Stephen Margheim
@fractaledmind.bsky.social
After 11 long years, I am finally back in a square year. Looking forward to being 36!
January 19, 2026 at 1:28 PM
After 11 long years, I am finally back in a square year. Looking forward to being 36!
Aaron is one of the best educators I have ever met. I am 100% certain that this will be some of the very best content out there for harnessing AI to build, fast but with quality. I'm pre-purchasing, what about you?
They say AI is the end for developers.
They say the job market is gone.
They say learning to code is pointless.
I don’t buy it.
I think we're just getting started.
They say the job market is gone.
They say learning to code is pointless.
I don’t buy it.
I think we're just getting started.
January 14, 2026 at 10:45 PM
Aaron is one of the best educators I have ever met. I am 100% certain that this will be some of the very best content out there for harnessing AI to build, fast but with quality. I'm pre-purchasing, what about you?
CSS Anchor Positioning is now baseline.
Firefox 147 ships today with full support. Chrome, Edge, Safari — all on board. Position elements relative to other elements. No JavaScript.
Here's the 60-second rundown...
Firefox 147 ships today with full support. Chrome, Edge, Safari — all on board. Position elements relative to other elements. No JavaScript.
Here's the 60-second rundown...
January 13, 2026 at 10:10 PM
CSS Anchor Positioning is now baseline.
Firefox 147 ships today with full support. Chrome, Edge, Safari — all on board. Position elements relative to other elements. No JavaScript.
Here's the 60-second rundown...
Firefox 147 ships today with full support. Chrome, Edge, Safari — all on board. Position elements relative to other elements. No JavaScript.
Here's the 60-second rundown...
Building HTML UI forced me to figure out how to write CSS classes that integrate deeply with Tailwind v4. I want 3 things: intellisense, tree shaking, and easy utility overrides. Here’s I make it all work 🧵
January 12, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Building HTML UI forced me to figure out how to write CSS classes that integrate deeply with Tailwind v4. I want 3 things: intellisense, tree shaking, and easy utility overrides. Here’s I make it all work 🧵
As soon as I saw the Bloom component from Josh Puckett, I knew I had to build it with plain HTML and CSS. This one was tricky, I won't lie, but a lot of fun.
May just add this as an affordance to HTML UI, we shall see.
May just add this as an affordance to HTML UI, we shall see.
January 10, 2026 at 5:04 PM
As soon as I saw the Bloom component from Josh Puckett, I knew I had to build it with plain HTML and CSS. This one was tricky, I won't lie, but a lot of fun.
May just add this as an affordance to HTML UI, we shall see.
May just add this as an affordance to HTML UI, we shall see.
These are the core conceptual layers of frontend development today:
> tokens - atomic design values
> utilities - single purpose presentational classes
> components - bundled structure + behavior
I believe we are missing a layer — affordances
fractaledmind.com/2025/12/01/...
> tokens - atomic design values
> utilities - single purpose presentational classes
> components - bundled structure + behavior
I believe we are missing a layer — affordances
fractaledmind.com/2025/12/01/...
January 9, 2026 at 8:26 PM
These are the core conceptual layers of frontend development today:
> tokens - atomic design values
> utilities - single purpose presentational classes
> components - bundled structure + behavior
I believe we are missing a layer — affordances
fractaledmind.com/2025/12/01/...
> tokens - atomic design values
> utilities - single purpose presentational classes
> components - bundled structure + behavior
I believe we are missing a layer — affordances
fractaledmind.com/2025/12/01/...
Same olʼ <dialog>, completely new CSS.
HTML UI will have dialog sheets inspired by Silk React components.
No JS, no swipe gestures, but still gorgeous sheets with elegant animations. Just a <dialog class="ui-sheet"> away ✨
HTML UI will have dialog sheets inspired by Silk React components.
No JS, no swipe gestures, but still gorgeous sheets with elegant animations. Just a <dialog class="ui-sheet"> away ✨
January 8, 2026 at 10:25 PM
Same olʼ <dialog>, completely new CSS.
HTML UI will have dialog sheets inspired by Silk React components.
No JS, no swipe gestures, but still gorgeous sheets with elegant animations. Just a <dialog class="ui-sheet"> away ✨
HTML UI will have dialog sheets inspired by Silk React components.
No JS, no swipe gestures, but still gorgeous sheets with elegant animations. Just a <dialog class="ui-sheet"> away ✨
"Why does this matter?" you ask.
Because "fancy" focus styles that use both a `ring` and an `outline` with an offset need a way to make the offset region look transparent, and yo can't simply use `transparent`. You need to know the surface color.
play.tailwindcss.com/MTO1Wfq8qK
Because "fancy" focus styles that use both a `ring` and an `outline` with an offset need a way to make the offset region look transparent, and yo can't simply use `transparent`. You need to know the surface color.
play.tailwindcss.com/MTO1Wfq8qK
January 6, 2026 at 8:26 PM
"Why does this matter?" you ask.
Because "fancy" focus styles that use both a `ring` and an `outline` with an offset need a way to make the offset region look transparent, and yo can't simply use `transparent`. You need to know the surface color.
play.tailwindcss.com/MTO1Wfq8qK
Because "fancy" focus styles that use both a `ring` and an `outline` with an offset need a way to make the offset region look transparent, and yo can't simply use `transparent`. You need to know the surface color.
play.tailwindcss.com/MTO1Wfq8qK
I just solved the problem of having button's shadow stack include an offset outline that "magically" adapts to any surface color that the button is on 🤯
```
@utility bg-* {
& .ui-button {
--button-surface-color: --value(--color-*, [color]);
}
}
```
Explanation in 🧵
```
@utility bg-* {
& .ui-button {
--button-surface-color: --value(--color-*, [color]);
}
}
```
Explanation in 🧵
January 6, 2026 at 6:58 PM
I just solved the problem of having button's shadow stack include an offset outline that "magically" adapts to any surface color that the button is on 🤯
```
@utility bg-* {
& .ui-button {
--button-surface-color: --value(--color-*, [color]);
}
}
```
Explanation in 🧵
```
@utility bg-* {
& .ui-button {
--button-surface-color: --value(--color-*, [color]);
}
}
```
Explanation in 🧵
Agents excel in a cohesive system—one that is internally consistent, free minimal external dependencies, and token efficient.
Using declarative HTML with a CSS library of affordances built on Tailwind is the *ideal* environment for a Claude Code or Codex or the like.
Using declarative HTML with a CSS library of affordances built on Tailwind is the *ideal* environment for a Claude Code or Codex or the like.
January 5, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Agents excel in a cohesive system—one that is internally consistent, free minimal external dependencies, and token efficient.
Using declarative HTML with a CSS library of affordances built on Tailwind is the *ideal* environment for a Claude Code or Codex or the like.
Using declarative HTML with a CSS library of affordances built on Tailwind is the *ideal* environment for a Claude Code or Codex or the like.
Which of these buttons do you like more, and why?
Each has a subtle 3d effect, but done in three different ways. Shown here at 1x, 2x, and 8x.
Each has a subtle 3d effect, but done in three different ways. Shown here at 1x, 2x, and 8x.
January 5, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Which of these buttons do you like more, and why?
Each has a subtle 3d effect, but done in three different ways. Shown here at 1x, 2x, and 8x.
Each has a subtle 3d effect, but done in three different ways. Shown here at 1x, 2x, and 8x.
Who's building a design system or component kit using Tailwind, fully leveraging its features? Others must be doing more than just applying styles. I'm creating custom utilities, modifying built-ins, adding layers, and defining properties. If you’re doing the same, let’s connect.
January 4, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Who's building a design system or component kit using Tailwind, fully leveraging its features? Others must be doing more than just applying styles. I'm creating custom utilities, modifying built-ins, adding layers, and defining properties. If you’re doing the same, let’s connect.
If you button component styles can't work on input[type=submit] or input[type=reset], where ::before/::after pseudo-elements aren't present, then you have an undercooked component IMO.
So, a challenge for HTML UI has been getting the subtle 3d effect I want without pseudos.
So, a challenge for HTML UI has been getting the subtle 3d effect I want without pseudos.
January 4, 2026 at 2:03 AM
If you button component styles can't work on input[type=submit] or input[type=reset], where ::before/::after pseudo-elements aren't present, then you have an undercooked component IMO.
So, a challenge for HTML UI has been getting the subtle 3d effect I want without pseudos.
So, a challenge for HTML UI has been getting the subtle 3d effect I want without pseudos.
A hot take after seeing yet another fancy tabs design:
the classic "tab component" is over-engineered for 90% of use cases.
You probably don't need it...
the classic "tab component" is over-engineered for 90% of use cases.
You probably don't need it...
January 3, 2026 at 7:57 PM
A hot take after seeing yet another fancy tabs design:
the classic "tab component" is over-engineered for 90% of use cases.
You probably don't need it...
the classic "tab component" is over-engineered for 90% of use cases.
You probably don't need it...
I genuinely thought such a component required JS. After a day of tinkering, turns out I was wrong. This is a 100% plain HTML and CSS "card tabs" component built with <details>, container queries, and absolute positioning.
January 2, 2026 at 7:00 PM
I genuinely thought such a component required JS. After a day of tinkering, turns out I was wrong. This is a 100% plain HTML and CSS "card tabs" component built with <details>, container queries, and absolute positioning.
There are two types of developers:
“Least power devs” — What’s the simplest tool that solves my problem today?
“Maximum optionality devs” — What tool handles every problem I might have in 5 years?
I know which camp I’m in.
“Least power devs” — What’s the simplest tool that solves my problem today?
“Maximum optionality devs” — What tool handles every problem I might have in 5 years?
I know which camp I’m in.
January 2, 2026 at 3:56 PM
There are two types of developers:
“Least power devs” — What’s the simplest tool that solves my problem today?
“Maximum optionality devs” — What tool handles every problem I might have in 5 years?
I know which camp I’m in.
“Least power devs” — What’s the simplest tool that solves my problem today?
“Maximum optionality devs” — What tool handles every problem I might have in 5 years?
I know which camp I’m in.
Everyone knows “headless” UI libraries that offer behavior without styles. BYOCSS.
But we’re missing the inverse: “bodiless” UI.
Styles without behavior. You bring the HTML.
Here’s why we need both…
But we’re missing the inverse: “bodiless” UI.
Styles without behavior. You bring the HTML.
Here’s why we need both…
January 2, 2026 at 10:59 AM
Everyone knows “headless” UI libraries that offer behavior without styles. BYOCSS.
But we’re missing the inverse: “bodiless” UI.
Styles without behavior. You bring the HTML.
Here’s why we need both…
But we’re missing the inverse: “bodiless” UI.
Styles without behavior. You bring the HTML.
Here’s why we need both…
Component libraries bundle JS behavior, CSS styling, and DOM templating. Most of the time I just want one, not all three. Headless libraries solved "behaviors only, no styles."
I can't find any "bodiless" libraries offering styles only, no behaviors.
So I'm making HTML UI...
I can't find any "bodiless" libraries offering styles only, no behaviors.
So I'm making HTML UI...
January 1, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Component libraries bundle JS behavior, CSS styling, and DOM templating. Most of the time I just want one, not all three. Headless libraries solved "behaviors only, no styles."
I can't find any "bodiless" libraries offering styles only, no behaviors.
So I'm making HTML UI...
I can't find any "bodiless" libraries offering styles only, no behaviors.
So I'm making HTML UI...
Stop using rating libraries. I've created a CSS-only star rating component with half-star support in just 60 lines. No JavaScript. Fully accessible. Smooth hover interactions.
Here’s how it works: 🧵
Here’s how it works: 🧵
January 1, 2026 at 11:04 AM
Stop using rating libraries. I've created a CSS-only star rating component with half-star support in just 60 lines. No JavaScript. Fully accessible. Smooth hover interactions.
Here’s how it works: 🧵
Here’s how it works: 🧵
Wild looking back at this year. So much has changed, so much has stayed the same. But one of my absolute favorite years ever.
fractaledmind.com/2025/12/31/...
fractaledmind.com/2025/12/31/...
December 31, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Wild looking back at this year. So much has changed, so much has stayed the same. But one of my absolute favorite years ever.
fractaledmind.com/2025/12/31/...
fractaledmind.com/2025/12/31/...
Stop using <select multiple> for "select many" UI. It's the worst form control in HTML. Luckily, there is a better pattern, and it isn't difficult or weird...
December 31, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Stop using <select multiple> for "select many" UI. It's the worst form control in HTML. Luckily, there is a better pattern, and it isn't difficult or weird...
Amdahl's Law hits hard: Postgres plummets from 13k to 660 TPS with just 10ms latency in serializable transactions. Adding hardware won't help; the network bottleneck remains. SQLite avoids this with its embedded nature, achieving 100k+ TPS on a laptop. 🔥
andersmurphy.com/2025/12/02/...
andersmurphy.com/2025/12/02/...
December 31, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Amdahl's Law hits hard: Postgres plummets from 13k to 660 TPS with just 10ms latency in serializable transactions. Adding hardware won't help; the network bottleneck remains. SQLite avoids this with its embedded nature, achieving 100k+ TPS on a laptop. 🔥
andersmurphy.com/2025/12/02/...
andersmurphy.com/2025/12/02/...
Plain HTML and CSS can be beautiful.
Stay tuned 👀
Stay tuned 👀
December 30, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Plain HTML and CSS can be beautiful.
Stay tuned 👀
Stay tuned 👀
After building a full CSS tree system, I wanted to push it further with two experiments:
1. Folder-style stacked trees
2. Mixed orientations in the same tree
Here's what I learned: 🧵
1. Folder-style stacked trees
2. Mixed orientations in the same tree
Here's what I learned: 🧵
December 30, 2025 at 4:00 PM
After building a full CSS tree system, I wanted to push it further with two experiments:
1. Folder-style stacked trees
2. Mixed orientations in the same tree
Here's what I learned: 🧵
1. Folder-style stacked trees
2. Mixed orientations in the same tree
Here's what I learned: 🧵