No Script Show

On the podcast today David Waumsley and Nathan Wrigley dive into the world of agile development, focusing on how websites can, and perhaps should, be treated as living products that evolve over time, rather than as static, one-off deliverables. David and Nathan unpack what agile development really means for web designers and website owners, explaining the mindset shift needed to move away from the “perfect launch” mentality and toward an approach built on small, continual improvements.We start by hearing about the core principles of agile, starting with a minimum viable product, iterating in small increments, and letting real-world feedback drive decisions. There’s discussion around the history of agile, tracing its roots back to the Agile Manifesto and how its values, like “individuals and interactions over processes and tools” and “responding to change over following a plan”, challenge traditional, rigid development models.You’ll also hear why adopting agile isn’t just about following a specific scrum process, but about embracing a collaborative, flexible mindset that helps reduce risk, keeps your site responsive to change, and ultimately delivers more value to users.David and Nathan share how agile practices are being applied far beyond software, touching fields as diverse as marketing, education, and banking, and what this means for client relationships and project delivery in web development.If you’ve ever struggled with projects that derail, clients worried about “scope creep,” or the stress of hard deadlines, this episode will challenge your assumptions. It’ll give you practical insights into putting agile into practice: from choosing what features to launch first, to capturing feedback and letting go of what’s not useful. If you’re ready to rethink how you approach web projects for happier clients and better results, this episode is for you.00:00 Discussing agile development approach04:44 Understanding continuous software development06:36 Benefits of Incremental Development10:31 Understanding Agile Principles16:18 The benefits of an agile approach17:58 Agile manifesto and methodology discussion22:45 Launching a Usable Website Quickly25:44 Misunderstandings about Agile process29:06 Agile principles in web development30:03 Wrapping up the episode

On the podcast today we have the usual suspects - Nathan Wrigley and David Waumsley.This is the first in a new series where Nathan and David take a deep dive into different website components - today’s focus is on accordions. You know the ones: those hide-and-show sections you often see on FAQ pages, product details, or anywhere there’s a need to tidy up lots of information into collapsible panels. But what makes an accordion actually a good solution for your site, and when does it start to get in the way?Nathan and David kick things off by defining what an accordion is (with a nod to the UX authorities and the W3C) - and clarifying, with a bit of humour, what does and does not count as an accordion out in the wild. They look at the types of accordions - exclusive, non-exclusive, and toggle - and discuss how these patterns got established in web design.They also reflect on their own use (and sometimes overuse) of accordions in client work, especially handy within page builders, and how their thinking has changed as the web’s evolved.Then it’s onto the technical side: the code needed. David explains why, until recently, JavaScript was essential for accessible accordions, but now, thanks to advances in HTML (details and summary elements), CSS (with exciting new features like interpolate size), and improved browser support, you can build robust accordions without a single line of JavaScript - plus some important gotchas and accessibility considerations to watch for.They round things off by discussing when accordions add value - helping reduce overwhelm and improve scanability (is that a word?!) - and when they can cause problems, like increasing "interaction cost," fragmenting information, or raising accessibility and SEO concerns. There are design details to consider, as well as practical recommendations for ensuring your accordions are friendly for both users and search engines.And if you want to see these concepts put into practice, the episode is paired with a follow-up video where David and Nathan demonstrate real code snippets and examples at noscript.show/learn/12.If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re using accordions for the right reasons, how to build them the modern way, or want a clearer picture of their pros and cons - you won’t want to miss this episode.Timestamps:00:00 Accordion Design and Definition06:22 FAQ Page Building Approach07:52 HTML-Only Accordions Evolve12:04 "Content Organization: Pros and Cons"13:47 Logitech Product Page Analysis16:56 "Accordion Utility in CMS Design"22:02 Browser Styling Challenges and Limitations24:49 Schema Markup for FAQs27:43 "Purpose of Hiding FAQ Content"29:56 "New Development Wrap-Up"

On the podcast today Nathan and David explore changes in the world of web technology, with a particular focus on CSS and front-end development.They’re taking a step back to look at where CSS is heading, and in particular, how the rise of “programmatic CSS” is shifting the landscape for developers, designers, and anyone building for the web.If you feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of new CSS specifications, features, and ideas, things like inline if statements, new functions, and increasingly dynamic capabilities, then you’re not alone.David shares his experience coming from a more traditional, declarative CSS background, and how the influx of new, more “programming-like” CSS features can make even the most confident among us feel lost at sea.Nathan and David begin by reflecting on their own experiences learning programming, and how the evolution of CSS is blurring the lines between a simple presentational language and a more robust toolset for web design. They talk about what actually constitutes a programming language, how the nature of CSS is changing, and why this matters for anyone used to building sites with page builders or more traditional CSS workflows.As the episode unfolds, they discuss the impact of these new CSS capabilities on everything from browser support to page builder UIs, to the continued importance of clear communication and content-first design.Along the way, they touch on topics like CSS generators, the roles of standards bodies like the W3C, and the practical realities of adopting new CSS features at different skill levels.Towards the end of the episode, they look at how these changes might shape the job market for front-end developers and designers, and what it will mean for agencies, clients, and those teaching themselves how to build for the web.If you’ve been hearing about “programmatic CSS,” feeling bewildered by the speed of change, or just want to get a sense of where things are heading and what skills might be important for the web’s next chapter, this episode is for you.

On the podcast today, Nathan and David are exploring the fascinating world of the Indie Web, which presents itself as a people-focused alternative to the corporate-controlled web. This episode delves into what the Indie Web movement is all about, and why it might be the right choice for those concerned with the current state of internet ownership and privacy.Nathan talks about how the Indie Web prioritises individual ownership of content and domain usage as a primary online identity. David gets into how owning your online presence can be more aligned with a people-first approach.We also discuss topics such as the adoption of protocols like ActivityPub, which is helping to decentralise social media experiences with platforms like Mastodon, and how this growing trend away from corporate platforms towards more open, standards-based alternatives.The conversation also touches on the role of state interventions, privacy concerns, and the rise of creative independence on the web. There's intriguing developments like POSSE (Publish on your Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere) and Web Mentions, which support decentralised and independent publishing.If you're intrigued by the shift towards a more humane, personalised web experience, or you're exploring how to reclaim your online identity, this episode is for you.Join Nathan and David as they explore not just the theoretical underpinnings of the Indie Web, but also practical steps you can take to become part of this movement.

In this episode of No Script Show, Nathan Wrigley and David Waumsley dive into the evolving landscape of frontend development, focusing on the divide between UX designers and JavaScript specialists. Join us for a detailed discussion on the complexities and dynamics of modern web design.The role of Google and Meta in open source and their impact on project stability.Evolution of CSS and JavaScript, including trends like using CSS as a programming language.The growing complexity and specialisation in frontend development and its effects on newcomers.Insights on the divide within WordPress development between block editors and traditional coding.Emerging technologies like Web Assembly and their anticipated impact on web development.Timestamps:00:00 Summary: Last topic on WP Builds platform, relevant WordPress changes.05:20 Concerns about changes in web design industry.08:29 Women find communication jobs using HTML, JavaScript.11:11 Complex code could impact performance and users.15:56 Google and other companies support open source.17:44 JavaScript essential for front end developers.21:36 CSS grid enables fluid web design breakthroughs.23:21 Apple's advertising of seemingly pointless features.28:17 Efficient tools simplify CSS coding and structure.32:20 Brave browser activates reader mode automatically.33:22 Desire for web integration in everyday objects.37:05 Gutenberg's impact on WordPress page building.42:00 Coyier's article emphasises WebPress development and winners.43:16 Transitioning to video content from podcast.

In this episode of No Script Show, Nathan Wrigley and David Waumsley delve into the intricate world of web typography and its evolution. From historical practices to modern advancements, they uncover the elements that shape today's web design.- Transition from pixels to rems and its impact on accessibility- Exploring new features in web typography like font loading and background clipping- Importance of fluid typography and tools like Utopia CSS generator- Challenges and beauty of typography for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean characters- Benefits of chromatic fonts, CSS columns, and underused HTML tags like kbd and wbrTimestamps:00:00 Web design historically overlooked readability and formatting.03:40 Fascinated by typography, but career path chosen.06:34 Web design: Typography shifts in responsive web.09:59 REMS, viewport units, fluid typography revolutionize design.14:13 Fluid typography adapts, but has limitations with zoom.18:17 Discussion on X and typography for web design.19:41 Using V Max for flexible layout design.23:44 Transitioned from limited to abundant font options.26:03 Clarity in web design and font choice.31:34 Underlining now seen as essential in UI.33:10 Some consider using offset in CSS resets.37:15 Variable fonts allow for greater design control.42:22 HTML tags can be forgotten in web design.44:15 Safari-only feature for hanging punctuation in quotes.47:48 New languages make coding easier, improve display.50:03 Indefinite break, be back with episode 12.

Explore the future of web design with our latest episode of No Script Show, where we delve into the emerging CSS media features that cater to user preferences. Join us as we discuss how these features reshape the online experience.- Learn about the new CSS media queries that enable unique user-centric web experiences.- Discover statistics on user adoption of features like dark mode and the expectation for automatic application on websites.- Examine the technical challenges and potential solutions involved in implementing toggles for various user preferences.- Discuss the pros and cons of integrating these CSS features from both developer and client perspectives.- Explore the significance of these developments for accessibility and the long-term benefits for web design.Tune in to gain insight into how user preferences are driving changes in web design.00:00 SaaS apps offering user-friendly customisation options.05:10 Repetition of same feature for different types.09:20 Quickly dip into links, educate ourselves on preferences.09:52 Preference for dark mode driven by energy efficiency.14:59 Reduced data for web content consumption detection.19:00 Reduced motion support discussed among developers.19:33 Struggling to find a need for animation.24:44 Many developers prefer dark mode for coding.27:57 Most users switch to dark mode after 10:00 PM.31:01 Safari considering adding light and dark modes.34:14 Tech infancy, user behaviours and branding control.36:02 People are getting smarter, web is evolving.

Welcome to the no script web show about modern web design where we look at what we can build today with minimal dependencies and skills.Last time we were defining some aims for the show’s website (which we are developing as part of the podcast). Now, we need a design to help it connect with the right audience.If we were experts in User Experience (UX) and its associated disciplines such as copywriting, branding, graphic design and SEO we might look at each of these in turn.We are not, so instead we’ve created a rough homepage design and we use this episode to critique it against what we think various expert bodies might say.