Show HN: Vertex.js – A 1kloc SPA Framework • Hacker News Board

Show HN: Vertex.js – A 1kloc SPA Framework

#1

Post by LukeB42 » Sun, Mar 01, 2026, 11:05 AM UTC

Vertex is a 1kloc SPA framework containing everything you need from React, Ractive-Load and jQuery while still being jQuery-compatible.

vertex.js is a single, self-contained file with no build step and no dependencies.

Also exhibits the curious quality of being faster than over a decade of engineering at Facebook in some cases: https://files.catbox.moe/sqei0d.png

Show HN: Vertex.js – A 1kloc SPA Framework
lukeb42.github.io

Re: Show HN: Vertex.js – A 1kloc SPA Framework

#2

Post by DiabloD3 » Sun, Mar 01, 2026, 1:39 PM UTC

I was going to say that font is unreadable, but its Courier New.

By my own extensive testing[1], it's optimal at minimum 18px, you're at 13.5px.

[1]: https://github.com/Diablo-D3/dotfiles/blob/master/fontsizes....

Re: Show HN: Vertex.js – A 1kloc SPA Framework

#3

Post by LukeB42 » Sun, Mar 01, 2026, 1:55 PM UTC

DiabloD3 wrote: post #2

I was going to say that font is unreadable, but its Courier New. By my own extensive testing[1], it's optimal at minimum 18px, you're at 13.5px. [1]: https://github.com/Diablo-D3/dotfiles/blob/master/fontsizes....

Beauty /is/ in the eye of the beholder. The rationale /here/ is that the more text in a page the more code you'll fit in your head the more you'll get done, the more confidence you'll have and again the more you'll achieve.

Re: Show HN: Vertex.js – A 1kloc SPA Framework

#4

Post by heroku » Sun, Mar 01, 2026, 2:11 PM UTC

LukeB42 wrote: post #3

DiabloD3 wrote: post #2

I was going to say that font is unreadable, but its Courier New. By my own extensive testing[1], it's optimal at minimum 18px, you're at 13.5px. [1]: https://github.com/Diablo-D3/dotfiles/blob/master/fontsizes....

Beauty /is/ in the eye of the beholder. The rationale /here/ is that the more text in a page the more code you'll fit in your head the more you'll get done, the more confidence you'll have and again the more you'll achieve.

[dead]

Re: Show HN: Vertex.js – A 1kloc SPA Framework

#5

Post by 6r17 » Sun, Mar 01, 2026, 2:16 PM UTC

1kloc is a bit abstract ; it seems you are in a great position to give a true bundled weight ; preact is about 3kb which is my fav for years - good job for the effort and results !

Re: Show HN: Vertex.js – A 1kloc SPA Framework

#6

Post by DiabloD3 » Sun, Mar 01, 2026, 2:26 PM UTC

LukeB42 wrote: post #3

DiabloD3 wrote: post #2

I was going to say that font is unreadable, but its Courier New. By my own extensive testing[1], it's optimal at minimum 18px, you're at 13.5px. [1]: https://github.com/Diablo-D3/dotfiles/blob/master/fontsizes....

Beauty /is/ in the eye of the beholder. The rationale /here/ is that the more text in a page the more code you'll fit in your head the more you'll get done, the more confidence you'll have and again the more you'll achieve.

Zero code is in your head if you can't read it.

The predominant monitor in existence is your average 24" 1080p monitor, sat at, on average, 32" away from the head. The average person has worse than 20/20 vision.

You must test your website in such conditions and make sure it is readable, and also make sure it meets at minimum WCAG A, but preferably the whole way to AAA if possible.

Re: Show HN: Vertex.js – A 1kloc SPA Framework

#7

Post by redmanhao » Sun, Mar 01, 2026, 2:27 PM UTC

[dead]

Re: Show HN: Vertex.js – A 1kloc SPA Framework

#8

Post by LukeB42 » Sun, Mar 01, 2026, 2:31 PM UTC

6r17 wrote: post #5

1kloc is a bit abstract ; it seems you are in a great position to give a true bundled weight ; preact is about 3kb which is my fav for years - good job for the effort and results !

9kb (minifier+brotli)

We could remove 3kb by removing the router but that's not gonna happen. You're more than welcome to minify+brotli it yourself if you use vertex.js in production.

Re: Show HN: Vertex.js – A 1kloc SPA Framework

#9

Post by jaen » Sun, Mar 01, 2026, 2:37 PM UTC

Huh, interesting... why have both React components and Mustache-style templates in the same framework? They perform the same function?

What's the use case for mixing them?

Re: Show HN: Vertex.js – A 1kloc SPA Framework

#10

Post by LukeB42 » Sun, Mar 01, 2026, 2:38 PM UTC

DiabloD3 wrote: post #6

LukeB42 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Beauty /is/ in the eye of the beholder. The rationale /here/ is that the more text in a page the more code you'll fit in your head the more you'll get done, the more confidence you'll have and again the more you'll achieve.

Zero code is in your head if you can't read it. The predominant monitor in existence is your average 24" 1080p monitor, sat at, on average, 32" away from the head. The average person has worse than 20/20 vision. You must test your website in such conditions and make sure it is readable, and also make sure it meets at minimum WCAG A, but preferably the whole way to AAA if possible.

Thank you but the predominant monitor's probably a smartphone. The average professional is probably using a 4k monitor at the moment.

Everything in the free documentation I've provided you out of my own time and money that you're referring to exists in relation to the other elements in that page, so to get the experience you're after simply ctrl+scroll and change the CSS zoom level like the riot at parties that you could be or catch up with circa 2013-2014 and invest in a 4k display please.