CSS Optimization Basics

Published on April 12, 2018 (↻ February 6, 2025), filed under (RSS feed for all categories).

EPUB and PDF, with updates, at Leanpub (other options).

It’s done—my latest and secret fourth “little book” is now available: CSS Optimization Basics.

The quick story: I’ve always wanted to jot down what I deemed important about optimizing style sheets. Over the last few months I did. When my publisher, O’Reilly, decided not to take the manuscript—it didn’t fit their strategy (if it wasn’t too Jens-style swift)—I opted to run another self-publishing experiment. Therefore, this time, you have access to the book source at GitHub, and you can purchase the book for what you want at Leanpub (and other sellers).

Format and price Ebook (EPUB and PDF), $6.99
Kindle ebook (free app for Android and iOS), $6.99
Preview Select chapters (PDF, 164 KB)
Extras Source code
Length 42 pages (PDF)
Sellers Amazon
Apple Books
Kobo
Google Play Books
Leanpub
Gumroad
Patreon
SitePoint
License CC BY-SA 4.0 (Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International)
ISBN 978-0-9911480-5-9
Latest version 1.5.14 (bought the book, but reading an old version? contact me, maybe I can help)

Very good book

…readers say at SitePoint.

Description

The cover of “CSS Optimization Basics.”

Are you unsure about your style sheets’ quality, or whether you’ve maxed out your options? CSS Optimization Basics covers the necessary mindsets, discusses the main optimization methods, and presents useful resources to write higher-quality CSS.

→ This is the book if you care about the craft of writing CSS, and enjoy optimizing style sheets.

The outline:

  • Acknowledgments
  • Introduction
    • Why Optimization Is Important
    • What’s Not Covered by Optimization
  • Development Mindsets
    • Do One Thing Really, Really Well
    • Know Your Needs
    • Stay in the Present
    • Keep It Simple
    • Automate
  • Operational Optimization
    • Understandability
    • Performance
    • Quality
    • Maintainability
  • Production Optimization
    • Performance
    • Output Control
  • Summary
  • Resources
    • Tools
    • Websites
    • Books
  • Feedback
  • About the Author
  • About CSS Optimization Basics

❧ Thanks once more to Tony Ruscoe, to Markus Käding, as well as any future contributors who spot the mistakes I’m certain to have made.

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About Me

Jens Oliver Meiert, on November 9, 2024.

I’m Jens (long: Jens Oliver Meiert), and I’m a web developer, manager, and author. I’ve worked as a technical lead and engineering manager for small and large enterprises, I’m an occasional contributor to web standards (like HTML, CSS, WCAG), and I write and review books for O’Reilly and Frontend Dogma.

I love trying things, not only in web development and engineering management, but also in other areas like philosophy. Here on meiert.com I share some of my experiences and views. (I value you being critical, interpreting charitably, and giving feedback.)