interfacesketch

These are thousands of Web templates available for different products and frameworks e.g. WordPress, Ghost, Bootstrap, React, Vue, Hugo etc.

Would you ever consider buying a website template written simply in clean HTML and CSS, and with an attractive layout and graphics (but not tied to a product or framework)?

I ask because I am interested in creating something like this. But is it futile given how saturated the market for templates is? Would you only be interested in a template available for the framework or product you use?

If you support the latest browsers only, what modern features do you use? For example, do you use CSS Grid? Or variable width fonts?

If you still need to support older browsers, what are the reasons for that?

The market for website templates seems to be completely saturated. Despite that, there are many Bootstrap, WordPress, and static site templates available to buy. So some people are willing to buy.

Is there a market for well-designed HTML/CSS templates that aren't aimed at WordPress or Bootstrap? Or is it foolish to try and enter this market and sell website templates?

It's 2019 and browser support for CSS Grid is strong (using the latest browser versions). Many supporters of CSS Grid suggest that CSS frameworks are no longer necessary for layout if you only need to target modern browsers.

What's your current state-of-play with CSS? Are still using CSS frameworks? Do you still need to support older browsers? Or have you ditched a framework and fully embraced CSS Grid?

Are there any opportunities in designing (and selling) website themes that are fast-loading and accessible and written in plain html and css (not Wordpress, or a CSS framework)?

In another Ask HN on web design [1], posters say don't offer design services. But presumably, even when you're developing the backend, you need to reach for a front-end design or template - either free or for sale. The market for HTML/CSS themes is completely saturated though - is it fruitless to pursue this avenue?

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18945658

For a small business that prefers someone else to handle the logistics of stock, shipping, payments and returns, are there any alternatives to FBA in the US or Europe? As far as I can tell, the answer is a resounding no. Am I wrong?

I'm aware of some of the problems with FBA. However, it also offers opportunities to small business' that have no equivalent.

If you know of alternatives to FBA, please post them here. If you have used FBA, please let us know about your experience and your thoughts. Thank you :-)

If you are using PHP 7.x for your side-project or main product, what has been your experience?

- has speed of performance ever been an issue?

- how easy have your found it to deploy (and keep up-to-date) PHP apps on the server

Overall, do you recommend PHP 7.x for new web projects? Your thoughts appreciated. Thank you.

I am creating a website template for a programming language.

What features or characteristics do you expect to see in a programming language site? Are there sites you think make good examples from an information point of view?

What features outside the core language documentation are useful? For example: success stories, who's using the language, case studies, upcoming events, links to talks, articles etc.

What about the visual design? I feel visual design is important, but that doesn't mean a heavy, bloated site or one which is visually overload. Something simple but pleasant.

Thoughts appreciated :-)

Would you ever consider purchasing a website template you like even if that template was not using a framework?

Is there a market for straight HTML/CSS themes (i.e. not Wordpress or Bootstrap templates)?

Or is the market so saturated that no-one would seriously consider purchasing a template since there is so much free stuff and it's so easy to simply copy a site's HTML and CSS?

I'm guessing any theme that is slightly popular can expect to see copycat themes pretty quickly.

Interested to hear your thoughts. Thank you :-)

Do you think there's a market still for straight HTML/CSS themes (i.e. not Wordpress or Bootstrap templates)?

Or is the market so saturated that no-one would seriously consider purchasing a template since there is so much free stuff and it's so easy to simply copy a site's HTML and CSS?

I'm guessing any theme that is slightly popular can expect to see copycat themes pretty quickly.

Interested to hear your thoughts. Thank you.

Inspired by this recent discussion on Hacker News (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12448181) I'd like to ask if readers find the web page links below fast to load on their mobile phones?

I created the pages below as a test because I was (and still am) frustrated by the slow page loading speeds when using my phone on a patchy 3G connection.

I feel that many web developers don't realise that simple HTML and CSS is often all you need to make clear, fast loading pages. No complicated tricks or techniques required. You can make the page reasonably pleasant in appearance too.

Facebook has Instant Articles and Google has AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages), but do we really need these approaches when we can accomplish fast loading pages with plain, uncomplicated HTML and CSS?

As I said, this was a test, nothing more. The page links below represent an article/blog/report style of page that is very common (and often slow to load) on the web.

Edit: just to add the content within these test pages are CC licensed and was used solely for the purpose of populated the page with real content. The pictures from the original synopsis are not included despite the references in the text.

So is it fast?

http://interfacesketch.com/test/energy-book-synopsis-b.html

Here is an identical version to the above but one that loads custom fonts (approx 40kb extra). Is this slower?

http://interfacesketch.com/test/energy-book-synopsis-a.html