Book Overflow
Carson Gross (Creator of HTMX) Reflects on Hypermedia Systems
Mar 4, 2025
Carson Gross, the creator of HTMX and author of Hypermedia Systems, dives into the journey of publishing his book and transforming setbacks into growth opportunities. He discusses the inspiration behind HTMX, emphasizing its role during the COVID lockdowns. The conversation also covers his new project, Fixi.js, and the evolution of hypermedia in web development. Gross reflects on the emotional investment in coding and debates the balance between clean code practices and practicality. Additionally, he shares fascinating book recommendations that span software engineering and literature.
01:05:59
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Quick takeaways
- Carson Gross emphasizes the value of self-publishing to enhance creative control and incorporate theoretical content in Hypermedia Systems.
- The podcast critiques the dominant reliance on JSON APIs for web data exchange, urging a reevaluation of current development norms and practices.
Deep dives
The Origins of Hypermedia Systems
Carson Gross discusses the inception of his book, Hypermedia Systems, and the framework HTMX, highlighting that a publisher approached him about writing it due to the early popularity of HTMX. He initially collaborated with another author to cover both HTMX and broader hypermedia concepts, but after the publisher decided not to move forward, he pivoted to self-publishing the book to maintain more creative control. Gross emphasizes that this decision allowed him to incorporate more theoretical content, enriching the resource beyond mere coding instructions. The book's release coincided fortuitously with increased attention on HTMX from prominent voices in the coding community, validating his efforts.
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