Ask HN: Is web programming a series of hacks on hacks?
I think it&#x27;s worth noting that back-end web development is an usually pleasant place. In most other types of programming, many technical decisions are made by the platform  and working with tons of legacy cruft is the norm, not the exception. For example, where else can you so freely choose the programming language?<p>Linux Driver? Use C. Mobile App? Java or Swift&#x2F;Objective-C for Android or iPhone, respectively. GUI App? Again depending on your platform that will be either C++, Swift&#x2F;Objective-C, or some .NET thing. Making a neural net? You could do everything from scratch, but it probably makes more sense to just use a platform like Tensor Flow and python.<p>Backend web development on the other hand: use anything! Wanna use lisp? Go ahead. Wanna store your data in an unproven experimental database? No problem. Wanna use micro-services? Monoliths? Anything goes.<p>Browsers are extremely complex application platforms.  But despite how you may feel, they didn&#x27;t succeed because of their weaknesses. The browser as an application platform succeeded because of its strengths. Web browser are the least bad option (and beat out many other worse options).<p>For better or worse, browsers are what we have. Make the most of their strengths, and deal as best you can with the weaknesses.