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2023 Posts

  1. Grainy art-deco illustration of a rocket launch
    Podcast post type

    CSS Containers

    A web development podcast from LogRocket

    I talk with Noel Minchow about CSS Container Queries, why they took so long, how they work, and what to watch out for.

    see all Podcast posts
  2. Winging It post type

    htmx

    During our conversation, we discuss what htmx is, how it improves user experience, and walk through some examples of common UI patterns using htmx.

    see all Winging It posts
  3. A stand of smartphones
    Article post type

    When to Choose a Native Mobile App

    Part 2 – Responsive Web App vs Native Mobile App vs Progressive Web App

    If you have an idea for a digital product, you may be wondering if you should build a responsive web app, a native mobile app, or a progressive web app. Is one option inherently better? What are the pros and cons? This is part 2 of a three-part series unpacking…

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  4. Winging It post type

    CSS Cascade Layers

    If you’ve ever found yourself in a specificity war, you’ll understand how important having control over style priority can be. During our conversation, we discussed what CSS Layers are and how you can use them in your project.

    see all Winging It posts
  5. see all Article posts
    spider web with dew drops
    Article post type

    When to Choose a Responsive Web App

    Part 1 – Responsive Web App vs Native Mobile App vs Progressive Web App

    The decision of what platform to use to build your app is quite important – affecting project scope, timeline, and budget. But understanding the differences between a responsive web app, a native mobile app, and a progressive web app – and deciding which one is right for your project – can seem insurmountably difficult. Welcome to part 1 of a three-part series unpacking the reasons to choose one platform over another. Let’s start with responsive web apps.

  6. The top front of a bright yellow shipping container with the door open and a blue sky behind it
    Article post type

    Can We Query the Root Container?

    The complexities of containment, overflow, and ‘propagation’

    I spoke about Container Queries at both Smashing Conference (San Francisco) and CSS Day (Amsterdam) – where I recommended setting up a root container to replace most media queries. Since then, Temani Afif pointed out a few issues with that approach, and sent me down a rabbit hole of overlapping…

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  7. Article post type

    Using Web Platform Tests to Write and Test Polyfills

    Learn how to leverage Web Platform Tests to ensure your polyfills are implementing upcoming browser features correctly, including how to generate a comprehensive report of failing/passing tests on each change.

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  8. Article post type

    Python Web Conference 2023 Recap

    OddBird sponsored Python Web Conference 2023 and sent me to attend. In this article I showcase my favorite talks and activities from this excellent online event, including a list of useful resources for web application security, introductions to new PaaS providers, and a comparison of the most popular Python web…

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2022

  1. see all Article posts
  2. Nested semicircles,
from innermost and slowest
to outermost and fastest-moving:
nature, culture,
governance, infrastructure,
commerce, fashion
    Article post type

    When Our Tools Hold Us Back

    What happens if the ‘pace layers’ get out of sync?

    Ask not just: How well does it work? But also: How well does it fail? What happens when something goes wrong? —Jeremy Keith

    see all Article posts
  3. Title card,
State of CSS Frameworks,
October 2022
    Video post type

    State of CSS Frameworks

    How can we write our styles in style?

    A panel conversation with library and methodology authors and CSS aficionados about recent features added to CSS, developments in how to write more effective, maintainable CSS in small teams and at scale, and what libraries and trends to investigate.

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  4. Sass logo in black
on top of bright oklch color gradient
    Link post type

    Sass Color Spaces (Request for Comments)

    A new proposal for color management in Sass

    There’s been a lot of exciting work in the CSS color specifications lately, and since the new features are already starting to land in browsers, we’ve been preparing to add support in Sass as well. My proposal for that is published and ready for public feedback!

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  5. see all Article posts
    Wireframe of card elements
in different sized containers --
some laid out vertically in small spaces,
others horizontal when there's room.
    Article post type

    Use the Right Container Query Syntax

    Size queries are stable, and shipping in browsers

    Since we got a first look at a Container Queries prototype back in April 2021, the syntax has changed a few times. But now the spec is stable, browsers are getting ready to ship, and it’s time to make sure you’re using the same syntax they are!

  6. Grainy art-deco illustration of a rocket launch
    Podcast post type

    Styling the intrinsic web

    A web development podcast from LogRocket

    I talk with Noel Minchow about how to style the intrinsic web, what that means, and how it’s compatible with responsive design.

    see all Podcast posts
  7. Black text on bright yellow sign,
Caution, slip hazard,
with stick figure falling backwards.
    Article post type

    Not All Zeros are Equal

    And every ‘best practice’ comes with caveats

    There’s a well-established ‘best practice’ that CSS authors (as well as linters and minifiers) should remove units from any 0 value. It’s a fine rule in most cases, but there are a few common situations where it will break your code.

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