I’m an experienced backend developer. To me, the backend world seems super simple compared to the frontend world.

It seems like there are a million options and I don’t have the experience to say what’s good and what’s not. I’m hit with major choice paralysis, basically.

I don’t have any special requirements - I “just” want to build a pretty standard, responsive, modern-looking UI. Ideally without too much boilerplate, in a framework that “feels good”, in a way that might at some point attract other contributors as well, if I get to the point of open sourcing.

Of course I could just reach for the most popular thing i.e. React, but that doesn’t seem to be the “hip” thing to use nowadays (or maybe I’m wrong? What do I know, I’m a backend dev).

But even if I choose a framework, there’s a million other libraries out there to choose as well. For instance, which UI library to choose? What about observability and state management and authentication and so on?

Sorry if this is a bit ranty. I am honestly just looking for an experienced frontend developer to point me in some direction (i.e. some set of frameworks/libraries; a “stack” if you will), so I can get out of this choice paralysis.

What would be your go-to stack for a new frontend project today?

        • Skullgrid@lemmy.world
          21·
          3 days ago

          it’s not funny dude. You don’t quite grasp the situation that’s leading me to ask these questions.

          • entwine@programming.dev
            31·
            3 days ago

            Chill out. If you want advice on how to find a job, post a thread asking for help. This thread is asking about javascript frameworks, not how to help you get hired. A lot of people are struggling right now, and you don’t have to be a dick about it.

            • Skullgrid@lemmy.world
              4·
              3 days ago

              and you don’t have to be a dick about it.

              how am I the one being a dick about it? You’re the one that’s making fun of people trying to improve their situation in life, and I’m the dick?

              When I looked for work with front end, everything is asking for framework experience, when I have raw html/js/css experience. So what you’re saying isn’t helpful. I’m pointing that out and asking for practical advice, you’re being a dick for making fun of my situation.

              • entwine@programming.dev
                21·
                3 days ago

                I’m not making fun of anyone. I know how stressful situations like that are, but you need to chill because being an abrasive asshole isn’t how you get people to help you.

                When I looked for work with front end, everything is asking for framework experience, when I have raw html/js/css experience. So what you’re saying isn’t helpful. I’m pointing that out and asking for practical advice, you’re being a dick for making fun of my situation.

                I wasn’t trying to be helpful to you. You are not OP. OP didn’t ask “what should I learn to land a job”. I never claimed that knowing basic js/css/html was going to help you get a job. Anybody can do that, it’s webdev 101. I was pointing out that those basic skills are all you need to write good front-end software, and that most front-end frameworks are over-engineered and unnecessary.

                But to answer your question: learn what employers are looking for. Duh. You looked at job postings and found that they were asking for framework experience, so you already have your answer. If you land a web dev job, it’s going to be to work on an existing legacy (and often shitty) codebase, not to write new software. The trendy/popular stuff is what’s trendy/popular, so learn that to increase your chances.

                But most importantly, fix your attitude. It doesn’t matter how smart you are if nobody wants to work with you.

      • sobchak@programming.dev
        2·
        3 days ago

        Kagi, DDG, and Google Search don’t use frontend frameworks. Anything that cares about being optimized generally won’t.