Earlier this week, while I was in Washington DC, meeting a few clients, I had the chance to attend Frontrunners—a focused, no-fluff JavaScript and web development conference held annually in the area.
Having attended several tech events back in India, this one felt refreshingly different. Small in scale, but rich in substance, the entire day was dedicated to real conversations about the web—no marketing pitches, no distractions. Just developers talking code. And that’s exactly what I loved about it.
The Day Kicked Off with… Stop Using JavaScript?
The first session, by Kilian Valkhof, challenged one of the oldest assumptions in front-end development:
“Some things just need JavaScript.”
Turns out, not anymore!
Kilian demonstrated how features like accordions, toggle switches, dialogs, smooth scrolling, and auto-suggest can now be implemented using just CSS and HTML, thanks to ongoing efforts by browser vendors and spec writers. While the talk was a bit elementary for me, it served as a solid warm-up and brought important accessibility considerations to the table—something we often overlook when racing to get things done.
Fresh CSS – And I Mean Really Fresh
Next up, Alex Riviere took the stage with a session titled Fresh Hot CSS Features!
For someone like me, who’s been coasting on muscle memory with CSS for the last few years, this one felt like a wake-up call.
Learning about newer CSS tools and concepts like:
- has() selector
- CSS layers
- var() and custom properties
- Over 500 new properties introduced just last year
…was a reminder of how fast the front-end ecosystem evolves. It was equal parts exciting and overwhelming—but in the best way possible.
When Code Meets Creativity
One of the most inspiring sessions for me was Shri Khalpada’s Code As A Canvas, which dove into the world of creative coding with p5.js.
This wasn’t about building interfaces—it was about using code as a tool for art, emotion, data visualization, and even meditation. It brought back the joy of tinkering and reminded me how coding can be more than functional—it can be expressive.
Designing Motion Thoughtfully
Nathan Long’s talk Building Motion for the Web focused on something most devs feel but rarely formalize—motion as a design language.
He shared practical frameworks on:
- Categorizing different motion types
- Navigating complexity in animation
- Collaborating across teams
It wasn’t just about animations—it was about using motion to communicate, to guide, and to improve UX. As someone who thrives on systems and structure, this hit home.
Mapping the Web with JavaScript
Rounding out my top five was Courtney Yatteau’s session on Open Source Web Mapping Libraries.
She introduced tools like Leaflet and MapLibre GL JS, which can be used to create interactive, visually appealing web maps—even if you’re new to geospatial data. The talk also touched on key GIS concepts, data visualization techniques, and how to integrate mapping seamlessly into your web projects.
It was a refreshing, technical deep dive into a topic that’s often underserved at mainstream dev events and one I found surprisingly relevant to product and data-focused workflows.
Final Thoughts
Frontrunners was a reminder of what a developer conference should be—tight-knit, substance-driven, and all about craft. No filler, no fluff. Just a shared love for pushing the web forward.
If you’re passionate about front-end development, thoughtful UX, or just getting better at what you build, this is a conference to mark on your calendar.
I’m already looking forward to the next one.