Web development has undoubtedly changed a lot since the 1990s. Over 35 years ago, when websites started coming into fashion, they could have been characterized by two words: simple and slow. But fast forward a few decades, and websites are fast, smart, and full of unique features.
In this blog, we walk through the history of web development from the 90’s until today, and examine the key differences between websites then, and now.
Web Development in the 90s – A Simple Beginning
In the 1990s, web development was a brand-new field. As a result, it was limited to very basic elements (which at the time were of course considered revolutionary). Most websites were made using only HTML. Some may have had a little CSS in the mix, but this was limited to the most professional websites.
Web pages in the 90’s were static. This means they did not change or react when you clicked something. There were no pop-ups, CLICK HERE buttons, interactive icons, video backgrounds, and flash animations.
Images were small and had very long load times (meaning 10-30 seconds, not the 1-2 second load times that we find long today). People used dial-up internet, so speed was often an issue. Developers wrote code by hand and used very simple tools to bring it to life on the internet.
There were no platforms like WordPress or GitHub. Can you imagine a world without WordPress?! We certainly can’t.
Mobile phones did not support websites, meaning they could only be accessed from computers. And keep in mind that not all families had computers back then, so many people could only access them in the workplace, or when they paid their rich neighbor a visit.
In short, web development at that time only focused on desktop users, and design was not very important. The website worked much like a digital flyer or poster. Sharing information in a static, non-interactive way.
Web Development Today – Fast, Dynamic, and User-Friendly
Fast forward 30+ years. Today, web development is advancing faster than ever. Gone are the 20-second load times and grayscale designs. Instead, websites are dynamic, highly interactive, and adaptable. They react to users, shaping and changing their display based on the user’s input.
With JavaScript frameworks, web designers can create real-time chats, shopping carts, interactive maps, rotating displays, and countless other elements.
Web design has also improved significantly since the 90’s. Sites are now specially made to work well on phones, tablets, and desktops. Tools like Bootstrap help make websites responsive, no matter what device they are being accessed on. Developers use advanced platforms and cloud services that help speed up workflows.
There are also hundreds of free resources and code libraries online. These help save time (and significantly reduce the risk of panic) for programmers and developers. Web development today allows for better visuals, faster loading, and smarter features, all leading to a better user experience.
How Python Changed Web Development
Coding and web development grew hand-in-hand in the last 30-ish years. Among languages like Java or C++, Python is one of the most popular programming languages in the world. It is easy to learn and very powerful. Python is often used in web development, especially when building the backend of a website.
Frameworks like Django and Flask make using Python simple. They allow programmers to create fast, secure, and flexible apps. With Python, developers can handle things like user logins, data storage, and online payments with ease. The language has certainly taken web development by storm, leading to some of the most popular websites today.
Froggy Fact:
Did you know that Netflix, YouTube, Dropbox, Instagram, and even Google all run on Python?
Python has helped make web development easier and more fun for beginners and experts alike. It’s one of the most versatile and powerful programming languages out there today.
Then vs. Now
Here’s an overview of some of the biggest changes in web development between the 90s and today:
- Speed: In the 90s, pages loaded slowly. Now they load in seconds (if that)!
- Design: Back then it was just text and the occasional link. Now we have photos, videos, and animations popping up at every scroll.
- Languages: Before it was mostly HTML. Today we use HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or Python (and many others).
- Skills: Developers used to write code by hand. Now we have code editors, version control, and AI tools to make our lives about 500,000 times easier.
Conclusion
Web development has definitely come a long way since the 90s. What started as simple pages not much different from a regular poster, has grown into online platforms used by millions every day. Web development today is faster, more creative, and more powerful than ever, and that’s only changing for the better. In 10 years, we’ll be looking back at today’s websites and thinking how outdated and slow they were. Can you imagine?
One thing’s for sure, web development as a career is here to stay. So why not take the leap and learn to write code yourself? You’ll be ready to program websites among top developers in less time than you know it.
Join us at Froggy Code, an online coding school offering fun, simple, and hands-on courses to help you become a web developer in under a year. Check out our latest courses HERE, and start your programming journey today!