Simply Complex Back to Journal →
Monday, May 13, 2024
![Remember dealing with this beast?](/images/BHQh8dCMBQ-4284.jpeg)
Web development has always had its challenges, but the modern landscape is a paradox. We’ve made strides in simplifying some aspects, yet introduced a maze of complexity in others. Build tools and frameworks have multiplied, making the starting point feel like a daunting decision for no good reason.
There’s a pressure to adopt the latest tech just to prove you’re at the bleeding edge. This has led to a trend of overengineered solutions, where complexity is mistaken for sophistication.
Clients worry about scalability and fret over the absence of trendy technologies. Simple diagrams are dismissed as underdeveloped. They equate fewer servers with inefficiency.
In reality, the simplest solutions are often the best. Focusing on what’s absolutely necessary to deliver a superior experience is often an exercise in subtraction, not addition.
2024 ![2024 post frequency](https://v1.sparkline.11ty.dev/80x16/1,0,2,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0/%23afdac1/)
- Fishmongers on Wheels
- Simply Complex
- On Plans and Planning
- Gorgeous Georgetown
- Italian Wine in Vancouver
- 715 Snowless Days in Philly
2023 ![2023 post frequency](https://v1.sparkline.11ty.dev/80x16/1,0,2,1,1,1,1,1,0,2,0,1/%23afdac1/)
- 2023 Year in Review
- Pennsylvania Spirits 101
- 50 Species of Garlic
- Thought Stack
- Tales of the Cocktail
- A Conference Husband Around San Francisco
- Work & Weddings
- Vancouver Wine Festival
- Adobe Summit 2023
- Charleston Wine + Food 2023
- On Tweaks
2022 ![2022 post frequency](https://v1.sparkline.11ty.dev/80x16/1,1,1,0,0,0,1,0,1,1,0,1/%23afdac1/)
- 2022 Year In Review
- Garlic is My Constant
- On Hurricanes
- Playing with Pistachio
- A Lagom Mindset
- Old Dog, New-ish Tricks
- Brrr - Cold, Not Colder
2021 ![2021 post frequency](https://v1.sparkline.11ty.dev/80x16/2,0,1,1,3,0,0,1,0,1,0,3/%23afdac1/)
- 2021 Year In Review
- One Touch Rule
- More Tools Than Posts
- On Garlic
- Our Thing for Rowhouses
- Celebrating our Second Doses
- Many Masks of 2021
- My Current Workspace
- On Vaccines
- On Inspired Wallpaper
- On Snow in Washington
- A Parking Lot Christmas to Remember
2020 ![2020 post frequency](https://v1.sparkline.11ty.dev/80x16/0,0,1,1,0,1,0,0,0,1,1,2/%23afdac1/)
- 2020 Year In Review
- Washington Holiday Markets are Here
- Made it to Charlottesville
- On Making the Best of Things
- On Fresh Designs
- On Finding New Traditions
- On Transitions