Web Dev · by Mariam Said · 2026-09-06
I tried doing performance the boring way and it worked on a budget
I had a disappointing first try, a surprisingly good second try, and then a third attempt that taught me humility. So, naturally, I now have opinions.
> Tiny progress is still progress.
That line sounds cheesy, but it got me through the part where backend stopped feeling new.
Context: I am not an expert, just someone trying to make Web Dev feel less intimidating. I wrote down what worked, what felt awkward, and what I would do differently next time.
The detail that surprised me was how much my desk changed the outcome. Same plan, different setting, completely different energy
511 sparks · 115 comments
Comments
Silver Comet · 139 likes
This is genuinely helpful thanks for writing it out. I would write it down before changing anything else
Mariam Said · 28 likes
That is a much better way to say it
Nour Ali · 1 likes
That is a good boundary
Silver Comet · 1 likes
Same here. It took me too long to learn
Maksym Bondar · 67 likes
This reminds me of something a friend in Nairobi mentioned. I would love to see the benchmark numbers
Benjamín Rojas · 46 likes
The budget angle is what sold me. Honestly, the simplest version wins for me. I would love to see the benchmark numbers
Noé Petit · 41 likes
This made me smile more then expected. The Cape Town example makes it feel concrete
Omar Hassan · 10 likes
good clarification — I read it differently at first
Curious River · 23 likes
This feels a little overrated to me, even if the intention is good. The 7-minute rule is underrated
Rohan Mehta · 22 likes
Beautifully put. I needed that reminder today. The low-effort version is probably the keeper
Kabir Khan · 20 likes
This reminds me of something a friend in Jakarta mentioned. It reminds me of a very specific conversation near the train station
Mariam Said · 19 likes
There is probably a middle ground here. This is more useful on a tired lunch break then on a perfect day
Isha Menon · 10 likes
This comment has main-character footnote energy
Pixel Atlas · 16 likes
what would you change if you started over? I noticed the same thing in Lisbon
Angel Reyes · 20 likes
The best answer in the thread, honestly
Mariam Said · 8 likes
Kind of wild how often performance is the whole issue
Mariam Said · 2 likes
Exactly; the hidden cost is energy
Mariam Said · 1 likes
The best answer in the thread, honestly
Mariam Said · 2 likes
@urban_urban Could be regional too
Tola Ibrahim · 16 likes
useful intention, poor execution. The ambitious part is easy to underestimate
Mateo Cruz · 15 likes
Beautifully put. I needed that reminder today. I keep a note about backend for exactly this reason
Liam Eriksson · 15 likes
The context helps. Without it I would have assumed the opposite. This is where I would ask one more question before choosing
Hamza Malik · 14 likes
Honestly, great taste. It reminds me of a very specific conversation near a tiny balcony
Paolo Garcia · 13 likes
What would you change if you started over? I would write it down before changing anything else
Camila Soto · 12 likes
I am saving this for the next time I overthink tried. A little friction removed goes a long way
Tiny Panda · 4 likes
that is fair, but I still worry about maintenance
Ngozi Bello · 12 likes
Interesting. I would like to see how it changes after 9 months
Pixel Otter · 11 likes
Did anyone else read this and immediately make a tiny checklist? I would test it for 4 days before deciding
Isha Menon · 10 likes
I wish more posts had this much context. The low-effort version is probly the keeper
Mariana Costa · 20 likes
that is fair, but I still worry about maintenance
Maya Putri · 7 likes
This comment has main-character footnote energy
Tanvir Rahman · 9 likes
Do you think this would work in a smaller place then Istanbul? For me it came down to the route. The boring solution is probably the reliable one here
Mango River · 1 likes
I was going to disagree, but your second sentence got me
Maya Putri · 1 likes
that is fair, but I still worry about maintenance
Camila Rocha · 1 likes
That sounds great until you add children/pets/deadlines
Maya Williams · 9 likes
Excellent timing; I was just thinking about performance. That is where the boring checklist helps
Beatriz Sousa · 8 likes
I do not have a strong take, but the doing detail is useful. It reminds me of a very specific conversation near a neighborhood park
Jiho Lee · 8 likes
What would you change if you started over? My friend tried it in Berlin and had teh opposite result
Priya Nair · 3 likes
Exactly; the hidden cost is energy
Siti Lestari · 7 likes
There is a hidden assumption here that not everyone shares. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability
Paper Runner · 3 likes
I needed the reminder to start smaller
Avery Johnson · 13 likes
@paper-41 Small caveat: context changes the answer a lot
Emir Kaya · 7 likes
The framing feels off to me. Not terrible, just not convincing. Honestly, the simplest version wins for me
Benjamín Rojas · 7 likes
Really good advice, and it feels doable. This is where I would ask one more question before choosing
Kabir Khan · 7 likes
I love this. It feels practical without pretending life is neat. It sounds small, but the recipe matters
Liam Eriksson · 6 likes
Wonderful detail. It makes the whole thing feel real. I would love to see a follow-up after 5 weeks
Budi Santoso · 5 likes
My first thought was cost, then time, then whether I would remember to do it. The the library detail changes the whole answer
Mariam Said · 2 likes
I needed the reminder to start smaller
Silver Fern · 5 likes
I wish more posts had this much context
Rapid Noodle · 1 likes
Same here. It took me too long to learn
Priya Nair · 5 likes
The conclusion is too broad, but the example is interesting
Urban Rider · 1 likes
I like this more then the top-level advice
Bilal Raza · 5 likes
good reminder that boring can be good. The low-effort version is probably the keeper
Lina Al Harbi · 4 likes
I would not call it wrong, just incomplete. This is where I would ask one more question before choosing
Luciana Vargas · 5 likes
good clarification — I read it differently at first
Curious Coder · 4 likes
Excellent timing; I was just thinking about performance. It sounds small, but the route matters
Urban Otter · 4 likes
My version of this was messier, but the conclusion was similar
Silver Orbit · 4 likes
I disagree a bit. worked matters, but the bigger issue is usually expectations. Honestly, the simplest version wins for me
Maya Williams · 4 likes
I am cheering for this update. My friend tried it in Lisbon and had the opposite result
Maya Williams · 3 likes
The performance angle is what sold me. I keep a note about ux for exactly this reason
Ananya Rao · 3 likes
The context helps. Without it I would have assumed the opposite. This would have saved me a lot of trial and error. Good reminder that tools should serve people not the reverse
Piotr Zieliński · 3 likes
That is a surprisingly elegant way to frame it. I keep a note about css for exactly this reason. Good reminder that tools should serve people, not the reverse
Ayesha Khan · 3 likes
The kindness in this post is lovely. That is where the boring checklist helps
Tiny Coder · 3 likes
the vibe here is immaculate. For me it came down to the prototype
Sara Al Nuaimi · 3 likes
That last line is excellent. The surprising part is easy to underestimate
Sleepy River · 3 likes
this is adorable and oddly motivating. The practical part is easy to underestimate
Wanjiku Mwangi · 3 likes
Beautifully put. I needed that reminder today. It reminds me of a very specific conversation near a family dinner. Good reminder that tools should serve people, not the reverse
Mia Anderson · 3 likes
I am mostly here for the follow-up. I would write it down before changing anything else