December 27, 2017 — It’s the time of year when we are writing our New Years resolutions or just thinking and dreaming about the year ahead. What plans do you have? What goals have you set? How are you going to find the time to get those things done? Read More…

December 11, 2017 — You might never have heard the phrase ‘Block Formatting Context’, but if you have used CSS for layout you probably already know what it does. In this article I’ll explain the existing ways to create a Block Formatting Context, why it is important in CSS layout, … Read More…

November 16, 2017 — When using any new CSS, the question of browser support has to be addressed. This is even more of a consideration when new CSS is used for layout as with Flexbox and CSS Grid, rather than things we might consider an enhancement. Read More…

October 17, 2017 — When first learning how to use Grid Layout, you might begin by addressing positions on the grid by their line number. This requires that you keep track of where various lines are on the grid, and also be aware of the fact the line numbers reverse if your site is displayed … Read More…

September 28, 2017 — CSS Grid is such a different way of approaching layout that there are a number of common questions I am asked as people start to use the specification. This article aims to answer some of those, and will be one in a series of articles on Smashing Magazine about layouts. Read More…

November 8, 2016 — Editor’s note: Please note that this article is quite lengthy, and contains dozens of CodePen embeds for an interactive view. The page might take a little while to load, so please be patient. This article explains how Flexbox and CSS Grid fit together, and how we can build … Read More…

February 16, 2016 — A detailed look at the basics of HTTP/2 as they apply to web designers and developers. We’ll look at the key features of the new protocol, browser and server compatibility, and detail the things you might need to think about as we see more adoption of HTTP/2. Read More…

September 17, 2015 — The web is moving toward using HTTPS encryption by default. This move has been encouraged by Google, which announced that HTTPS would be a ranking signal. However, moving your website to HTTPS is good for other reasons, too. Rather than debate those reasons, this article … Read More…

July 9, 2015 — In this article I’ll be taking a look at how to build a simple yet robust workflow for developing sites that require PHP and MySQL. I’ll show you how to use Vagrant to create and run a web server on your own computer, with the version of PHP your live site runs. I also … Read More…

February 16, 2015 — I’m a firm believer that the best way to optimize for fast-loading mobile sites is to optimize for everyone. We don’t know when someone is on a non-mobile device but tethered to their phone, or just on awful Wi-Fi. In a previous article for Smashing Magazine I explained how … Read More…