I’ve started using the term HTML tools to refer to HTML applications that I’ve been building which combine HTML, JavaScript, and CSS in a single file and use them to provide useful functionality. I have built over 150 of these in the past two years, almost all of them written by LLMs. This article presents a collection of useful patterns I’ve discovered along the way.
These so-called “HTML tools” seem like a new generation of DIY digital products. Small software utilities, built with AI-powered standard web technologies, that even non-technical users can build to meet specific needs.
I find them interesting in the context of low-code development, vibe coding, and similar emerging trends, and Willison’s patterns are a valuable starting point.