The CSS Problem
Published on Nov聽12, 2012 (updated Feb聽5, 2024), filed under development, css. (Share this post, e.g., on Mastodon or on聽Bluesky.)
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CSS is growing larger and larger while CSS聽2 hasn鈥檛 nearly been understood by authors. This unsustainable growth is a big problem for CSS.
Where can we see this problem? CSS聽2 includes about 120 properties, but CSS 3 may drive this to more than 270. Then, authors make generous use of boilerplates and resets and variables (through LESS, SASS, or Closure Stylesheets), but don鈥檛 even master selector grouping (seriously).
If I had one wish, the CSS Working Group focused only on critical features. If I had another one, the web developer community focused more on the optimal use of style sheets.
That is all I have to say about CSS these days. (Almost. I don鈥檛 post much, but if I do, I like to do it on Google+.)
About Me
I鈥檓 Jens (long: Jens Oliver Meiert), and I鈥檓 an engineering lead, guerrilla philosopher, and indie publisher. I鈥檝e worked as a technical lead and engineering manager for companies you use every day (like Google) and companies you鈥檝e never heard of, I鈥檓 an occasional contributor to web standards (like HTML, CSS, WCAG), and I write and review books for O鈥橰eilly and Frontend Dogma.
I love trying things, not only in web development and engineering management, but also with respect to politics and philosophy. Here on meiert.com I talk about some of my experiences and perspectives. (Please share feedback: Interpret charitably, but do be critical.)