Why Vanilla CSS is making a comeback

Frameworks like Tailwind have dominated the ecosystem for years, but recently developers are starting to appreciate the simplicity and control that comes with writing raw CSS using modern CSS variables and nesting.

The Power of CSS Custom Properties (Variables)

CSS Custom Properties allow you to define a design system extremely effectively:

:root {
  --primary: #2563eb;
  --spacing: 16px;
}

CSS Modules

For scoping, CSS Modules are built into most bundlers, providing unique class names to prevent style leakage. This offers the best of both worlds: standard CSS syntax with local scoping.

Conclusion

Before you add a huge framework just to style a few boxes, consider what modern CSS has achieved. It might just be all you need!