The Evolution of Web Development: From FTP to Modern CSS

In this episode of Syntax, Scott and Wes talk about tales from web dev past — clearfix, floats, flash, cufon, guestbooks, hit counters, and more!

Sanity - Sponsor

Sanity.io is a real-time headless CMS with a fully customizable Content Studio built in React. Get a Sanity powered site up and running in minutes at sanity.io/create. Get an awesome supercharged free developer plan on sanity.io/syntax.

Sentry - Sponsor

If you want to know what’s happening with your errors, track them with Sentry. Sentry is open-source error tracking that helps developers monitor and fix crashes in real time. Cut your time on error resolution from five hours to five minutes. It works with any language and integrates with dozens of other services. Syntax listeners can get two months for free by visiting Sentry.io and using the coupon code “tastytreat”.

Show Notes

04:28 - Float-based layouts

• Clearfix
• ☠️ Killed by Flexbox, and then Grid

09:29 - Loading Screens:

• Two websites - one flash and one HTML
• Splash screen

11:22 - Hit counters

12:28 - Guestbooks

13:28 - Flash

• 3rd party player
• Media dragged its feet FOREVER
• ☠️ Killed by Steve Jobs

18:46 - Fonts

• The Golden Layout
• Cufon / sIFR / Images of text
• Typekit
• ☠️ Killed by font-face

24:15 - Folder-based version control

• ☠️ Killed by Git

26:22 - FTP

• ☠️ Killed by Git, then many other things

28:40 - CSS Zen Garden

• CSS Zen Garden
• ☠️ Killed by CSS being better

32:02 - TextMate

• Coda
• Notepad++
• Adobe GoLive
• FrontPage
• Macromedia / Dreamweaver
• ☠️ Killed by Sublime Text, then VSCode

33:58 - Sliding doors

• A technique for rounded corners on buttons ☠️ Killed by CSS

35:29 - PNG Fix

• ☠️ Killed by the death of IE6

37:53 - 9-Panel layouts

• ☠️ Killed by CSS

39:20 - CSS 3 Please

• CSS 3 Please
• Paul Irish
• ☠️ Killed by modern CSS

Links

• Silverlight
• Chris Coyier

××× SIIIIICK ××× PIIIICKS ×××

• Scott: Fancierstudio 600 LED Light Panel Kit
• Wes: Allen Key Drill Bit Set

Shameless Plugs

• Scott: React 3D and Advanced Animating React with Framer Motion - Sign up for the year and save 25%!
• Wes: Master Gatsby Course - Use the coupon code ‘Syntax’ for $10 off!

Tweet us your tasty treats!

• Scott’s Instagram
• LevelUpTutorials Instagram
• Wes’ Instagram
• Wes’ Twitter
• Wes’ Facebook
• Scott’s Twitter
• Make sure to include @SyntaxFM in your tweets