Keeping a contact form simple (and useful)
I wanted a contact form that does one job well: let real people reach me without turning my inbox into a mess.
The first version tried to solve every edge case up front. The better version is simpler. Keep the form small, validate basic input, add lightweight spam protection, and make sure messages actually get delivered.
For this site, that means:
- clear fields (name, email, message)
- server-side validation
- Turnstile to slow down automated abuse
- Resend for reliable delivery
I also like keeping the wording direct. No long legal wall, no friction-heavy flow, no account required. If someone wants to ask about platform engineering work, website design, or hosting help, they should be able to send a message in under a minute.
Simple systems are easier to keep healthy, and that matters more than cleverness on a personal site.
Hero photo: Cat using computer, public domain.
