Web components and modern APIs like View Transitions are the best path to achieving high-quality, app-like UX in traditional server-rendered multi-page applications.
To achieve React-level UX in traditional MPA stacks, the hosts recommend web components and modern browser APIs rather than trying to replicate complex JS frameworks. ✦ AI generated
Scott Tolinski · Syntax · 2026-08-19 · original ↗
starts at this moment · 41:33
“How could we achieve the same level of UX quality [as Shad CN] for traditional frameworks [like Django]?”
Well, my gosh, Lean, I would say web components. Web components. Hey, web components. Uh, web awesome, I think, is a good uh good thing there to to give a check a try. Part of the reason why traditional multi-page applications don't feel well is because you're missing some of the stuff that you you get by just swapping out one little part of the page or one little tiny island of interaction without having to uh wire up unique JavaScript for each things. And things like uh the page transitions API can now do multi-page applications in some browsers could give you a level of like polish that you're not getting.
verbatim transcript · starts at 41:33
41:33thing there to to give a check a try. Part of the reason why traditional multi-page applications don't feel well is because you're missing some of the stuff that you you get by just swapping out one little part of the page or one little tiny island of interaction without having to uh wire up unique JavaScript for each things. And things like uh the page transitions API can now
41:54do multi-page applications in some browsers could give you a level of like polish that you're not getting. But in terms of organizing and things like that, if I were you, I would look at web component frameworks that exist with using web standards, web components. That's the answer for me. >> Yeah, I agree with this as well where it's like you don't have the time to do it all from scratch. You don't maybe
42:18haven't found everything. That's why people reach for a lot of these libraries or like lower level things that will help you build something like a shad CN because it's it's all done for you. I think we've said this probably for years, the the web is slowly getting to a spot where you don't necessarily need a lot of these things because the primitives are getting so good. >> Um, but along with that, you just like
42:41you got to look at like what are people that are doing what you're doing, which is traditional serverside rendered React, JavaScript sprinkles on top. What are they using? Um, a really good example of something to look for is Caleb Porzio. We've had him on the show in the past. He's the author of AlpineJS, which is >> um the ability to like it's like JavaScript sprinkles on top. A lot of