The JavaScript Fatigue Solution
React. Next.js. Webpack. Babel. TypeScript. State management. Bundle optimization. Hydration errors. Does building a web app really need to be this complex?
HTMX says: No.
What is HTMX?
HTMX lets any HTML element make HTTP requests and update the page — with just HTML attributes. No JavaScript required.
<button hx-post="/api/like" hx-target="#count" hx-swap="innerHTML">
Like ❤️
</button>
<span id="count">42</span>That’s it. Click the button → sends POST → response HTML replaces the span content. No React, no state management, no bundler.
Why Developers Love It
1. Drastically Less Code
A typical React + API setup for a todo list: ~200 lines across 4 files. The same with HTMX: ~30 lines of HTML.
2. Server-Side Rendering (the OG way)
Your server renders HTML fragments. The browser just swaps them in. This means:
- Your existing backend (Python, Go, Ruby, PHP) does the heavy lifting
- No duplicating logic between server and client
- No API serialization/deserialization overhead
3. Progressive Enhancement
HTMX enhances regular HTML. If JavaScript fails, forms still submit normally. Try that with a React SPA.
4. Tiny Runtime
HTMX is 14KB minified. Compare that to React (40KB) + ReactDOM (120KB) + your app bundle.
When NOT to Use HTMX
- Real-time collaborative editing (Google Docs)
- Complex client-side state (Figma, Photoshop-like apps)
- Offline-first apps
- Heavy animations and transitions
When HTMX Shines
- CRUD applications (admin panels, dashboards)
- E-commerce sites
- Content management systems
- Internal business tools
- Any app where the server is the source of truth
The Verdict
HTMX isn’t killing React — but it’s offering a sane alternative for the 80% of web apps that don’t need a full SPA framework. If your app is mostly “fetch data → display it → handle forms,” HTMX might save you thousands of lines of JavaScript.