I’m Sorry, But Your CSS Is Terrible

I’m Sorry, But Your CSS Is Terrible

From Modern Web by Modern Web

September 16, 2025 · 50 min

About this episode

Rob Ocel and Danny Thompson discuss CSS as a craft with guest Andy Bell, focusing on modern features and methodologies for better web development.

Rob Ocel and Danny Thompson sit down with Andy Bell to treat CSS as a craft, not a chore. Andy explains why he mentors the browser instead of micromanaging it, how progressive enhancement keeps products resilient, and which modern features deserve attention right now, including has, anchor positioning, and clamp. The conversation gets practical on grid versus flexbox, why grid is often simpler than people think, and how ecosystems and tooling skew usage. They unpack the real reasons Tailwind spread across teams, where it helps with speed and onboarding, and why core CSS skills plus a clear methodology prevent long-term debt. Expect candid consultancy stories, smarter debugging with today’s devtools, and a reminder that play, standards knowledge, and strong communication habits lead to cleaner, more maintainable front ends.Key Takeaways:- Andy Bell stresses mentoring the browser instead of micromanaging it, leaning on progressive enhancement and letting it adapt to context.- Features like :has(), anchor positioning, and clamp are changing how developers approach layouts, interactions, and responsive design.- Despite its power, Grid hasn’t caught on like flexbox, partly due to…

People in this episode

Hosts: Rob Ocel, Danny Thompson

Guest: Andy Bell

Topics covered

  • CSS
  • progressive enhancement
  • grid vs flexbox
  • Tailwind
  • web development
  • front-end design

Keywords

  • CSS
  • progressive enhancement
  • grid
  • flexbox
  • Tailwind
  • web development
  • devtools
  • technical debt

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tailwind, LinkedIn

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