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WebExpress 0.0.9-alpha – The Path Toward More Responsive Design

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With version 0.0.9 alpha, WebExpress begins a significant transformation. The system moves away from rigid layouts and embraces a dynamic, context-aware design approach that adjusts gracefully to any screen size. Responsive design is not just a technical feature. It reflects a design mindset focused on modularity, clarity, and accessibility. Why Responsive Design Matters In today’s world, users switch between smartphones, tablets, and desktops as naturally as moving between rooms. Design must follow that movement. WebExpress responds with a system that does more than display content. It stages it, adapting to device, context, and usage. What’s New in Version 0.0.9 alpha With this release, responsive design was not just introduced as a layout principle. It was systematically integrated into the architecture of WebExpress, both in the UI controls (WebExpress.WebUI) and in the templates (WebExpress.WebApp). Unified Scaling with clamp() and rem Typography, spacing, and layouts are now re...
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WebExpress – The Framework for Makers with a Clear Mission

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In the world of web development, there are countless frameworks that promise flexibility, scalability, and technical depth. But not everyone is looking for a toolbox designed for complex enterprise applications. Many need something different: a framework that works quickly, requires minimal onboarding, and focuses on what really matters. That’s exactly where WebExpress comes in. Technically Skilled Users with Concrete Ideas WebExpress is aimed at people who haven’t studied computer science but are still technically proficient. They have specific projects in mind—whether it’s a smart light switch for the living room, a digital ordering system for a food stand, or a small management app for a local club. They don’t want to spend six months learning; they want to get started right away. Typical users include: Semi-professional developers who code on the side Technicians, engineers, and makers who need web tools for their hardware Professionals looking to build digital solutions for their ...
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Location: Cottbus, Deutschland
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WebExpress 0.0.9-alpha – See Data, Edit Data with the New WebExpress Table Control TableCtrl

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WebExpress 0.0.9-alpha introduces a powerful new JavaScript component for tabular data: the TableCtrl. We set out to build a highly interactive, universally applicable UI element that plays a central role in the WebExpress architecture. This control isn’t just for displaying data. It’s the primary window through which users can view and modify information. One Component for Many Scenarios WebExpress supports a wide range of use cases, from simple lists to complex hierarchical structures with inline editing. Our goal was to create a single control that covers all these scenarios—while looking great and being a pleasure to use. Modular Architecture Like every WebExpress control, TableCtrl initializes itself declaratively from HTML. No tedious wiring in your JavaScript—just drop in the component and go. The integration is minimally invasive, and all logic is encapsulated within the control. Under the hood, everything follows a clear, modular structure: Rendering Module: Builds the tabl...
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Location: Cottbus, Deutschland
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WebExpress 0.0.9-alpha – Halftime analysis

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We’ve reached the halfway point in developing WebExpress 0.0.9-alpha and are taking stock of our progress. This release ushers in a new chapter where the framework becomes noticeably more stable, type-safe, and professional - perfectly tailored for modern web applications. A centerpiece of the first phase was migrating countless controls to a Fluent-based API. By chaining methods, UI components can now be configured intuitively, making the code more readable, consistent, and flexible. Strict type safety ensures each form input exposes only the properties that make sense. Text fields work with a string-based Value object, date pickers with a DateTime type, and checkboxes exclusively with a Boolean wrapper. This fine-grained typing catches typos and copy-&-paste mistakes at compile time and gives developers precise IntelliSense suggestions. At the same time, we added over 20 new JavaScript controls and revamped existing components. Our modern, reactive architecture delivers lightning...
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Location: Cottbus, Deutschland
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WebExpress 0.0.9-alpha – Behind the Scenes

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In this post, I share the journey behind the creation of the new SmartEdit control - from the initial idea and prototyping phase to final integration and a live demo. I’ll also touch on the accompanying documentation and how smart assistants supported the process. The architecture of WebExpress already includes a range of proven controls. My goal was to seamlessly integrate SmartEdit into this ecosystem. It needed to adopt existing concepts while also reflecting the framework’s design language. To build on established patterns, I analyzed various implementations. This allowed me to quickly gain insights into common approaches and adapt the best ideas to the WebExpress framework. The first drafts were created in a minimal editor setup: JavaScript and CSS snippets were loaded directly in the browser on a test page. Each save triggered a live reload. With the help of AI, the prototype was rapidly developed and continuously refined. Once the prototype stabilized, the control was moved into...
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Location: Cottbus, Deutschland
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WebExpress 0.0.9-alpha – A Major Step Towards Independence

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With the release of WebExpress 0.0.9-alpha , we're turning an important corner: the switch from Markdig to a custom-built Markdown parser marks a pivotal evolution in WebExpress’s architectural vision. Why the Change? Markdig has served us well for many versions. Its stability, versatility, and performance made it the obvious choice during WebExpress’s early development. However, as the system matured, limitations in deep integration became increasingly apparent: System Integration : Our own parser allows for tighter embedding within internal modules, particularly for dynamic content and layout control. Flexibility : Building our own parser gives us full control over features and performance, supporting custom enhancements seamlessly. Licensing Concerns : Markdig is distributed under the BSD-2-Clause license—generous, yet not entirely aligned with our philosophy. Since WebExpress is released completely under the MIT license , consistent licensing is essential for transparency and...
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Location: Cottbus, Deutschland
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WebExpress 0.0.9-alpha – The shift from jQuery to Vanilla JS and the future of custom JS components

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WebExpress 009-alpha brings targeted improvements that make our codebase leaner and more efficient. Currently, many control elements and JavaScript components are being revised to optimize the architecture. The transition from jQuery to Vanilla JS and the increased use of custom components reduce dependencies, enhance performance, and ensure a more consistent design.  Moving Away from jQuery: Why Now? For years, jQuery played a crucial role in web development, simplifying common tasks and ensuring cross-browser compatibility. However, JavaScript has evolved, and many functionalities once dependent on jQuery are now native to the language. This realization led us to transition entirely to Vanilla JavaScript , bringing several advantages: Performance Boost – Eliminating jQuery reduces unnecessary overhead, resulting in faster execution. Fewer Dependencies – A leaner tech stack improves stability and lowers maintenance efforts. Greater Control – Writing pure JavaScript gives us mor...
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Location: Cottbus, Deutschland
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