🔥 Smarter CSS and Reliable AI Workflows for the Modern Web

Weekly Issue #179 | Subscribe to DS | Daily Sandbox Pro

Hello Developers!

This issue introduces the new if() function in CSS for writing cleaner conditionals and explores how CSS is evolving into a more intelligent, logic-driven language. Discover how to create custom mobile-friendly <select> elements and design more effective notification UX. Learn to build stepped gradients with precise control, add determinism to GenAI workflows, and follow a clear self-study roadmap for mastering large language models from scratch.

Dive in and keep coding!

CSS conditionals with the new if() function - From Chrome 137 you can try out CSS inline conditionals with the if() function. if() enables a cleaner developer interface for dynamic styles like style queries and media queries, with some key differences, which you can learn about in this post.

Custom Select (that comes up from the bottom on mobile) - Custom <select> menus are a thing now, especially because they can be progressively enhanced into.

Step Gradients with a Given Number of Steps - Let’s say we want some stepped gradients like the ones below, with a certain number of steps.

Design Guidelines For Better Notifications UX - As always in design, timing matters, and so do timely notifications. Let’s explore how we might improve the notifications UX. More design patterns in our Smart Interface Design Patterns, a friendly video course on UX and design patterns by Vitaly — from complex data tables and nested filters to FAQs and error messages.

CSS Intelligence: Speculating On The Future Of A Smarter Language - CSS has evolved from a purely presentational language into one with growing logical powers — thanks to features like container queries, relational pseudo-classes, and the if() function. Is it still just for styling, or is it becoming something more?

Reliability for unreliable LLMs - Large language models are non-deterministic by design. Here's how you can inject a little bit of determinism into GenAI workflows.

Large Language Models: A Self-Study Roadmap - A complete beginner’s roadmap to understanding and building with large language models explained simply and with hands-on resources.

More news here →

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