Michelle Barker is a front-end developer and writer behind CSS { In Real Life }, a blog dedicated to modern CSS and real-world web development. She shares honest, practical insights on evolving CSS features, front-end techniques, and the web community.
227 articles from this blog
A developer shares their experience rebuilding a personal website in 2019 using only HTML and CSS, avoiding complex build tools and dependencies.
A guide to overcoming common objections and convincing a web development team to adopt CSS Grid Layout, focusing on browser support and workflow.
A developer shares her experience and benefits of becoming a tech speaker, including career growth and confidence building.
A guide comparing CSS Grid and Flexbox, explaining when to use each layout method based on design requirements and dimensionality.
A developer's wishlist for future CSS Grid features, including styling gaps, multiple gap values, auto-flow patterns, and using calc() with fr units.
A developer's year-long experience using utility-first CSS with Tailwind, covering benefits, challenges, and best practices for agency projects.
A case study on solving a complex, responsive layout challenge with CSS Grid, focusing on aligning dynamic content under specific constraints.
A front-end developer's 2018 year-end review, focusing on CSS Grid, CSS variables, and the launch of their CSS-focused blog.
A technical guide exploring advanced image color manipulation using SVG filters, specifically the feColorMatrix filter, for web developers.
A reflection on the importance of mentoring junior developers, emphasizing feedback, encouragement, and practical tips for fostering growth in tech teams.
Explains how to use negative line numbers in CSS Grid to position items relative to the end of a grid, including implicit track creation.
A list highlighting 20 influential women in web design and development, celebrating their contributions and providing role models in tech.
Explains how to use CSS Variables (Custom Properties) to position CSS Grid items relative to each other, enabling dynamic layouts.
A developer's reflections and key takeaways from attending the State of the Browser web development conference in London.
A technical tutorial on creating unique web layouts using CSS Shapes and clip-path properties for wrapping text around custom shapes.
A guide to converting a Gatsby static site into a Progressive Web App (PWA) using plugins for offline functionality and a web app manifest.
A developer shares their experience presenting a talk on CSS Grid and CSS Variables at a JavaScript meetup, discussing adoption challenges.
An introduction to Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), explaining their benefits like performance, reliability, and offline capabilities.
A defense of seemingly messy CSS code, arguing that complex class structures often evolve from practical needs and team collaboration.
A web developer shares a list of influential front-end writers and their blogs, focusing on CSS, JavaScript, and web development insights.
