Now let me synthesize all my research into notes and a plan.
Research Notes & Plan for pleasejusttryhtmx.com
Pattern Analysis of Reference Sites
Common Style Patterns
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Aggressive, Profane Tone: All sites use profanity liberally as a rhetorical device—not gratuitous vulgarity but emphatic provocation that cuts through developer ego and creates memorable impact.
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Direct Second-Person Address: "You dipshit," "you clueless buffoon" — confrontational but comedic intimacy with the reader.
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Minimal Design as Proof: The medium IS the message. These sites demonstrate their philosophy through their own construction. Motherfuckingwebsite proves you don't need CSS; justfuckingusehtml.com embeds working HTML demos.
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Short, Punchy Sections: Headers, bullet points, brief paragraphs. Easy scanning. No walls of text.
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Hyperbolic Comparisons: Space shuttles made of popsicle sticks, Nazi WWII jokes, flamethrowers to light candles — absurd metaphors that make the point memorable.
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Self-Aware Irony: Acknowledging exceptions (some sites DO need complexity) while maintaining the core argument.
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Structural Progression:
- Open with aggressive hook
- State the problem with modern web dev
- Present the solution (their advocacy)
- Give concrete examples/proof
- Acknowledge edge cases
- Close with call to action
The Dialogue/Debate Pattern
The sites form a conversation: - motherfuckingwebsite: "Your site doesn't need all that crap" - bettermotherfuckingwebsite: "Ok but a LITTLE CSS is nice" - justfuckingusehtml: "Stop using frameworks, HTML does everything" - justfuckingusereact: "Actually complex apps NEED React"
pleasejusttryhtmx.com enters this debate as a middle path: - "You're both wrong. You don't need raw HTML limitations AND you don't need React's complexity. HTMX gives you interactivity without the bullshit."
Key HTMX Arguments to Feature
The Killer Stats (from React→HTMX port)
- 67% less code (21,500 → 7,200 lines)
- 96% fewer JavaScript dependencies (255 → 9)
- 88% faster builds (40s → 5s)
- 50-60% faster initial load
- 46% less memory
Philosophy Points
- HTML is a hypermedia — we forgot this. HTMX "completes HTML."
- Why are only
<a>and<form>allowed to make requests? Any element should be able to. - Server returns HTML, not JSON — no API contract maintenance, no client-side rendering
- Locality of behavior — the logic is right there in the markup
- Full-stack simplicity — backend devs can build interactive apps without learning React
- 16kb — that's the whole library
Position in the Debate
- To justfuckingusehtml crowd: "You're right that HTML is powerful, but sometimes you DO need dynamic updates without page reloads. HTMX gives you that with zero JavaScript writing."
- To justfuckingusereact crowd: "You're solving imaginary problems. 90% of apps don't need component trees and virtual DOM diffing. HTMX handles real interactivity with HTML attributes."
Proposed Site Plan
Title/Header
"Please Just Try HTMX" (or variant: "Please Just Fucking Try HTMX")
Tone
Pugnacious but educational. Less nihilistic than motherfuckingwebsite, more practical advocacy. Channel the energy of a frustrated senior dev who's tired of watching teams drown in framework complexity.
Structure
1. Opening Salvo (Hook) - Address the HTML vs React debate directly - "You're all missing the point" - Position HTMX as the answer both sides don't know they need
2. The Problem - Modern SPAs: build tools, state management, hydration, 500 npm packages - But also: raw HTML limits — no partial page updates, form submit reloads everything - The false dichotomy
3. What HTMX Actually Is (Simple explanation) - One HTML attribute = AJAX - Server returns HTML fragments - No JavaScript required - ~16kb, zero dependencies - Working inline demo (make the page interactive with HTMX)
4. The Numbers (Proof) - The Contexte case study stats - "67% less code. That's not a typo."
5. Address the Skeptics - "But what about complex state?" — You probably don't have complex state. You have forms. - "But React has ecosystem!" — That ecosystem is why your build takes 4 minutes. - "But SPAs feel faster!" — They feel faster because they're hiding their 2MB download.
6. When NOT to Use HTMX (Self-aware credibility) - Google Docs - Figma - Real-time collaborative editing - "Probably not your CRUD app though, is it?"
7. Call to Action - Link to htmx.org - Link to hypermedia.systems - "Just try it. One weekend. See what happens."
Design Philosophy
- Single HTML file — practice what we preach
- Minimal CSS — readable, maybe dark mode
- Include actual working HTMX demos — buttons that do things
- Fast, tiny, no build step
The Twist
The site itself should use HTMX. Interactive demos that show: - Click a button, get a response swapped in - A search box that filters live - A form that submits without reload
This makes the argument by demonstration, just like the reference sites.
Suggested Taglines/Lines
- "You don't need React. You don't need to go back to 1997 either."
- "What if I told you interactivity doesn't require a package.json?"
- "HTML + one attribute = better than your entire frontend stack"
- "67% less code. Zero JavaScript written. Full interactivity."
- "Your users don't care about your component architecture"
- "HTMX: Because fuck your build step"