[_greim_]

I'd divide CSS development into eras.

First there was the DIY Era, when layout options were limited and CSS implementations were riddled with bugs and browser differences. Most folks coded their own layouts using a small bag of tricks (e.g. float + clear-fix). It was messy, but it all fit in your head.

Then came the Framework Era, when lots more things became possible, but the size of the spec exploded, and with it the number bugs and incompatibilities. A common choice at this point was to use a framework.

This article fits with the idea that we've entered the Reference Era. Implementations have matured enough that browsers do what you want without arcane hacks and workarounds. You just need a good cheat-sheet, because the spec has long since stopped fitting into most peoples' heads.

[throwup238]

> First there was the DIY Era, when layout options were limited and CSS implementations were riddled with bugs and browser differences. Most folks coded their own layouts using a small bag of tricks (e.g. float + clear-fix). It was messy, but it all fit in your head.

I call it the Neopets era because I first learned HTML from all the hacks people did to customize their personal pages.

[lagniappe]

I'm going to pretend you didn't just disrespect my friend Tom on the wide open internet.