The single-page application must die

Single-page applications (SPAs) have become popular due to their ability to deliver highly interactive user interfaces by relying solely on client-side rendering, which results in large amounts of JavaScript being processed by browsers. While frameworks like Backbone.js, EmberJS, AngularJS, and React have paved the way for SPAs, they often neglect progressive enhancement, which is a design strategy that focuses on delivering core web content first and then adding enhancements based on the user's browser capabilities. This oversight can negatively impact users in developing regions or those using assistive technologies. Progressive web applications (PWAs) attempt to provide an app-like experience using modern web features and often utilize the app shell model for fast startup times, but they can be limited by their reliance on modern browser capabilities like service workers. A hybrid approach that combines server-side rendering (SSR) and client-side rendering (CSR) is advocated to address these limitations, enabling websites to function even with JavaScript disabled while still benefiting from fast, app-like interactions when possible. This approach aims to revitalize the concept of progressive enhancement and make the web more inclusive and efficient.