Joel Dare advocates for using pure HTML and CSS for web development in 2025, emphasizing simplicity, speed, and security. He argues that many modern frameworks over-engineer solutions, while pure HTML and CSS provide a lightweight and efficient alternative that is accessible and easy to deploy. Dare highlights the environmental and accessibility benefits of smaller page sizes and standard HTML practices.

The article critiques the current state of HTML and the Document Object Model (DOM), arguing that they have become bloated and outdated, failing to meet the needs of modern web applications. It highlights the inefficiencies and complexities of working with the DOM and CSS, suggesting a need for rethinking these technologies to better align with contemporary development practices and user expectations. The author calls for a more streamlined and effective approach to web development that moves away from legacy constraints.