Adding Snow, Keeping Warm: Using is-land Responsibly
The Digital Paradox
I just finished deploying a new feature on my website: snow. Digital, gentle, simulated snowfall. This is a strange project, because few things make me feel more physically taxed than the cold reality of winter.
I grew up in the Dominican Republic. I know the feeling of humid, embracing air, where my lungs never hurt. But I've lived in Minnesota for over ten years, and every winter, the sharp, dry air and intense cold bring a familiar sadness. It keeps me indoors and weighs me down.
Knowing all that, why would I use code to invite this season onto my website?
The answer is simple: Code is a powerful tool for building your own reality. The act of coding this snow is a digital coping mechanism—a way to engage with the beauty of the season on terms I create and fully control.
I can't change the climate outside, but in my digital space, I can ensure the snow is serene, non-intrusive, and most important of all, predictable.
The best part? This digital flurry allows me to finally appreciate the stunning aesthetic of a snowfall—the quiet, the movement—without having to zip up three layers of clothes. Since snow wasn't part of my upbringing, the novelty is still exciting. This is me, designing my own winter experience.
I chose @zachleat/snow-fall because my site is built on Eleventy, and I highly respect and trust Zach Leatherman's work. Read their blog post.
Respectful Flurry: Accessibility and is-land
The snow might be serene, but the implementation had to be rigorous. If my code is meant to bring me comfort, I must ensure it causes no discomfort for my visitors.
Accessibility is always a priority for me, and this project gave me a great excuse to try out some modern deferral techniques.
The snow must be optional and respectful! The snow is not worth slowing the site down.
I had two main points to tackle: performance and accessibility. Luckily, the awesome <is-land> plugin for Eleventy allows you to smartly defer and initialize client-side components.
I chose to follow Zach's excellent accessibility recommendation, tying the entire component to the user's motion preference:
<is-land on:media="(prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference)">
<snow-fall></snow-fall>
</is-land>This ensures that if you struggle with motion on screens, the digital flurry never appears. This code isn't just technical compliance; it's an act of empathy. I know what it feels like to be overwhelmed by the environment, and I'd like to respect your choice to control your digital space as well.
My Winter, Coded on My Own Terms
The cold reality of winter still pushes me indoors. But the digital snow allows me to engage with the season's aesthetic joy from the warmth of my computer.
This is a small, satisfying project that warms me internally. It's a way to acknowledge and transform the season's challenge through code. This is my winter, coded on my own terms.
If you like this post or one of my projects you can buy me a coffee 💜