Best of Kevin Powell — April 2026

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   Video

   Kevin Powell·7w

   I'm a CSS noob

   A developer shares a critical YouTube comment calling them a 'CSS noob' for allegedly promoting bad practices and obfuscating code. The post reflects on receiving negative feedback about CSS advice shared publicly.

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2. 2
   Video

   Kevin Powell·5w

   No more magic numbers for your breakpoints

   Using CSS container queries with the `ch` unit instead of arbitrary pixel or rem values creates content-aware breakpoints. When a three-column layout is set to break at 90ch, each column is roughly 30 characters wide — aligning with minimum readable line-length guidelines. Unlike media queries, container queries respect the element's own font size, so breakpoints adapt automatically when the base font size changes. This approach replaces magic numbers with meaningful, content-first breakpoints.

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3. 3
   Video

   Kevin Powell·6w

   Are we over-engineering with modern CSS?

   A web developer reflects on community backlash after using modern CSS techniques to build a wrapper/container component. The original solution used complex CSS functions like min() and ch units in a way that confused junior developers, prompting a discussion about whether clever CSS is over-engineering when it adds no practical value. The author explores a middle-ground approach using CSS custom properties with fallbacks and logical properties to allow easy modifiers, while acknowledging the tension between showcasing modern CSS capabilities and writing maintainable, readable code.

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