Don't Roll Your Own Web Design: A Case for Standards and Simplicity
By
adunk
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Summary
A critical essay drawing a parallel between the cryptographic principle "Don't roll your own crypto" and modern web design practices. The author argues that just as developers shouldn't rely on unreviewed, private cryptographic implementations, web designers shouldn't ignore established, accessible design principles and standards. The piece critiques the trend of over-engineered, inaccessible, and user-hostile web design, advocating for simplicity, usability, and adherence to web standards.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledDon't roll your own crypto. This does not mean that nobody is allowed to write cryptographic code. Someone has to. It means that, for ordinary production software that protects sensitive data of users, we should not rely on a private, unreviewed implementation.
The web was built on the principle of universality. Anyone, anywhere, with any device, should be able to access information.
We have traded simplicity for complexity, accessibility for aesthetics, and usability for novelty.
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