You're spot on — building large frontend apps without a framework is totally viable, and Obsidian is a great example. The key is leaning into web platform APIs and modular architecture.
Here’s how I approached it for www.lendcalculator.com, a browser-based financial tool with dozens of calculators and dynamic UI — all built without React, Vue, or Angular.
How to Build Large Apps Without a Framework
Use native modules + ES6 classes Structure your app like a library: each feature (calculator, modal, form) is its own module. Import/export keeps things clean.
Leverage Web Components (if needed) They’re part of the platform now — encapsulation, lifecycle hooks, and reusability without vendor lock-in.
Use vanilla JS + CSS for UI With querySelector, addEventListener, and fetch, you can build surprisingly rich interfaces. CSS Grid and Flexbox handle layout beautifully.
State management via custom stores or events You don’t need Redux — just use CustomEvent, localStorage, or a simple pub/sub pattern.
Routing with History API Use pushState and popstate to manage navigation. Works great for SPAs.
Build tools: Vite, ESBuild, or even just Rollup You can still bundle, minify, and hot-reload without a framework.
Projects to Study
Obsidian (as you mentioned)
CodeMirror — complex editor, no framework
LendCalculator — my own project, built with vanilla JS and modular architecture
Here’s how I approached it for www.lendcalculator.com, a browser-based financial tool with dozens of calculators and dynamic UI — all built without React, Vue, or Angular. How to Build Large Apps Without a Framework Use native modules + ES6 classes Structure your app like a library: each feature (calculator, modal, form) is its own module. Import/export keeps things clean.
Leverage Web Components (if needed) They’re part of the platform now — encapsulation, lifecycle hooks, and reusability without vendor lock-in.
Use vanilla JS + CSS for UI With querySelector, addEventListener, and fetch, you can build surprisingly rich interfaces. CSS Grid and Flexbox handle layout beautifully.
State management via custom stores or events You don’t need Redux — just use CustomEvent, localStorage, or a simple pub/sub pattern. Routing with History API Use pushState and popstate to manage navigation. Works great for SPAs.
Build tools: Vite, ESBuild, or even just Rollup You can still bundle, minify, and hot-reload without a framework.
Projects to Study Obsidian (as you mentioned)
CodeMirror — complex editor, no framework
LendCalculator — my own project, built with vanilla JS and modular architecture