The CSS Problem

Published on Nov 12, 2012 (updated Feb 5, 2024), filed under development, css. (Share this post, e.g., on Mastodon.)

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CSS is growing larger and larger while CSS 2 hasn’t nearly been understood by authors. This unsustainable growth is a big problem for CSS.

Where can we see this problem? CSS 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’t 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’t post much, but if I do, I like to do it on Google+.)

About Me

I’m Jens (long: Jens Oliver Meiert), and I’m an engineering lead, guerrilla philosopher, and indie publisher. I’ve worked as a technical lead and engineering manager at various companies (e.g., Google); I’m an active web and tool developer (code optimization, digital defense), a contributor to web standards (like HTML, CSS, WCAG), and a book author (O’Reilly, Frontend Dogma).

I love trying things—in web development and engineering management, but also in politics and philosophy, where I hold to one idea in particular: that we can only be well if we take good care of everyone. Here on meiert.com I talk about some of my perspectives and experiences. (Please share feedback: Interpret charitably, keep it friendly, but do be critical.)