The Twelfth Fourth

CSS-Tricks celebrates 12 years! Reflecting on the past year, much like a teenager navigating adolescence. As John Prine wisely cautioned, I'd better have something worthwhile to share!

How the hell can a person go to work in the morning
And come home in the evening and have nothing to say.
– Angel From Montgomery

Design v17: The Year's Biggest Transformation

While annual redesigns are commonplace, v17 stands out as a significant overhaul, arguably the most substantial since v10. Details on v17 can be found [here](link to v17 writeup - replace bracketed text with actual link if available). The positive feedback has been gratifying, and six months later, the design still feels fresh. Future iterations are currently undefined, with the expectation that v17 will endure for a couple of years, incorporating incremental refinements. Ongoing optimizations and small feature additions are continuous. v18 might focus on a more comprehensive code cleanup or a back-end technology upgrade, potentially exploring an MVC architecture.

A Streamlined Workflow

Things are running smoothly. We have an exceptional team, and Geoff's leadership has ensured a seamless editorial process. While the influx of guest posts fluctuates, the pipeline remains consistently robust, exceeding previous levels of preparedness.

Notion remains a cornerstone of our organizational system, utilized extensively across all teams, alongside Slack and email. Our partnership with BuySellAds continues to provide effective ad tech, streamlined integration, and strong sponsor relationships.

As stated on our 10th anniversary:

Consistent effort, with everyone fairly compensated, is the core strategy. This isn't a site aiming for explosive growth; it's a modest publication.

That remains true. Google Analytics data reveals periods of consistent 20% year-over-year growth, punctuated by months with performance similar to or slightly below 2018 levels (based solely on pageviews). While valuable for tracking trends, these generic metrics aren't the primary focus. Sustained, gradual growth is the preferred trajectory.

Advertising Considerations

The site's advertising integration is a key aspect. I understand the potential for concerns about ad density, and I strive for tasteful placement. It's important to note the clean ad tech employed: minimal tracking, no retargeting, and a deliberate avoidance of excessive third-party JavaScript. While impression-tracking pixels might be present, the overall approach prioritizes a streamlined user experience.

This isn't accidental. The alternative – a more aggressive, data-driven approach – would undoubtedly yield higher revenue. However, I view this as a short-term gain at the expense of long-term credibility. Overloading the site with tracking scripts would alienate our developer audience and jeopardize the site's sustainability. This contrasts with sites targeting non-developer audiences, where such practices are more common.

Simplified Technology Stack

Since July, all my sites have migrated to Flywheel hosting (details [here](link to Flywheel post - replace bracketed text with actual link if available)), a new sponsor whose platform I'm enthusiastic about. The combination of Local for local development, GitHub for repositories, Buddy for deployment, and Cloudflare for DNS/CDN has resulted in a significantly smoother workflow.

Currently, most tasks feel achievable, even those initially perceived as insurmountable. It's simply a matter of dedicated effort.

Enhanced Post Design

This year introduced art-directed articles, allowing for unique design treatments. While a template has been created for this style (centered column of text on white, with a large full-width header image), the intention is to use it as a foundation for custom styling, ensuring each article maintains its unique character.

Posts like "The Great Divide" exemplify this approach.

Personal Updates

Last year marked my move to Bend, Oregon, a transition that continues to feel fresh. We've purchased a new home, solidifying our presence here. Bend remains a wonderful place to live, and my daughter's development adds to the sense of stability.

Professionally, my focus remains primarily on CodePen, with significant overlap between the two platforms (BuySellAds partnerships and frequent CodePen integration). Dave Rupert and I continue our weekly ShopTalk Show, consistently finding engaging topics related to web development.

Gratitude

A sincere thank you to all readers. Your engagement makes CSS-Tricks possible.

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