Prototype Web UI Framework

[mreschke]

Need to experiment with many different front end technologies.

No Build, No SPA

• Alpine JS is pretty cool, less boilerplate than vue.js but similar API. No build, CDN style
• Could use vue.js, no build CDN style, but more boilerplate than alpine but ONE framework to learn, will work later for SPA.
• Bootstrap no build, but like tailwind. Is tailwind efficient without a build?
• Pros of no build
  • No build, quicker dev and instant preview
  • Simple, quick and easy code
• Cons of no build
  • Bulky assets especially tailwind
  • Must use non build JS, no imports, no modules. JS can be in jinja template or separate file, just not with imports. Or can browsers support import now?
  • UI is now tightly coupled with backend. Can't convert code to electron... more rigid and less portable and re-usable.

Build, SPA or not

• Webpack with or without laravel elixer (mix)
• Optimized tailwind
• Less inline vue.js, now in own folder, with actual import modules, could still be NO SPA
• Can do full SPA now. If full SPA, could just use NO uvicore for UI, separate projects completely, vue CLI style. Or could add to uvicore repo if wanted combined.
• Pros of build
  • Full ECMA JS, imports, modules, separate folder structure...
  • Optimized assets, especially tailwind
  • If SPA, code is uncoupled from uvicore, can be separate repo. Could port to electon. More portable. Single concern.
• Cons of build
  • Another watch process, slow to preview
  • If SPA, must use REST API, complex auth. APIs more complex than backend ORM queries pushed to templates.