What’s !important #6: :heading, border-shape, Truncating Text From the Middle, and More
Despite what’s been a sleepy couple of weeks for new Web Platform Features, we have an issue…
An Exploit … in CSS?!
Ok, take a deep breath. We’ll have some fun understanding this vulnerability once you make sure your…
Loading Smarter: SVG vs. Raster Loaders in Modern Web Design
I got this interesting question in an SVG workshop: “What is the performance difference between an SVG…
Potentially Coming to a Browser :near() You
Just before we wrapped up 2025, I saw this proposal for :near(), a pseudo-class that would match…
What’s !important #5: Lazy-loading iframes, Repeating corner-shape Backgrounds, and More
This issue of What’s !important is dedicated to our friends in the UK (aka me), who are…
Trying to Make the Perfect Pie Chart in CSS
Speaking of charts… When was the last time you had to use a pie chart? If you…
How to move your custom site to WooCommerce (and why you should)
Running your ecommerce business on a custom-built platform can make scaling with flexibility and control a real…
CSS Bar Charts Using Modern Functions
New CSS features can sometimes make it easier and more efficient to code designs we already knew…
New Ecommerce Tools: February 4, 2026
Every week we publish a rundown of new services for ecommerce merchants. This installment includes rollouts for…
Why growing brands leave SaaS for open-source ecommerce
For fast-growing ecommerce brands, the platform you choose isn’t just a technical decision — it’s a growth…
No Hassle Visual Code Theming: Publishing an Extension
Creating your theme is the fun part. After you’re done, the next step is to publish your…
Why Buyers Buy: Books for Marketers
Whether you’re looking for basic principles, deep dives, or inside info from top marketers, these hand-picked books…
No-Hassle Visual Studio Code Theming: Building an Extension
Years ago, when I read Sarah Drasner’s article on creating a VS Code theme, I silently thought…
Styling ::search-text and Other Highlight-y Pseudo-Elements
Chrome 144 recently shipped ::search-text, which is now one of several highlight-related pseudo-elements. This one selects find-in-page…
Responsive Hexagon Grid Using Modern CSS
Five years ago I published an article on how to create a responsive grid of hexagon shapes….
Accept Bitcoin with Square: A new way to take payments at checkout
Square just opened the Bitcoin floodgates. Here’s why it matters for your store. In November 2025, something…
What’s !important #3: Popover Context Menus, @scope, New Web Platform Features, and More
The developer community hasn’t wasted any time kicking off 2026 with some really great articles, demos, and…
What is branding? How to create a lasting ecommerce brand
A lasting ecommerce brand is more than a line of products or a catchy name — it’s a tone,…
Postcard From Web Directions Dev Summit, 2025
Author’s Note: There are already wonderful recaps of the Web Directions Developer Summit I spoke at in…
Authentication Failure: VCF SSO Broken
January 7, 2026 Authentication Failure: VCF SSO Broken vCenter vIDB Service Unavailable The Issue? After an extended…
How to create buyer personas for your online store
It’s always important to truly understand your target customer. What do their day-to-day lives look like? What…
Unified Platforms and Agentic AI Will Define E-Commerce in 2026
Digital vendors and e-commerce businesses enter 2026 facing a radically changed retail landscape, shaped by rising customer…
Yes, 404 Status Codes Hurt SEO
A common question among search optimizers is whether a “404” HTTP status code conveys negative ranking signals…
text-decoration-inset is Like Padding for Text Decorations
The text-decoration-inset CSS property solves a problem that we’ve had since the beginning of the web, which…