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by chuck32 3279 days ago
> I went frameworkless on an mvp last year. I was able to code and implement features using raw apis quickly. I reached MVP status and launched. One year later, no users and I'm closing the site. I'm sure glad I didn't waste a lot of time learning a new framework who's complexity and standardization I never needed!

But if you are already experienced in a framework like rails, django or laravel, then bashing out a side project should be significantly faster with the framework then without. There are so many things you dont have to re-invent when using a framework like routing, installing an ORM, rendering templates etc.

I honestly haven't read any convincing arguments against using a framework in this thread other than "I don't want to spend time learning it" but if you pick a popular and mature framework like rails or django then learning that will benefit you loads in the long term.

Also keep in mind you could make the same argument against learning a programming language like C and say "I just prefer writing assembly code becuase I know exactly what bits go into which registers".

1 comments

Why are you so concerned with what others do? IME there's this language/framework tribalism culture in software that's extremely poisonous; language/framework supporters go online and bash, spread fud, and denigrate other languages and frameworks. It's poison and taints our entire profession.

I propose that avoiding such triabalism is adequate reason to not use frameworks! You haven't advocated any particular framework but maintain some sort of framework use is best position, which is odd. Learning frameworks does take time, and when you're iterating a side project, with a mortgage, 3 kids, and spouse, time is the last thing you have. Is this you? Probably not! But that's the reality for some.

Certainly learn a framework to pay the bills, j2ee has been very lucrative for me for 13 years. I would never use it for a side project!

> Why are you so concerned with what others do?

This is a discussion about whether or not to use frameworks isn't it? I'm argueing for using a framework rather than against, isn't that the whole point of a discussion?

> IME there's this language/framework tribalism culture in software that's extremely poisonous; language/framework supporters go online and bash, spread fud, and denigrate other languages and frameworks.

Not sure if you're saying this because you think I'm bashing/fudding people who don't use frameworks? I'm just argueing a point.

> You haven't advocated any particular framework but maintain some sort of framework use is best position, which is odd.

I think I've put my reasons for advocating frameworks over no frameworks pretty clearly?

> Learning frameworks does take time, and when you're iterating a side project, with a mortgage, 3 kids, and spouse, time is the last thing you have. Is this you? Probably not! But that's the reality for some.

If you have a spouse/kids/mortgage then IMO its even more important that you learn to use a mainstream framework for whatever language you are using because its the way the industry is heading. Spending time on a side project in that situation would be a very bad use of your time while learning a framework will benefit your career immensely. The reality of the tech industry is that you do need to spend some time to keep up to date with modern tech trends, whether or not thats good or bad is another discussion.