The latest articles on DEV Community by Drew Fisher (@wired_fisher). https://dev.to/wired_fisher https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F4210923%2Ff45e62bd-52db-4289-ba63-46173529482a.jpg https://dev.to/wired_fisher en Drew Fisher Tue, 27 Oct 2026 15:50:21 +0000 https://dev.to/wired_fisher/htmx-in-an-internal-admin-less-js-than-expected-37f7 https://dev.to/wired_fisher/htmx-in-an-internal-admin-less-js-than-expected-37f7 <p>We needed an internal admin for a small service. The previous one was a React SPA that nobody wanted to maintain.</p> <p>This time we tried server-rendered HTML with HTMX. The result: about 40 lines of JavaScript in the whole app.</p> <p>What worked well:</p> <ul> <li>Forms and tables are just HTML</li> <li>Partial updates via <code>hx-get</code> / <code>hx-post</code> </li> <li>No build step for the admin</li> </ul> <p>What I missed:</p> <ul> <li>Client-side validation is clunkier</li> <li>Complex interactions (drag-and-drop) still need JS</li> </ul> <p>For an internal tool used by five people, it's the right trade. I'd still reach for a SPA for a consumer product.</p> <p>I'm learning HTMX properly now, and it's refreshing how much of the web you can get back.</p> htmx devops web