Dave 🧱 :cursor_pointer:

Senior Engineer working on Polaris at Shopify.

Previously: zeroheight, Nordhealth, Ghost, Stackbit.
Clients: Google, Buffer and Netlify.
[he/him]

Website: https://darn.es
GitHub: https://github.com/daviddarnes
CodePen: https://codepen.io/DavidDarnes
Twitter: https://twitter.com/daviddarnes

Public Key

npub1w9tamta6569jgxclmwgpcy3tpdxkkgcad8nhg998kle4n60e3dzsfpa2ap

NIP-05 Address

[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqs8z47a47a2dzeyrv0ahyquzg4sknttyvwknem5zjnm0u6ea8uck3gprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0d4hhxarj9ecxjmntc4scya

Publishing to

relay.momostr.pink

Author Public Key

npub1w9tamta6569jgxclmwgpcy3tpdxkkgcad8nhg998kle4n60e3dzsfpa2ap

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Last Notes

2026-05-09 09:31:52 UTC

It’s been a rough week to say the least. The kinda week that makes you grateful for the people who support you in little ways every day 💜

2026-04-16 14:44:33 UTC

Hot take: Icons in icon libraries should be named what they look like, not what they are for

2025-12-25 19:54:23 UTC

https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/115/781/956/988/519/138/original/8dcbef5208cec623.jpeg

2025-11-12 11:03:32 UTC

“You’re holding it wrong”
https://social.lol/@ruminate/115536177235574141
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/115/536/389/554/269/798/original/9b7e9a462fc13838.jpeg
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/115/536/389/852/199/445/original/adc9f6b00b649f67.jpeg

2025-10-25 11:26:15 UTC

Seems seasonally appropriate to share this Ghost easter egg
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/115/434/558/042/812/281/original/9913b32c270fc4a2.jpeg
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/115/434/562/174/752/917/original/5d1ba66187206b42.jpeg

2025-09-24 09:18:13 UTC

Everyone trapped in iOS26
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/115/258/522/851/973/172/original/6b4af6081aa8d9f2.jpeg

2025-09-13 14:07:38 UTC

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Channel 4 idents are something else 🔥

2025-09-03 15:26:52 UTC

ts
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/115/141/064/009/943/048/original/0d1e3183b91a82a4.jpeg

2025-08-23 10:18:27 UTC

My airport pano went wrong in the best possible way
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/115/077/565/872/395/056/original/5019bbe9ac0594ff.jpeg

2025-08-10 16:21:04 UTC

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THIS @npub15zn…dyj5

2025-07-25 15:27:47 UTC

Stay cool gang 🧊
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/114/914/575/215/245/297/original/b5ca921d544712ce.jpeg

2025-07-09 09:35:01 UTC

Timeline cleanse
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/114/822/591/130/471/419/original/23b0a533a79b421b.jpeg

2025-05-23 13:35:40 UTC

npm install…
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/114/557/408/810/854/946/original/9f86b5ccfe6b7cce.jpeg

2025-03-28 21:32:27 UTC

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are they sized based on em or rem units? Could be iOS’ default font sizing kicking in

2025-03-23 11:30:00 UTC

I am once again at the 'Side Project Domain Renewal Crossroads'

2025-03-05 09:05:49 UTC

If you spill cheese on your crocs they become a croc monsieur

2025-02-21 12:46:44 UTC

Computer, enhance!
Oh no
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/114/041/945/839/148/302/original/3406f712fc5b6819.jpeg
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/114/041/946/102/863/140/original/a9dece94f8660bff.jpeg

2025-02-20 12:42:41 UTC

Scammers who use fake computer warnings should be called “Pop-up Pirates”
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/114/036/267/831/747/033/original/255093d20d3e93cf.jpeg

2025-02-04 12:32:39 UTC

Haven't had many submissions of late for Awesome Standalone #WebComponents, so threw my collection in to stoke the fire. We'd love for you to add your own standalones!
https://github.com/davatron5000/awesome-standalones

2025-02-04 10:23:39 UTC

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like these? https://github.com/davatron5000/awesome-standalones

2025-02-03 15:52:53 UTC

The design system team meeting implementors for the first time
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/113/940/756/485/567/851/original/85784a25447f55b3.jpeg

2025-01-31 14:01:02 UTC

This blog is independent now
https://designsystems.wtf/this-blog-is-independent-now/

2025-01-30 12:42:28 UTC

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just reading the explainer, this is very cool! Nice work to all involved.
cc @npub12kp…xvml & @npub1t0w…zgs2, this feature for Web Components solves the ID referencing target between shadow and light DOM. Heard to chat about this issue on ShopTalk in the past

2025-01-29 20:34:37 UTC

AI companies having their stuff taken without consent. Should’ve opted out m8
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/113/913/552/784/510/129/original/de56d11ecfe45f40.jpeg

2025-01-13 15:11:11 UTC

Follow up!
Just over a week ago I asked you all what the title #DesignEngineer meant to you, and *a lot* of you responded.
I took some time to collate these thoughts, chew on them and provide some resources y'all kindly shared:
https://zeroheight.com/blog/design-engineer/

2025-01-06 12:51:09 UTC

Finally get to share this, after struggling to keep it a secret for a few weeks… next month I'll be joining the Polaris team at Shopify 😊

2025-01-06 00:30:11 UTC

“Sorry for my late reply, I asked a question on the internet and people had opinions”

2025-01-03 13:16:19 UTC

What does the title #DesignEngineer mean to you?
I'm putting together an article and I'd love to hear what your thoughts are, especially in relation to #DesignSystems. Boost for reach? 💜

2024-12-15 22:14:53 UTC

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omg 😂

2024-12-15 19:31:53 UTC

Every time I see this dish scrubber I have one beloved character in mind
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/113/658/501/869/245/758/original/fab7848c9a64e7e9.jpeg
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/113/658/502/137/622/209/original/a60ecea1748c8cbf.jpeg

2024-11-22 18:03:52 UTC

The SSR argument against #WebComponents is kinda frustrating because technically *all* JavaScript frameworks have the SSR problem. And their solutions can be used with Web Components right now anyway. It just depends how you’re building them. Maybe we’re all secretly still mourning HTML imports

2024-11-16 15:43:56 UTC

🚪 @npub133e…rqrd is talking about #WebComponents on Syntax FM
https://syntax.fm/show/848/web-components-can-t-save-us-with-scott-jehl
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/113/493/398/797/292/067/original/b73a7df5c1acfed5.mp4

2024-10-30 08:52:04 UTC

38 👴🏻

2024-10-28 11:40:34 UTC

I feel like a job ad that asks if you “live and breathe” the discipline is a bit of a red flag.
Like I can enjoy a discipline, but I do it *to* live and breathe. Aka I work to live and not live to work

2024-10-18 18:31:22 UTC

Good evening 🎃
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/113/329/850/166/660/221/original/32c8c5e0d460c860.jpeg

2024-10-18 13:24:53 UTC

I feel like React server components are almost a coercion to turn frontend devs into fullstack 🤷🏼‍♂️

2024-10-18 10:42:05 UTC

Sorry y’all but we gotta come clean, Britain is completely made up. I’m sure many of you are not surprised. Tolkien wrote it as a joke while half-cut at the pub

2024-10-17 19:25:02 UTC

/wp-discontent/

2024-10-16 16:25:18 UTC

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extremely concerned with amount of likes my original reply is getting

2024-10-16 15:29:34 UTC

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emerging from my cabin 6 months later with nothing but a beard and a new static site generator to show for it

2024-10-15 08:46:50 UTC

Ok gang, hit me with the pros and cons to using open source tools.
Boosts appreciated 🙏🏻

2024-10-14 11:45:18 UTC

My WordPress alternatives blog post is about to hit 30k views… in 5 days…
1. Blogging is good
2. Static site hosting is also good

2024-10-14 06:08:44 UTC

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were there more replies to it other than the one shown on the page?

2024-10-12 22:00:27 UTC

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Official statement from #WordPress:
https://wordpress.org/news/2024/10/secure-custom-fields/

2024-10-12 19:59:19 UTC

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not a big fan of linking to that platform, that’s why I screenshotted it

2024-10-12 19:25:49 UTC

#WordPress dot org has just claimed Advanced Custom Fields as their own. Screenshot from the official #ACF Twitter account
https://wordpress.org/plugins/advanced-custom-fields/
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/113/296/090/425/889/599/original/1460fe9ca4be8dac.png

2024-10-11 08:23:36 UTC

*Open forum appreciation post*
Damn it's good to search for something on the internet and find someone who already did it 💜

2024-10-09 10:16:07 UTC

Due to all the #WordPress drama I thought I'd list out some alternative CMSs that I think will fit the criteria people have when looking to jump ship:
https://darn.es/wordpress-alternatives/

2024-10-08 13:39:51 UTC

AI ruined the sparkle emoji

2024-10-07 15:54:46 UTC

📆 What a wild few weeks! Thanks to those of you who took the time out to watch my #WebComponents talk, and special thanks to the conference hosts for offering me the opportunity to speak:
- [@dletorey](https://front-end.social/@dletorey ) from @npub1nkt…dfpq / #StateOfTheBrowser
- [@alexolder](https://mastodon.social/@alexolder ) from @npub1385…sqmu / #WDC2024
- @npub1qr3…plwl team and #ConvergeUK
If you missed it then I've put together a write up which includes all the resources I mentioned as well as a recording of my talk from State Of The Browser
https://darn.es/web-components-little-bits/

2024-10-04 19:09:09 UTC

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a slowly rising catfish banner 💀

2024-10-04 16:06:14 UTC

🗣️ It’s not lost on me how much of a privilege it was to do a talk that’s frankly pure self-indulgence. My Dad yelling my name to hundreds of people, *and* use it to nerd out about #WebComponents??
The real privilege though was the opportunity to speak alongside all the hugely talented people on stage at #ConvergeUK hosted by [@zeroheight](https://mastodon.social/@zeroheight ), and to meet everyone who make up the #DesignSystems community 💜
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/113/250/007/068/661/302/original/b25d4b39774fa64a.mp4

2024-10-04 11:15:39 UTC

3, three, calls to action to download the app instead of showing the content
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/113/248/864/490/496/757/original/3d7e8ea6d98de2a0.png

2024-09-20 16:08:11 UTC

This is my favourite Lego reviewer, balanced unbiased reviews and takes into account the price which these days are damn high
https://www.youtube.com/@JANGsLEGOreviews/videos

2024-09-19 16:22:24 UTC

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I saw the exact same post and… urgh

2024-09-17 13:59:53 UTC

Due to how well my #WebComponents talk went down this weekend I'm wondering if there's any developer / JavaScript focused conferences that would be interested in me speaking?

2024-09-16 15:20:17 UTC

After chatting with @npub1j3j…7q2w and @npub1xwm…gt5a I thought I'd have a look into CustomStateSet, where you can add states to your #WebComponents that don't manipulate DOM but can be selected in CSS with `my-component:state(statename) {}`. Pretty cool!
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/CustomStateSet

2024-09-12 16:27:16 UTC

Whoa, this *is* big news. At first I was a bit worried, but from the sounds of it there's good intentions here. Plus this is a way for 11ty to remain fully supported while being open source.
Also can't help but think @npub1f8f…ed9x sitting alongside projects fully invested in #WebComponents can only be a good thing
https://www.11ty.dev/blog/eleventy-font-awesome/

2024-09-09 11:33:15 UTC

Finally got these back up on the wall 🛹
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/113/107/375/952/847/113/original/ed5fafc97b86a290.jpeg

2024-09-02 08:08:57 UTC

“Double shot of Calpol in my latte please”

2024-08-31 17:23:39 UTC

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*checks if I’m following Eric*

2024-08-31 17:07:07 UTC

Seeing more and more Bluesky talk. So let’s give it another whirl
https://bsky.app/profile/darn.es

2024-08-27 11:26:00 UTC

📣 Announcing the 2024 Design System Report Survey by @zeroheight!
For the last three years, we've been asking the same question: “What's the current state of #DesignSystems?” And just like a regrettable backflip at Krispy Kreme, we're back at it again.
What's different this time is that we want to hear from more #Developers and learn more about how you build for and with design systems. Start here:
https://zeroheight.com/blog/announcing-the-2024-design-system-report-survey-your-voice-our-community/

2024-08-21 11:30:14 UTC

Freelancing is still the most impactful job I’ve had in my career. I’ve had some great full time jobs, but there is clear difference between before freelancing and after. Very grateful for having the privilege to do it without huge risks

2024-08-20 13:45:02 UTC

https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/112/994/647/946/101/952/original/4b513adf351544c0.png

2024-08-17 11:02:52 UTC

Gonna tell future devs this was the Event Bus
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/112/977/023/350/912/744/original/300dc95539bb2c39.jpeg

2024-08-15 12:33:04 UTC

Those subtle details 😌
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/112/966/053/420/885/687/original/d8f59a41e43a5fc3.jpeg

2024-08-12 13:35:34 UTC

Forgive me for a moment while I go on a small rant about the importance of supporting #OpenSource, especially when it comes to #DesignSystems (feat. @npub1f8f…ed9x):
https://designsystems.wtf/the-unsung-design-system-strut/

2024-08-08 10:51:06 UTC

Shared my thoughts on an article @npub1yk7…glnj wrote about #DesignSystems Burnout, as well as some resources if you've been impacted by the tech #layoffs.
Credit to @npub15u5…n9wu and @npub1e57…kn9k who shared those resources.
https://designsystems.wtf/design-systems-is-the-good-fight/

2024-08-02 10:44:21 UTC

Isomorphic JavaScript application powered by Next.js running on an edge deployment platform
vs
HTML on an FTP server
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/112/892/015/611/395/965/original/05a3248141f81c70.jpeg
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/112/892/015/885/102/002/original/6b320f4762a3475e.jpeg

2024-07-31 11:30:32 UTC

📣 Awesome Standalones is (re)open for business on GitHub!
Looking for a place to find and share awesome standalone #WebComponents? Then this might be of interest to you.
Big thanks to @npub12kp…xvml for letting me get more involved with the project. I've done a little write up on my blog about it all:
https://darn.es/awesome-standalones/

2024-07-29 23:01:19 UTC

There’s a GitHub user that keeps posting issues on each of my #WebComponents to complain that they don’t work until the HTML has been parsed… that’s the point?
They would prefer to rely on a setTimeout() than type=“module” 😬

2024-07-01 17:51:54 UTC

Successfully swapped out some slightly funky JavaScript for #WebComponents on my site https://darn.es
Also got an SEO bump, no idea how 🤷🏻‍♂️

2024-05-15 09:55:34 UTC

https://cdn.masto.host/mastodondesign/media_attachments/files/112/444/501/553/678/442/original/0eb8c2daeaa2349f.jpeg

2024-05-01 20:35:06 UTC

“DOM stands for DOMinic Toretto”

2024-04-30 21:39:58 UTC

Mastodon, my RSS reader, and my email inbox are the only feeds that have not been poisoned by algorithms. Can’t even open an app notification feed without being suggested vaguely relevant stuff