Outdated: 5 Web Dev Trends We No Longer Use

Fax machines. Typewriters. CD-ROMs. These are just a few of the technologies that we no longer use. In some cases — like the transition from paper punch cards to magnetic storage between the 1890s and 1980s — change came gradually. However, especially in the past decade, the pace of technological innovation has led even the most cutting edge technologies to become obsolete within just a matter of years.

This is especially true for the field of web development. From programming languages to communication tools to web hosting services, developers today are working with a completely different toolkit than those in prior decades. That’s one reason our web development programs like Software Engineering Immersion and Software Engineering Flex are designed to help current tech professionals upskill.

And while technological change can have serious consequences, it can also be fun - especially when we reminisce about technologies of the past. Here are five web development technologies, trends, and components we no longer use (that will probably make any experienced developer feel old!)

Hit Counters

Sources: www.webfx.com/blog/web-design/are-current-web-design-trends-pushing-us-back-to-1999, images.app.goo.gl/xg1wxU8peyWB1xmx7

Want to let the entire world know how many people visited your site? Neither do we.

Flash

Source: support.apple.com/en-us/HT202681

Check out this awesome website we built with whiz-bang animations and rich media interactions. But first, you have to download Flash. Unless, of course you own an iPhone — then you’re straight out of luck.

The “Under Construction” GIF

Source: textfiles.com/underconstruction/

Before they became the currency of social media, GIFs served an even higher purpose: to help people know your website wasn’t ready for the public eye.

IRC

Source: images.app.goo.gl/9RrMwq2p66XtLXmP7

Before Slack became the dominant tool for team chat, there was Internet Relay Chat. How Slack (with its clearly inferior UX*) was able to surpass IRC in popularity is still a mystery to us.

* Just kidding! We ❤️ you Slack.

Geocities

Source: geocities.ws/lilladn/Lefler.html

This web hosting service was once the perfect place to post your Star Trek fan fiction. Now, it serves as one of the easiest ways to carbon date a site.