A webcomic about CSS. Coded in CSS.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my CSS sent to me…
Twelve image-renderings,
Eleven pixels padding,
Ten spans a-flexing,
Nine letter-spacing,
Eight divs with vmin,
Seven none font-kernings,
Six videos :playing,
Five :not() with :is()!
Four border-width,
Three place-self,
Two rules with :has(),
And a column in a red grid.
A keyboard trap is a bad UI pattern in which a user can get into a component or element of our application using the keyboard, but it is impossible getting out of it just by using the keyboard. Not to be confused with a focus trap, which is basically the same, but with a keyboard exit (it may be a close button, or pressing Esc, or something like that.)
As you may imagine, a keyboard trap is a HUGE accessibility issue. In contrast, a focus trap can be extremely helpful and positive for usability and accessibility (e.g., a modal in which the focus is trapped until the user presses a button.)
I've had the idea of drawing a trap for keyboards for a while, but I didn't know if it would be clear what it was. I'm still not 100% convinced about it. I like the idea, but I'm not 100% sold on this implementation. I settled for this text (which may remind of a previous comic strip), but before I considered another option about testing and trying to catch keyboards with a trap. I discarded that option because if felt too "technical" and not too good of an idea.
I published a more serious article about today's cartoon. It still includes some tongue-in-cheek questions, but the idea was to make it less of a joke and more of an useful thing for people:
The article also includes additional information on why some formats should or should not be used, when we should consider using a video instead of an animated image, and a love letter to BMP... well, not that last part. But I miss BMP.
You may have heard about the Pomodoro Technique, a time management method that consists of repeating work and break intervals to help keep focus while getting some needed rest. It is pretty popular in the US among tech employees.
The origin of the name is funny: the method's creator used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer to control the work/break blocks (Pomodoro means tomato in Italian). So that is why each work block is called a "Pomodoro."
The method is simple. First, you pick a task and then:
I find this a productive time management method. I follow it often and keep a couple of timers at my desk while I'm working (although they are not tomato-shaped.)
Alternatively to the Pomodoro Technique, I introduce you to the tongue-in-cheek Pomodorito Technique (not Lay's affiliated):
Alternatively, if you have a big stash of Doritos at home, you may use step 4 to take a nap. All that eating is exhausting, and some nice sleep will make digestion easier.
While the Pomodorito Technique is more of a joke, it may be a good burnout index. If you find yourself trying the Pomodoro Technique but quickly spiral into the Pomodorito Technique, it may be about time to take some vacation... or start looking for a new job!
Today's comic strip is about CSS combinators (and the universal selector). But, what are they? A CSS combinator is something that, combined with the selectors, gives them a relationship.
There are five CSS combinators (but one is at risk of not making the cut to the standard):
): indicates that the second element is a descendant (at any level) of the first one.
>): indicates that the second element is a direct descendant (first level only) of the first one.
+): indicates that the second element follows the first one directly in the code (first sibling).
~): indicates that the second element follows the first one in the code (any sibling as long as it's after the first element).
||): indicates that the second element is in the same column specified as the first element (this combinator is experimental and at risk of being removed)
The universal selector (*) selects everything (and that's why everyone in the bar cheers when the next round is on the universal selector.)
This was just a simple introduction to the CSS combinators. For more information, check the following MDN resources:
There is a classic Mafalda comic strip (by Argentinian cartoonist Quino):
"Soup is to Childhood what Communism is to Democracy!" is a political message (cartoons can/should be political at times) that could have different interpretations depending on the perspective.
Based on it, I drew something simple. And because it uses CSS variables (custom properties), it is easy to change the colors to something different:
But I liked the black-and-white version betters, so I published that one. Also, I added more details before publishing it on Monday (the table and t-shirt could use some extras).
Here is a video of how this cartoon was drawn from scratch to its (almost) final form:
Today's comicstrip is about accent-color,
so let's talk about it on today's blog post.
As the comic strip indicates, accent-color has nothing to do with the ability to write colors in
different languages. What it does, when supported —and it is widely supported now—, is allowing
setting up the "primary color" for some HTML elements and form controls.
This CSS property allows for a little standardization of the styles. In the past, each browser would style the HTML elements differently (they still do); but now, developers have some control over how they will be displayed (at least, on the color.)
Browsers allow to set up an accent-color in the following HTML elements:
<input type="checkbox" />)<input type="radio" />)<input type="range" />)<progress />)I've been doing CSS art for a while already. So it was a matter of time that I combined the CSS art hobby with something I also enjoy, like graphic novels, comic books, or comic strips.
This website is my first attempt at building a place to put all the CSS cartoons I came up with and create an actual series. Hopefully, the comic strips will come weekly, but that will depend on many factors.
I have to thank Temani Afif for the encouragement to put this site together... and for coming up with the name comiCSS. I probably would have delayed the creation of this website until I got a good name, and he came up with a great one in no time.
Let's begin. Ad astra!