General Musings with Kevin Powell

Today I'm tackling a topic that's been on my mind: the perception that Flexbox is easier than Grid. I share my frustrations and insights while revamping my CSS Demystified course.

My upcoming in-person workshop: https://smashingconf.com/workshops/workshops/ny/kevin-j-powell-css/My courses can all be found here: https://kevinpowell.co/coursesIn this episode of General Musings, I dive deep into learning and teaching frontend development. I share my personal experiences, why teaching is the best way to learn, and the importance of addressing roadblocks in learning. I also get into the cognitive overload beginners face and my evolving approach to teaching complex subjects. Plus, I'll touch on why beginners should teach and why it's essential to explain things in a way that makes sense to them. 

Welcome to this week's episode of General Musings, where I talk about how, when I'm struggling to do something, I try to find the easiest path to getting started. It can be hard just diving in, and if something is hard, even if you start, you might not want to continue!

My upcoming workshop: https://smashingconf.com/workshops/workshops/ny/kevin-j-powell-css/My video on Figma Sites: https://youtu.be/ZsFIvULxkHIThe full live stream: https://youtube.com/live/JBz68wD9dU8?feature=shareNobody Saves the World: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1432050/Nobody_Saves_the_World/Teja's talk from Smashing Conf last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiZ6dwmVtYUIn this week's episode of General Musings, I discuss the frustrating trend of shipping broken products, with a focus on Figma Sites and their current shortcomings. I also dive into the topic of AI and the hype surrounding it, as well as the challenges faced in the gaming industry. Plus, I share some exciting updates about my upcoming live workshop in NYC and a major revamp of my advanced CSS courses, as well as a few recommendations if you have kids. 

The survey link (I lied, it's 3 questions, but they're all super short!): https://3g5kprf8905.typeform.com/to/laWyvkB6In this episode, I talk about why I think we should appreciate browser defaults more when writing CSS, and ended up having a mini lightbulb moment about teaching CSS - maybe we shouldn't introduce width and height properties right away to beginners? It seems like that just creates habits we have to unlearn later.I talk about how block elements naturally want to take up the full width but only be as tall as they need to be, and why working with these behaviors (instead of fighting them) makes for better responsive designs. I go on a bit of a tangent about setting constraints with min/max values rather than forcing exact dimensions.Along the way, I point out some common mistakes I see a lot - like using that universal reset with the star selector (please don't do that!) or declaring the same font-family fifteen times when you could just put it on the body once.

🔗 Links ✅ Piccalilli: https://piccalil.li/✅ Complete CSS (use KEVIN at checkout for 25% off): https://piccalil.li/complete-css/✅ Every Layout: https://every-layout.dev/✅ Follow Andy on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bell.bz✅ Follow Andy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-bell-347971255I'm really excited to be joined by none other than Andy Bell. We dive deep into the world of front-end development, focusing specifically on CSS. Andy and I discuss the nuances of web development, from the importance of soft skills in CSS to practical collaboration tips with designers. Andy shares his journey from being a designer to a front-end developer and delves into his recent projects like the re-launch of Piccalilli and his 'Complete CSS' course.We also explore the rapid evolution of CSS, new features, and best practices for staying updated. This episode is packed with valuable insights and advice for both beginners and seasoned developers. Join us for an enlightening conversation that will surely enhance your web development skills!

The discussion explores how AI is reshaping front-end development and the essential role of human developers amid rising technology. It critiques AI tools like Devin, emphasizing their supportive functions rather than replacements. The conversation also tackles the challenges in the job market, urging developers to maintain their coding skills despite AI reliance. Economic uncertainties in the tech sector are highlighted, stressing the importance of networking and timely job applications for aspiring developers in a rapidly evolving environment.

Miriam's CSS Layout Workshop: https://www.oddbird.net/workshops/cascading-layouts/  This week, is a slight detour from our usual frontend development discussions, I exploring how finding enjoyable activities, like bouldering, can make less pleasant tasks more manageable. I also share strategies to integrate exercise into your routine and relate these concepts back to web development. From organizing your calendar to creating side projects based on personal interests, discover ways to stay motivated and productive.

The article: https://webkit.org/blog/16587/item-flow-part-1-a-new-unified-concept-for-layout/Working Group issue on item-slack/item-tolerence: https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/10884#issuecomment-2764325410Working group issue on the unified properties: https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/11480Rachel's talk on layout and reading order: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6azWrtHS-kIn this episode I explore a new proposal that aims to unify Flexbox and Grid through 'Item Flow' properties. I discuss the current debates around Masonry layouts, the potential for a more cohesive layout system, and the pros and cons of new properties like 'item-wrap' and 'item-slack.' I'll also touch on the importance of maintaining accessibility and logical tab orders. 

Inspired by recent articles from Andy Bell and Alex Riviere, I explore a bit of my own dicision making process when deciding between Flexbox and Grid. This leads to a discussion on content-first layouts, and the idea of intrinsic layouts.Alex's article: https://alex.party/posts/2025-03-23-grid-first-flex-third/Andy's article: https://piccalil.li/blog/if-it-works-its-right/Every Layout: https://every-layout.dev/