Desktop First Development vs Responsive Design

Developers should use Desktop First Development when targeting audiences that primarily access applications on desktops, such as in enterprise software, complex data visualization tools, or creative suites where screen real estate and processing power are critical meets developers should learn and implement responsive design to build websites that work effectively on the vast array of devices used today, from mobile phones to large desktop monitors, improving user engagement and reducing bounce rates. Here's our take.

Desktop First Development

Nice Pick

Developers should use Desktop First Development when targeting audiences that primarily access applications on desktops, such as in enterprise software, complex data visualization tools, or creative suites where screen real estate and processing power are critical

Pros

• It's suitable for projects where mobile usage is secondary or when legacy systems require desktop-centric designs, allowing for more sophisticated UI elements and interactions from the outset
• Related to: responsive-web-design, css-media-queries

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Responsive Design

Developers should learn and implement Responsive Design to build websites that work effectively on the vast array of devices used today, from mobile phones to large desktop monitors, improving user engagement and reducing bounce rates

Pros

• It is essential for modern web development as it supports SEO (search engines like Google prioritize mobile-friendly sites) and meets accessibility standards, making content usable for people with disabilities
• Related to: css-media-queries, flexbox

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Desktop First Development is a methodology while Responsive Design is a concept. We picked Desktop First Development based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Desktop First Development wins

Based on overall popularity. Desktop First Development is more widely used, but Responsive Design excels in its own space.