Is CSS a Programming Language?

In this episode of PodRocket, Adam Argyle and Kevin Powell discuss the results of the latest State of CSS survey and share how new capabilities like functions, mixins, nesting, and container queries are changing the way developers approach styling. We dive into the ongoing conversation around Tailwind and pre-processors, and look at the practical impact of features such as scroll driven animations, view transitions, and cascade layers. Adam and Kevin also explain how advances like relative color syntax and app property are making CSS variables more dynamic and reliable. Along the way, we touch on browser interoperability and imagine what’s ahead for CSS, from motion blur to fit text and beyond.

Links

Adam Argyle
Website: https://nerdy.dev
X: https://x.com/argyleink
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamargyle
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBGr3ZMcV5jke40_Wrv3fNA
GitHub: https://github.com/argyleink

Kevin Powell
Website: https://www.kevinpowell.co
X: https://x.com/kevinjpowell
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/kevinpowell.co
Mastodon: front-end.social/@kevinpowell
Github: https://github.com/kevin-powell
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kevinpowell
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/kevinpowellcss

Resources

State of CSS 2025: https://2025.stateofcss.com

Chapters

01:00 Why CSS Remains Irreplaceable
05:00 Misunderstandings About CSS
09:00 Is CSS a Programming Language
12:00 Pre-processors, Post-processors, and Native Features
15:00 Too Many Features in CSS
18:00 The CSS Learning Curve and Growth Cycle
19:30 Resources for Keeping Up with CSS
20:30 New CSS Functions Explained
23:00 Complexity and Abstractions in CSS
24:00 Browser Collaboration and Interop
30:00 Using New CSS Features in Production
36:00 The App Property Feature
41:00 Future CSS Features Wishlist
46:00 Final Thoughts on CSS in 2025
48:00 Outro and Guest Links

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Special Guests: Adam Argyle and Kevin Powell.