661: Working Vacations, Ripping Out JavaScript, and Non-US Cloud Service Options

What It Covers

Shop Talk Show explores European alternatives to US-based cloud services, CSS polyfill strategies for removing deprecated code, the new CSS shape function in Safari 18.4, and design philosophy around gilding lilies.

Key Questions Answered

• •Non-US hosting alternatives: European-alternatives.eu catalogs replacements for US services like GitHub, Netlify, and Firebase. Consider latency impacts on customer experience and whether boycotting US companies aligns with values versus punishing specific corporate behaviors rather than geography.
• •Polyfill removal strategy: Most polyfills check browser support in first lines and skip execution if unnecessary, making removal less urgent. Cost is mainly download time since cached files execute instantly. Remove polyfills when code is meaningfully touched, not via calendar appointments.
• •CSS shape function: Safari 18.4 introduces shape function that converts SVG path syntax to CSS-friendly units supporting rems, custom properties, calc, and container queries. Unlike path function's unitless pixels, shape enables responsive vector clipping with any CSS unit for clip-path applications.
• •Design gilding principle: Start with solid foundational design before adding decorative touches. Add one thoughtful detail like art-directed SVG titles or custom link styles rather than overworking every page. Small efforts like Google Font outlines as SVG titles cost minimal effort but differentiate content.