975: What’s Missing From the Web Platform?

Key takeaways

The web platform has improved significantly, but there are still crucial features that developers want.
Modernized DOM primitives could lead to better user experiences and streamline development.
There is a strong need for standard APIs that manage user consent for cookies and identity.
Integrating AI capabilities within web standards could enhance functionalities and user experiences.
CSS improvements can simplify development and improve consistency across web designs.

Summary

Introduction to the Wishlist for the Web Platform

Wes Boss and Scott Tillinski kick off the episode discussing the state of the web platform, noting that while many APIs and tools have improved recently, there are still significant gaps in functionality. They aim to explore their wishlist for enhancements in UI primitives, DOM APIs, and other browser features.

Improving DOM Primitives

The hosts dive into various DOM primitives that need significant improvements. They discuss elements like the customizable select dropdown, date pickers, combo boxes, and toggles. Scott expresses his frustration with the non-stylable nature of traditional input types and emphasizes the importance of accessibility and design flexibility.

The Need for Advanced APIs

Discussion shifts towards APIs the web platform should introduce, including cookie banners, identity management, and better file upload handling. They highlight the necessity for a standardized way to manage user consent regarding cookies, as well as the possibility of allowing developers to link identity across apps without reinventing the wheel.

API Aspirations and Thoughts on AI

Further along, they propose several APIs that could enhance user experience, including those for text metrics and drag-and-drop functionalities. Scott shares his optimistic vision of integrating AI seamlessly with web functionalities, proposing an API that could facilitate easy access to AI capabilities for users.

CSS Improvements and Future of Web Standards

Wrapping up their wishlist, they touch on potential CSS improvements, including transition speed specifications and the idea of a CSS strict mode to eliminate outdated practices. They also emphasize the need for diverse browser engines to encourage a healthy web ecosystem.

Show notes

Scott and Wes run through their wishlist for the web platform, digging into the UI primitives, DOM APIs, and browser features they wish existed (or didn’t suck). From better form controls and drag-and-drop to native reactivity, CSS ideas, and future-facing APIs, it’s a big-picture chat on what the web could be.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!

Wes Tweet

00:39 Exploring What’s Missing from the Web Platform

02:26 Enhancing DOM Primitives for Better User Experience

03:59 Multi-select + Combobox.

Open-UI

04:49 Date Picker.

Thibault Denis Tweet

07:18 Tabs.

08:01 Image + File Upload.

09:08 Toggles.

10:23 Native Drag and Drop that doesn’t suck.

12:03 Syntax wishlist.

12:06 Type Annotations.

15:07 Pipe Operator.

16:33 APIs We Wish to See on the Web

18:31 Brought to you by Sentry.io

19:51 Identity.

21:33 getElementByText()

24:09 Native Reactive DOM. Templating in JavaScript.

24:48 Sync Protocol.

25:52 Virtualization that doesn’t suck.

27:40 Put, Patch, and Delete on forms.

Ollie Williams Tweet

SnorklTV Tweet

28:55 Text metrics: get bounding box of individual characters.

29:42 Lower Level Connections.

29:50 Bluetooth API.

30:47 Sockets.

31:29 NFC + RFID.

34:34 Things we want in CSS.

34:40 Specify transition speed.

35:24 CSS Strict Mode.

36:25 Safari moving to Chromium.

36:37 The Need for Diverse Browser Engines

37:48 AI Access.

44:49 Other APIs

46:59 Qwen TTS

48:07 Sick Picks + Shameless Plugs

Sick Picks

Scott: Monarch

Wes: Slonik Headlamp

Shameless Plugs

Scott: Syntax on YouTube

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