Why Simone's Computer Has a No-JavaScript Version and Clickable Buttons

Updated

Simone's Computer (simone.computer) is the personal website of Simone Marzulli, described as a full-stack software engineer, open source enthusiast, and piadina lover. The clickable buttons and the No-JavaScript fallback are two sides of the same design choice: the site is built as a playful personal space rather than a commercial product, and it treats JavaScript as an enhancement rather than a requirement. If you visit with JavaScript disabled or blocked, you still get the core content — a short introduction and links to the blog, email, GitHub, and Bluesky — served through a fallback page.

What the site actually contains

The fallback page shows a simple layout with a few decorative symbols (▲ ◘ ⊗), a greeting from Simone, a one-line bio, and a set of outbound links:

  • Blog
  • Email
  • GitHub
  • Bluesky

That is the whole content surface in fallback mode. There is no product, pricing, or account system mentioned anywhere in the available material, so nothing here implies a paid tier or a login requirement.

Why a No-JavaScript version exists

The fallback exists because the site is designed to degrade gracefully. When JavaScript is unavailable, the page still renders the introduction and links instead of showing a blank screen or an error. This is a common pattern on personal and experimental sites: the author wants the interactive layer to be optional, not mandatory.

The fallback page also makes a joke of the situation, telling the visitor they are viewing the No-JavaScript version and that they "must live a boring life." That line is a signal about intent — the author is aware of the trade-off and is treating it with humor rather than as a defect.

Why the buttons are clickable

The site's own description invites visitors to "click your favourite buttons," which frames the interface as something to play with rather than something to navigate efficiently. On a personal site, clickable buttons can serve several purposes at once:

  • They act as the primary navigation to the blog, email, GitHub, and Bluesky links.
  • They give the page a tactile, toy-like feel that matches the "Simone's Computer" name.
  • They let the author experiment with interface ideas without needing a business justification.

The result is a site that behaves more like a small interactive toy than a portfolio or landing page.

What this tells you about the site

Signal What it suggests
Fallback mode with full core content Content is treated as more important than the interactive layer
Self-deprecating note about No-JavaScript The author is deliberate about the trade-off, not careless
"Click your favourite buttons" framing Playfulness is the point, not conversion
No pricing or payment signals Not a commercial product
Links limited to blog, email, GitHub, Bluesky A personal hub, not a platform

Practical takeaway

If you land on simone.computer with JavaScript enabled, expect an interactive, button-driven page. If JavaScript is blocked, you will get the fallback version with the same introduction and the same outbound links, plus a joke about the experience. Either way, the useful content is the same: who Simone Marzulli is and where to find his blog, email, GitHub, and Bluesky profiles.