Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats

848: Web Components Can’t Save Us with Scott Jehl

Nov 15, 2024

51:19

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Scott Jehl, a web developer with deep expertise in responsive design and performance, shares insights on web components in this engaging talk. He examines the benefits and challenges of using web components in modern design systems, touching on their reactivity and the intricacies of Shadow DOM. Scott discusses effective CSS integration and responsive video implementations in HTML5, along with real-world use cases and misconceptions. He ultimately paints a picture of the evolving landscape of web development where simplicity and performance take center stage.

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Quick takeaways

Web components enable the creation of reusable and modular UI elements that enhance performance and design consistency across applications.

Challenges such as Shadow DOM complexity and styling issues represent significant hurdles developers may face when adopting web components.

Deep dives

The Evolution of Web Components and Their Adoption

Web components provide a way to create reusable custom elements in HTML and JavaScript, allowing developers to build more modular and maintainable applications. The discussion highlights how major companies, such as Adobe and Microsoft, have embraced web components, enhancing their applications’ performance and achieving notable improvements in efficiency. For example, Microsoft’s Edge browser transitioned its implementation to web components, yielding significant performance gains. This shift reflects a broader trend where more organizations are integrating web components into their existing frameworks to bolster consistency and functionality.

Intro

4min

Reflections on Responsive Design and Early Mobile Testing

2min

Exploring Web Components

14min

Understanding CSS Integration in Web Components

3min

Navigating Responsive Video in HTML5

6min

Navigating the Future of Web Components

18min

Exploring WebAssembly and Its Impact on Web Components

3min

Scott and Wes talk with Scott Jehl about the benefits, challenges, and use cases of web components, particularly in design systems and performance.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome to Syntax!
00:55 Scott’s background and career
- Responsible Responsive Design
- Webpagetest.org
06:46 An overview of web components
09:06 Why should people care about web components?
13:16 Should you write your own web components?
14:39 Reactivity in web components
15:56 DOM parts
18:23 Styling web components
22:08 Brought to you by Sentry.io
22:33 CSS custom properties
- Mux Player Customizer
24:28 Responsive video
28:27 The polyfill use case
30:55 Shadow DOM challenges
36:04 Web components in design systems
41:58 How are people using web components?
43:25 Web components and server-side rendering
45:00 Scott’s thoughts on build tools
47:33 Sick Picks & Shameless Plugs