The Weekly Dev's Brew Why CSS is Now the Fastest-Moving Space in Web Development (with Una Kravets)
Why CSS is Now the Fastest-Moving Space in Web Development (with Una Kravets)
While everyone's talking about AI disrupting development, Una Kravets from Google Chrome reveals a surprising twist: CSS has quietly become the fastest-evolving part of web development. In this conversation, Una breaks down how features that required months of JavaScript engineering are now landing as native platform capabilities. Think customizable dropdowns, anchor positioning, and scroll-driven animations. She shares insights from working directly with Chromium engineers and explains why senior developer expertise is becoming more valuable than ever, even as AI lowers the barrier to building applications.
Una walks through her process for identifying platform gaps and working with standards bodies like Open UI. She also tackles the unique challenge of scaling web platform knowledge in an AI-driven development landscape, sharing her mixed feelings about AI's current applications. From her success building Chrome extensions with Gemini to her frustration with chat-based customer service, Una argues for using AI where it makes sense while maintaining the human elements that make the web engaging. Whether you're skeptical about AI's role in development or curious about the cutting-edge of CSS, this conversation offers a grounded yet forward-thinking perspective on the future of web development.
Our Fantastic Guest
Una Kravets
Una Kravets leads the Web UI Developer Relations Team at Google Chrome with a mission to make the web platform easier to build on and more powerful. She hosts the CSS Podcast and has spoken at over 100 conferences around the world helping folks build better web interfaces. When Una isn't online, she loves to craft and recently became a mom.
X
Bluesky
Website
Links and Resources
Emil Kowalski's React motion course animations.dev
Google's web development guidance and feature announcements
Open UI Community Group
CSS Working Group GitHub
Web Platform Tests
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