A well-designed user interface can boost conversion rates by up to 200%. If you're building an app with a dependable JavaScript frontend framework, you can make an appealing user experience that's relatively easy to use.

In any case, what choices do you have for frontend frameworks written in JavaScript? Although there are many alternatives, React.js, Angular, Vue.js, Next.js, and Svelte are among the most widely used ones. The majority of the frontend framework comparisons in JavaScript have been on React.js, Vue.js, and Angular. However, in this article, we go over the less discussed comparison: Vue vs. Svelte.

These two JavaScript frontend frameworks are quickly rising to the top of web developers' lists because of the great user experience they deliver to clients. If you were to choose one of these JavaScript frameworks, which one would you recommend? Several things must be considered, such as the advantages and disadvantages of each framework and how they function.

To assist you in choosing the right alternative for your work, let's begin the Svelte vs Vue comparison in more detail.

Vue Overview

Popular among web developers, Vue.js is an open-source front-end JavaScript toolkit for creating dynamic web apps using a single page. Evan You created it in 2014, and it's often called the "React Killer." Routing, state management, and build tooling are just a few of the extensive capabilities that this framework offers to meet the demands of complicated applications.

Everyone from rookies to seasoned programmers loves Vue because it's so easy to use and compact. As it is based on the MVVM architectural platform, which is well-known for its simple design and integration ease, development will go smoothly.

Like Angular and React, Vue JS development is a popular innovation solution that excels in being both simple and easy to use. It can learn and use new situations with ease thanks to its adaptive characteristics. For those looking to streamline their operations, it is the ideal answer because of the compromise between functionality and performance.

Key Features of Vue

What makes Vue an excellent framework is its following:
Accessible from the Beginning: Vue is great for people who are new to frameworks or who are just starting out because of its easy learning curve. You will not have to worry about learning a completely new syntax because it makes use of well-known languages like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.

Reactive System: With its built-in reactive mechanism, Vue simplifies things. As a result, you won't have to worry about manually updating your app every time the underlying data changes—a huge time saver when dealing with complicated state logic.

Two-Way Data Binding: Vue streamlines data-UI communication by automatically transforming views when data changes. This eliminates the need to manually update both the user interface and the data model whenever changes are made, ensuring that both are always up-to-date.
Architecture Based on Components: The goal of Vue is to facilitate teamwork by encouraging developers to decouple user interface elements into reusable components.

Rich Ecosystem: There are libraries for practically anything you can think of because of its huge community, and there are also plenty of tools and resources to support you along.

Svelte Overview

Among the latest JavaScript frameworks, Svelte allows developers to build dynamic webpages and online apps. The fundamental motivation for creating Svelte was to provide a framework that developers could use to create online applications, akin to React and Vue. In 2016, Rich Harris created it with the goal of redefining front-end development with improved efficiency and strong speed.

An easier and more natural way for developers to create dynamic user interfaces was the driving force for the introduction of Svelte.
Svelte defines itself as a minimal design tool by reducing the usual front-end framework overhead. Due to this, highly performant and scalable web applications can be delivered. This tool is one of a kind, and it lets you build apps that run at lightning speed.

Key Features of Svelte

In comparison to other JavaScript frameworks, Svelte stands apart. It makes web app development a snap with its powerful punches:
Quick as a flash: Unlike other frameworks, Svelte does not rely on a runtime environment. Alternatively, it optimizes your code while it's being built, which makes the JavaScript you use extremely fast and lightweight, and it loads very quickly.

Small Bundle Sizes: Get your app up and running faster without complex frameworks! Svelte maintains code cleanliness, which speeds up page loads and reduces memory consumption.

Naturally Reactive: State administration has become simpler in recent times. Svelte has built-in responsiveness and keeps things simple. Your app will save you lots of trouble with code since it updates itself anytime data changes.

Simple to Master: Since Svelte makes use of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which are languages that are well-known to programmers of all skill levels, it is incredibly user-friendly. They don't have to start from scratch!

Architecture Based on Components: With Svelte's component-based architecture, developers can easily repurpose user interface components, leading to cleaner, more functional, and more collaborative code.

Vue vs Svelte: In-depth Comparison

The JavaScript frameworks Svelte and Vue have both recently seen significant growth in their user bases. By quickly contrasting Vue with Svelte, we may grasp the essential difference.

1. Svelte vs. Vue: Performance Capability

Svelte Performance

With Svelte, your components are converted into JavaScript code at compilation time. As a result, the burden of using other frameworks is reduced.

Functions independently without the need for a virtual DOM and reactive changes. As a result, rendering becomes faster in response to data changes.

Memory cost and the requirement to synchronize DOM with component state are both reduced due to the absence of virtual DOM.

Vue Performance

Considering medium to large-scale applications, Vue is significant. Compared to Svelte, it's heavier.
Due to its operation through a virtual DOM, Vue possesses an extra abstraction layer in addition to a reactivity mechanism.
In order to update the actual DOM efficiently, it employs the virtual DOM.
When comparing Svelte to Vue, the performance of Svelte is clearly superior.

2. Svelte vs. Vue: Application Size

Svelte Application Size

Svelte applications are characterized by their compact bundle sizes and compiler-based methodologies.

Svelte removes runtime libraries like Vue and is compatible with JavaScript components.

Minimal code size overhead is the consequence of using Svelte components, which are highly efficient.

During the build process, the reactive updates are implemented.
Vue Application Size

The bigger bundle size of a Vue application makes it possible to build complicated and large-scale apps.

It contains a number of plugins and features that aid in the administration of complicated and large-scale applications.

The syntax template and file-based component architecture both add to Vue's hefty bundle size.

When it comes to application size, Vue does better than Svelte.

3. Svelte vs Vue: Extended prominence

Svelte Prominence

As a result of its huge and engaged developer community, Vue has become immensely popular.

Both large-scale and small-scale enterprise applications can be developed with Vue.

The stars on GitHub show how many developers are interested in and using the platform.

Diverse plugins, tools, and resources make up this long-standing ecosystem.

Vue Prominence

The Svelte community is growing, although it's still smaller than Vue's.

Streamlining compile time is the primary goal of its one-of-a-kind approach to web application development.

Even though its community was smaller than Vue's, many projects and businesses nevertheless used it.

When looking at popularity, Vue defeats Svelte.

4. Svelte vs. Vue: Learning Curve

Svelte Learning Curve

In addition to reactive declarations and directives, the syntax is simple.

The application state is managed by its unique ideas.
Its clean and streamlined craftsmanship creates an interactive setting.

Vue Learning Curve

Templates written in HTML and styled with CSS make up Vue.js.
Parts, instructions, and computed attributes that necessitate preliminary training are all part of it.

Setting up, developing, and deploying projects are all made easier with Vue CLI.

There is a thriving community behind it, and resources like tutorials, forums, third-party libraries, and documentation are plentiful.
When comparing the learning curves of Vue and Svelte, Vue is clearly the winner.

5. Svelte vs Vue: Development Speed

Svelte Development Speed

The first setup procedure is accelerated because it requires minimal setup.

Svelte speeds up rendering by compiling code without using the virtual DOM abstraction.

Additional libraries for reactive state management are reduced by the reactivity system.

Facilitates quick and intuitive style by allowing component-scoped stypes.

The development process is accelerated because the syntax is clear and easy to understand.

Vue Development Speed

Tools, plugins, and libraries abound, which speed up development.
An efficient development process is provided by a powerful suite of tools.

Development times are reduced, organization and maintainability are enhanced, and template encapsulation is made possible.
Provides debugging tool suites to speed up development and reveal insights.

Development times are reduced with well-structured documentation.
Compared to Svelte, Vue stands out mainly to its superior features and functionality.

6. Svelte vs. Vue: Improved Scalability

Svelte Scalability

Reduce the amount of data by using smaller bundle sizes to improve scalability.

The compiler-generated program for reactive updates provides outstanding speed and scalability, making them energy efficient.
Provides code support while improving scalability through a decrease in initial load time.

Vue Scalability

The routing library Vue Router is pre-installed, enabling the development of single-page apps.

The ability to render content on the server side improves performance and scalability.

Supports architecture based on components, which makes it easier to scale.

The Vuex library, which draws inspiration from Flux and Redux, is also included.
When compared to other frameworks, Svelte and Vue offer far greater leeway and scalability for building innovative apps. Here, both are equal.

7. Svelte vs Vue: Future Predictions

Svelte Future

The rise in the use of developing rich and interactive components is the trend that Svelte predicts.
As compared to alternative approaches, the combined code is lighter and more effective.

It is a current prediction that is more credible.
Svelte trends include growing popularity, advancements in ecosystems, compatibility with other frameworks, and enhanced tooling.

Vue Future

Predictions made by Vue include expanding its ecosystem, integrating with backend technologies, and experiencing a consistent rise in popularity.

Looking ahead, Svelte and Vue both see a bright future.

Conclusion: Vue vs. Svelte

Finally, if you're looking for a framework to improve your web development process and create high-performance apps, go no further than Vue or Svelte.

Vue has an established ecosystem and extensive documentation, making it a top choice for frameworks. Put simply, it is ideal for developers seeking a framework that is both scalable and versatile, while still being easy to understand. Svelte is different from Vue in that it uses a new method to build apps much faster and with less clutter.
Ultimately, it is up to the project specifications and your team's skill set to determine which one to use. There are a variety of options that can affect the trade-offs between cutting-edge performance and ecosystem size.

When it comes to Vue and Svelte, each can have its own set of benefits that make it the better choice. In addition, it may be the best option for introducing a fresh perspective and efficiency to the development of your web app.

If you’ve ever looked at a Python program and thought, “This is getting messy”, you’re not alone. As programs grow, managing code becomes harder unless you organize it properly. That’s exactly where functions and modules in Python come in.

Think of them as tools that help you write code that is easier to read, reuse, test, and scale. Whether you’re a beginner learning Python basics or a developer trying to improve code quality, mastering functions and modules is a turning point.

In this article, we’ll break everything down in a beginner-friendly way, with real-world analogies, simple examples, and practical insights—no jargon overload, no robotic explanations.

Why Functions and Modules Matter in Python

Before diving into syntax, let’s talk why they matter.

Imagine writing a Python script where:

The same code appears again and again

One small change requires edits in multiple places

The file grows to hundreds of lines

That’s a recipe for frustration.

Functions and modules help you:

Avoid repetition (DRY principle – Don’t Repeat Yourself)

Improve readability

Make debugging easier

Collaborate better with others

Scale projects without chaos

In real-world Python projects, clean structure is not optional—it’s essential.

Understanding Functions in Python
What Is a Function?

A function is a block of reusable code designed to perform a specific task.

Instead of writing the same logic multiple times, you define it once and call it whenever needed.

Real-life analogy:
A function is like a coffee machine. You press a button (call the function), and it performs a fixed task—no need to reinvent the process every time.

Basic Syntax of a Python Function
def greet():
print("Hello, welcome to Python!")

Calling the function:

greet()

What’s happening here?

def defines a function

greet is the function name

Parentheses () hold parameters (if any)

Indentation defines the function body

Functions with Parameters and Arguments

Functions become powerful when they accept input.

def greet(name):
print(f"Hello, {name}!")

Calling it:

greet("Omkar")

Why Parameters Matter

They make functions:

Flexible

Dynamic

Reusable in different scenarios

Instead of hardcoding values, you pass data when calling the function.

Returning Values from Functions

Functions don’t just perform actions—they can return results.

def add(a, b):
return a + b

Usage:

result = add(5, 3)
print(result)

Key Point

return sends a value back to the caller

Code after return doesn’t execute

Returning values is critical for calculations, data processing, and logic-based programs.

Types of Functions in Python
1. Built-in Functions

Python comes with many built-in functions:

print()

len()

type()

sum()

You use them daily without realizing they’re functions.
**

1. User-Defined Functions**

Functions you create yourself using def.

These form the backbone of your Python applications.

3. Anonymous (Lambda) Functions

Short, one-line functions without a name.

square = lambda x: x * x
print(square(4))

Best used for:

Simple operations

Temporary logic

Cleaner functional-style code

Best Practices for Writing Python Functions

Writing functions isn’t just about syntax—it’s about clarity.

Follow these habits:

Keep functions small and focused

Use descriptive function names

Avoid too many parameters

Write reusable logic

Add docstrings for clarity

Example:

def calculate_discount(price, discount):
"""
Calculates final price after discount.
"""
return price - (price * discount / 100)

Clean functions save time for future you (and your teammates).

What Are Modules in Python?

If functions organize logic, modules organize files.

A module is simply a Python file (.py) containing:

Functions

Variables

Classes

Real-world analogy:
If functions are tools, modules are toolboxes.

Why Use Modules?

Modules help you:

Split large programs into smaller files

Improve maintainability

Reuse code across projects

Avoid cluttered scripts

Professional Python projects almost always use multiple modules.

Creating Your Own Python Module

Create a file called math_utils.py:

def multiply(a, b):
return a * b

def divide(a, b):
return a / b

Now use it in another file:

import math_utils

print(math_utils.multiply(4, 5))

That’s it—you’ve created and used a Python module.

Different Ways to Import Modules

Python offers flexible import options.

1. Import Entire Module
   import math_utils

2. Import Specific Functions
   from math_utils import multiply

3. Use Aliases
   import math_utils as mu

When to Use What?

Large modules → use aliases

Small utilities → import specific functions

Avoid from module import * in real projects

Built-in Python Modules You Should Know

Python’s standard library is powerful.

Some commonly used modules:

math – mathematical operations

datetime – date and time handling

random – random number generation

os – interacting with the operating system

sys – system-specific parameters

Example:

import math
print(math.sqrt(16))

You don’t need external libraries for many common tasks.

How Functions and Modules Work Together

In real projects:

Functions handle logic

Modules organize those functions

Example project structure:

project/
│── main.py
│── auth.py
│── utils.py

Each module has focused responsibility. This structure:

Improves readability

Makes debugging faster

Helps teams work in parallel

This is how production-level Python applications are built.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

Let’s save you some pain.

Avoid these mistakes:

Writing very large functions

Using unclear function names

Forgetting to return values

Circular imports between modules

Putting all code in one file

Good structure is learned early—and pays off later.

How This Helps in Real-World Python Projects

Whether you’re:

Building scripts

Working with data

Developing APIs

Automating tasks

Writing backend services

Functions and modules help you:

Debug faster

Add features easily

Refactor without fear

Scale from small scripts to full applications

They’re not “advanced concepts”—they’re essential Python fundamentals.

SEO Insight: Why This Topic Matters

Search interest around:

functions in Python

Python modules explained

Python reusable code

Python basics for beginners

…continues to grow as Python dominates fields like automation, AI, and backend development.

Understanding these concepts early improves both learning speed and code quality.

Final Thoughts: Write Python Like a Pro

Functions and modules are more than syntax—they’re a mindset.

If you:

Write small, focused functions

Organize code into meaningful modules

Follow clean coding practices

You’ll not only write better Python—you’ll enjoy it more.

Start small. Refactor often. And treat your future self as your most important user.

Once you master functions and modules in Python, everything else becomes easier.

Debugging Kubernetes control plane components can be challenging, especially when you need to quickly understand the runtime state of a component or verify its configuration. With Kubernetes 1.35, we're enhancing the z-pages debugging endpoints with structured, machine-parseable responses that make it easier to build tooling and automate troubleshooting workflows.

What are z-pages?

z-pages are special debugging endpoints exposed by Kubernetes control plane components. Introduced as an alpha feature in Kubernetes 1.32, these endpoints provide runtime diagnostics for components like kube-apiserver, kube-controller-manager, kube-scheduler, kubelet and kube-proxy. The name "z-pages" comes from the convention of using /*z paths for debugging endpoints.

Currently, Kubernetes supports two primary z-page endpoints:

/statusz

Displays high-level component information including version information, start time, uptime, and available debug paths

/flagz

Shows all command-line arguments and their values used to start the component (with confidential values redacted for security)

These endpoints are valuable for human operators who need to quickly inspect component state, but until now, they only returned plain text output that was difficult to parse programmatically.

What's new in Kubernetes 1.35?

Kubernetes 1.35 introduces structured, versioned responses for both /statusz and /flagz endpoints. This enhancement maintains backward compatibility with the existing plain text format while adding support for machine-readable JSON responses.

Backward compatible design

The new structured responses are opt-in. Without specifying an Accept header, the endpoints continue to return the familiar plain text format:

$ curl --cert /etc/kubernetes/pki/apiserver-kubelet-client.crt \
--key /etc/kubernetes/pki/apiserver-kubelet-client.key \
--cacert /etc/kubernetes/pki/ca.crt \
https://localhost:6443/statusz
kube-apiserver statusz
Warning: This endpoint is not meant to be machine parseable, has no formatting compatibility guarantees and is for debugging purposes only.
Started: Wed Oct 16 21:03:43 UTC 2024
Up: 0 hr 00 min 16 sec
Go version: go1.23.2
Binary version: 1.35.0-alpha.0.1595
Emulation version: 1.35
Paths: /healthz /livez /metrics /readyz /statusz /version

Structured JSON responses

To receive a structured response, include the appropriate Accept header:

Accept: application/json;v=v1alpha1;g=config.k8s.io;as=Statusz

This returns a versioned JSON response:

{
 "kind": "Statusz",
 "apiVersion": "config.k8s.io/v1alpha1",
 "metadata": {
 "name": "kube-apiserver"
 },
 "startTime": "2025-10-29T00:30:01Z",
 "uptimeSeconds": 856,
 "goVersion": "go1.23.2",
 "binaryVersion": "1.35.0",
 "emulationVersion": "1.35",
 "paths": [
 "/healthz",
 "/livez",
 "/metrics",
 "/readyz",
 "/statusz",
 "/version"
 ]
}

Similarly, /flagz supports structured responses with the header:

Accept: application/json;v=v1alpha1;g=config.k8s.io;as=Flagz

Example response:

{
 "kind": "Flagz",
 "apiVersion": "config.k8s.io/v1alpha1",
 "metadata": {
 "name": "kube-apiserver"
 },
 "flags": {
 "advertise-address": "192.168.8.4",
 "allow-privileged": "true",
 "authorization-mode": "[Node,RBAC]",
 "enable-priority-and-fairness": "true",
 "profiling": "true"
 }
}

Why structured responses matter

The addition of structured responses opens up several new possibilities:

1. Automated health checks and monitoring

Instead of parsing plain text, monitoring tools can now easily extract specific fields. For example, you can programmatically check if a component has been running with an unexpected emulated version or verify that critical flags are set correctly.

2. Better debugging tools

Developers can build sophisticated debugging tools that compare configurations across multiple components or track configuration drift over time. The structured format makes it trivial to diff configurations or validate that components are running with expected settings.

3. API versioning and stability

By introducing versioned APIs (starting with v1alpha1), we provide a clear path to stability. As the feature matures, we'll introduce v1beta1 and eventually v1, giving you confidence that your tooling won't break with future Kubernetes releases.

How to use structured z-pages

Prerequisites

Both endpoints require feature gates to be enabled:

• /statusz: Enable the ComponentStatusz feature gate
• /flagz: Enable the ComponentFlagz feature gate

Example: Getting structured responses

Here's an example using curl to retrieve structured JSON responses from the kube-apiserver:

# Get structured statusz response
curl \
 --cert /etc/kubernetes/pki/apiserver-kubelet-client.crt \
 --key /etc/kubernetes/pki/apiserver-kubelet-client.key \
 --cacert /etc/kubernetes/pki/ca.crt \
 -H "Accept: application/json;v=v1alpha1;g=config.k8s.io;as=Statusz" \
 https://localhost:6443/statusz | jq .

# Get structured flagz response
curl \
 --cert /etc/kubernetes/pki/apiserver-kubelet-client.crt \
 --key /etc/kubernetes/pki/apiserver-kubelet-client.key \
 --cacert /etc/kubernetes/pki/ca.crt \
 -H "Accept: application/json;v=v1alpha1;g=config.k8s.io;as=Flagz" \
 https://localhost:6443/flagz | jq .

Important considerations

Alpha feature status

The structured z-page responses are an alpha feature in Kubernetes 1.35. This means:

• The API format may change in future releases
• These endpoints are intended for debugging, not production automation
• You should avoid relying on them for critical monitoring workflows until they reach beta or stable status

Security and access control

z-pages expose internal component information and require proper access controls. Here are the key security considerations:

Authorization: Access to z-page endpoints is restricted to members of the system:monitoring group, which follows the same authorization model as other debugging endpoints like /healthz, /livez, and /readyz. This ensures that only authorized users and service accounts can access debugging information. If your cluster uses RBAC, you can manage access by granting appropriate permissions to this group.

Authentication: The authentication requirements for these endpoints depend on your cluster's configuration. Unless anonymous authentication is enabled for your cluster, you typically need to use authentication mechanisms (such as client certificates) to access these endpoints.

Information disclosure: These endpoints reveal configuration details about your cluster components, including:

• Component versions and build information
• All command-line arguments and their values (with confidential values redacted)
• Available debug endpoints

Only grant access to trusted operators and debugging tools. Avoid exposing these endpoints to unauthorized users or automated systems that don't require this level of access.

Future evolution

As the feature matures, we (Kubernetes SIG Instrumentation) expect to:

• Introduce v1beta1 and eventually v1 versions of the API
• Gather community feedback on the response schema
• Potentially add additional z-page endpoints based on user needs

Try it out

We encourage you to experiment with structured z-pages in a test environment:

1. Enable the ComponentStatusz and ComponentFlagz feature gates on your control plane components
2. Try querying the endpoints with both plain text and structured formats
3. Build a simple tool or script that uses the structured data
4. Share your feedback with the community

Learn more

• z-pages documentation
• KEP-4827: Component Statusz
• KEP-4828: Component Flagz
• Join the discussion in the #sig-instrumentation channel on Kubernetes Slack

Get involved

We'd love to hear your feedback! The structured z-pages feature is designed to make Kubernetes easier to debug and monitor. Whether you're building internal tooling, contributing to open source projects, or just exploring the feature, your input helps shape the future of Kubernetes observability.

If you have questions, suggestions, or run into issues, please reach out to SIG Instrumentation. You can find us on Slack or at our regular community meetings.

Happy debugging!

Celebrate the public domain with the Internet Archive in the following ways:

• Register for our Public Domain Day celebrations on January 21 – both virtual and in-person.
• Submit a short film to our Public Domain Film Remix contest. Deadline January 7, 2026 @11:59 PM Pacific.
• Explore the works that have entered the public domain in 2026, below.

On January 1, 2026, we celebrate published works from 1930 and published sound recordings from 1925 entering the public domain! Their arrival marks another chapter in our shared cultural heritage: the freedom to breathe new life into overlooked works, remix enduring classics, and circulate the oddities we discover in thrift stores, family attics, and forgotten corners of the internet.

For the first time since the 1970s, works from a new decade have entered the public domain after their long copyright term. This milestone builds on the momentum that began when the public domain reopened in 2019. The works of 1930 reflect a world grappling with enormous change: the early years of the Great Depression, anxieties about banks and tariffs (sound familiar?), and a cultural landscape still humming with the last heartbeats of the 1920s.

The Jazz Age and flapper style persisted through Nancy Drew’s illustrations and Betty Boop’s design; Buster Keaton’s first talkie signaled the twilight of the silent era; and the Gershwins continued to shake-up musical culture with “I Got Rhythm” and “Embraceable You”. The Interwar period left its mark, too—the first filmed adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front won Best Picture. Audiences sought escapism in the Marx Brothers’ Animal Crackers, in 19 new Disney cartoons, and in the gender-bending glamour of the pre-Hays Code film Morocco.

Culture was everywhere—and now, it belongs to everyone.

Musical Compositions

1930 saw the introduction of many standards into the Great American Songbook including the wistful “Dream A Little Dream of Me”, “Georgia on My Mind”, and “It Happened in Monterey”. The latter of those songs being a cultural curiosity as the spelling reflects the California city while the song is about the Mexican city. Hoagy Charmichael’s loving refrain for the state of Georgia with Georgia on My Mind would become the state’s official song in 1979. 

Even inspiration for later 20th Century works bubbled up with “Beyond the Blue Horizon” which would serve as inspiration for the original Star Trek theme. At the Internet Archive the song reminds us of the blinking blue lights that help to power the 1 Trillion webpages saved.

Check out this list of more musical compositions from the year.

• On the Sunny Side of the Street lyrics by Dorothy Fields, music by Jimmy McHugh
• Just A Gigolo (first English translation), original German lyrics by Julius Brammer, English translation by Irving Caesar, music by Leonello Casucci 
• You’re Driving Me Crazy! What Did I Do?, lyrics and music by Walter Donaldson 
• Livin’ in the Sunlight, Lovin’ in the Moonlight lyrics by Al Sherman, music by Al Lewis
• Body and Soul lyrics by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton, music by John W. Green
• I’ve Got a Crush on You; But Not for Me, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, music by George Gershwin

Literature

If we thought that detectives had a field day in 1929 then we just hadn’t seen what 1930 had to offer yet. Miss Marple, Nancy Drew, Harriet Vane, and Sam Spade all featured in iconic works of the year respectively: The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie, The Secret of the Old Clock, Strong Poison, and the published novel edition of The Maltese Falcon. Nancy Drew appeared in four different stories this year giving readers and creatives plenty of stories and mysteries to dig into. But be careful and make sure you’re reading the original editions from 1930 and not the rewrites from the late 1950s. Luckily the Archive has the 1930 editions ready for you here in our collections!

While detective fiction dominated we also got bold works from other authors including As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner which blends multiple perspectives and bold narrative experimentation to chronicle a family’s turbulent journey to honor their mother’s final request. Groundwork was also laid for another Best Picture winner with Edna Farber’s Cimarron. Children had works to entertain themselves with Dick and Jane’s introduction in Elson Basic Readers and a 1930 retelling of the folktale, The Little Engine That Could.

Dive into Archive’s literary collection to unearth more classics from 1930.

Film

A favorite film of this author is the King of Jazz, a stunning Technicolor musical revue featuring Paul Whiteman, Bing Crosby, and elaborate song and dance numbers. 

It wasn’t the only musical of the year as the Marx Brothers adapted their stage show Animal Crackers to the big screen in a film of the same name. Their comedic antics would absurdly riff on the culture of the time with Groucho directly parodying a monologue from Eugene O’Neill’s 1928 play, Strange Interlude.

While past the heyday of his filmic output, Buster Keaton was still on the scene with his first talkie, Free and Easy, entering the public domain this year. If you’ve never heard his voice before then it might surprise you! Another iconic comedy is Soup to Nuts, a vehicle for Rube Goldberg to share crazy contraptions on screen. It was also the debut of actors that would form The Three Stooges group a few years later.

In another reminder of how copyright expires on a yearly basis we’re talking about All Quiet on the Western Front for the third year in a row, but this time as the adaptation that won the 3rd Academy Award for Best Picture. The film is a sobering reminder and depiction of the horrors of war, and showcased how audiences in 1930 were still reeling from the first World War. It is also a very engaging and well rounded film that is still great cinema nearly 100 years later.

Even more icons made headway in 1930 with Alfred Hitchcock’s Murder!, John Wayne’s first leading role in The Big Trail, and Greta Garbo’s moving performance in Anna Christie.

Check out more films from the year here:

• Hell’s Angels (dir. Howard Hughes & James Whale)
• Holiday (the first adaptation of the Philip Barry play)
• Monte Carlo (An early Lubitsch)
• The Divorcee (Norma Shearer’s Academy Award winning performance)
• The Unholy Three (Lon Chaney’s final film and only talkie)

Our film remix contest is ongoing until January 7, 2026, so please upload your submissions! Read more here.

Comics and Cartoons

Only a year removed from the 1920s, culture didn’t change overnight. Debuting on September 8, 1930, the Blondie comic strip by Chic Young was steeped in flapper style. Originally named Blondie Boopadoop, she drew on the singing persona of Helen Kane—who also inspired aspects of Betty Boop. For more on Betty Boop, read Jennifer Jenkins’ write-up at Duke Law’s Center for the Study of the Public Domain.

Mickey Mouse expanded from the screen to the page with 303 daily comic strips, sending him on western adventures, robber-chasing escapades, and more.

In 2026, we now have another 19 Disney shorts (9 Mickey, 10 Silly Symphonies) to help fill out this creative world. The Silly Symphonies rounded out their celebration of the seasons by following up 1929’s Springtime with Summer, Autumn, and Winter.

Meanwhile, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit—Mickey’s older brother—continued his prolific output even after Disney lost the rights to him in 1928. Under Walter Lantz, Oswald starred in 24 shorts this year, nearly 2.5 times Mickey’s total. Two of these, My Pal Paul and Africa, cross-promoted the film King of Jazz, proving that cinematic tie-ins have long been part of studio strategy.

Recap

The arrival of these works into the public domain is a reminder of our shared cultural heritage—of the stories, sounds, and images that shaped earlier generations and now become fair game for creative reuse. Many of these works have already been reimagined under copyright: Nancy Drew’s rewrites, the many adaptations of All Quiet on the Western Front, Mickey Mouse’s leap into comics, and more.

Now, in 2026, these works pass into a space where everyone can study them, remix them, preserve them, and carry them forward.

The public domain belongs to all of us. Let’s explore it together.

Additional resources

• Learn more about what’s moving into the public domain in 2026 from Jennifer Jenkins and James Boyle of Duke Law’s Center for the Study of the Public Domain.
• Public Domain Review highlights the materials moving into the public domain in 2026.
• Read the recaps from John Mark Ockerbloom’s Everybody’s Libraries of works that have joined the public domain.
• Check out the Public Domain Game Jam from Techdirt.