I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I’ve used pretty much every popular styling library out there - Tailwind, Chakra, Bootstrap, you name it. But now I’m starting to wonder if they’re really worth it.
SCSS or CSS modules seem so much simpler. You can edit styles easily without digging through a mess of classes. Doing light and dark modes is a breeze. And with AI tools, you can quickly generate reusable components with accessibility built-in.
Plus, you don’t have to deal with constant library updates or worry about performance issues from CSS-in-JS. And let’s be real, how many times have we struggled to customize a ‘ready-made’ component?
I get that tools like Tailwind are fast for new projects. And Styled Components looks nice. But in the long run, plain old SCSS feels more maintainable.
What do you all think? Am I missing something, or are styling libraries more trouble than they’re worth these days?
As someone who’s been in the trenches of frontend development for years, I can relate to your dilemma. While styling libraries certainly have their place, I’ve found that they often become a crutch rather than a tool. In my experience, SCSS or CSS modules offer unparalleled flexibility and control, especially for complex projects.
One major advantage of ditching libraries is the reduction in technical debt. You’re not beholden to a third-party’s update schedule or potential breaking changes. Plus, the performance gains from leaner, purpose-built styles can be significant.
That said, it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation. For rapid prototyping or projects with tight deadlines, libraries can be a godsend. The key is to critically assess each project’s needs and choose the approach that best serves your long-term goals.
i see your point, but don’t forget libraries have their place too. for quick projects or prototypes, they’re super handy. plus, some teams rely on that consistency. but yeah, SCSS is great for customization and long-term maintenance. guess it depends on the project and team, ya know?
hey, interesting thoughts! i’ve been wondering the same lately. have you tried mixing approaches? like using a minimal library for basics and custom CSS for unique stuff? curious how that might work out. what’s been your experience with performance between libraries and custom CSS?