strategies to make a modern website.

You don't. You can sprinkle in things as and when you need them, rather than trying to pre-emptively start with a tower of tooling ready for an untold number of "what-if" circumstances.

ninawillburger, to glass de
@ninawillburger@social.anoxinon.de avatar

Fascinating world of ancient : A glass model of a , dating 2nd c. AD. It was found in St. Aldegund in a 4th-century woman's grave. Six of such boats are known. We don't know their function: Were they used as women's urinals, as components of water clocks and sundials, as drinking cups?

Further information on glass boats:

https://www.cmog.org/article/roman-glass-boats?s=09

Photo: GDKE Rheinland-Pfalz

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@ninawillburger Wild idea; it’s exactly what it looks like. An ornament. The function of which is to be an ornament. (I wonder how loads of current objects will be interpreted by future historians… “what was the function of this newtons cradle? Or this lamp filled with wax and dye? We speculate it was some symbol of worship or contemplation, as they are often found with objects of study or record”

mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

How do you know Apple don’t understand UK units?
Find My has a single switch between imperial and metric.

Dear America - I know this is stupid - but for a couple of generations of UK citizens, we use imperial for large distances (miles) and we use metric for everything else.

I want to know how far on a map in miles. I want to know how far my keys are in meters.

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

@khawkins98 Honestly the UK is an absolutely insane mess of unit types. I get that. I just wish Apple understood that their treatment of units is wrong for 67 million people.

mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

The thing with anxiety and depression is it’s so hard to realise you have it.

Which is why I encourage everyone to listen to that episode I linked.

When I moved away from home, I walked around the edges of my rental flat for weeks because I was worried the floors would collapse if I walked in the middle. Emotionally worried. I have thrown up outside pubs from pure worry about being out with friends. I did not realise any of this was abnormal or a problem.

mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

Syntax is one of those web-tech podcasts I find hit and miss. This episode is a big hit, and I encourage everyone to have a listen.

Identifying anxiety and what to do about it.
With an actual Dr.

https://overcast.fm/+JaI5BTzkg

mattwilcox,
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

“A lot of people are beginning to think that anxiety starts with the gut” - I would absolutely believe that. I’ve suffered with anxiety issues most of my life, and to this day I don’t know whether I feel anxious, or hungry, or both, or what. I’ve been light-headed, unable to focus, physically shaking, cold, and fixated on some very stressful mental topic… and it could be anxiety or hunger. If I can make myself eat, the effects usually lessen.

Fortunately; it’s been a little while now :)

mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

Oh just fuck off.

I am so weary of the entire topic of AI and it's use almost entirely by corporations stealing the work of others to profit for themselves - by running an insanely energy in-efficient tool - when paying an employee to do a good write-up would solve the issue better, cheaper, and nicer.

mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

"Our service makes things easy"
Uh huh :)

"It's built to solve your problem"
Uh huh! :D

"It's so simple to theme, using Tailwind"

closes tab

mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

“Assumed consent” is not consent. https://toot.cafe/@thereisnocat/111103280372876467

mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

Dearest coffee plant,

just a quick note to say thank you for being you.

Much love, and continual appreciation,

  • Matt
mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

Can we animate to display: none; reliably yet?

(Edit: in pure CSS)

mattwilcox, to random
@mattwilcox@mstdn.social avatar

A surprise photo of Rishi Sunak gazing hollowly out at you is never a fun thing to randomly see on a site.

Is there life behind the dulled eyes and plastic smile? Out of frame, are his hands in his pockets playing with some spare £100 bills?

Let's keep scrolling.

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favourites
  • •
  • osvaldo12
  • BeAmazed
  • exegypt
  • rhentai
  • Islamabad
  • plantedtank
  • askwomen
  • Youngstown
  • SlimeRancher
  • Gonewildcouples
  • LipsThatGrip
  • silesia
  • QPR
  • Radiomaster
  • Durango
  • Mobpsycho100
  • slotface
  • DreamBathrooms
  • Babyfurs
  • LegendOfDragoon
  • Recollectr
  • jailbait
  • onlyfansadvice
  • TeamSpeak
  • InstantRegret
  • RealDayTrading
  • oldschoolgamer
  • ESFP
  • All magazines
    •