CSS trends 2024: Developer experience, tools, and more

The latest CSS survey results offer valuable insights into the current landscape of front-end development.

Although surveys may not capture a complete picture, they do highlight significant trends and areas of interest in the CSS community.

Pay disparities and regional trends

The survey revealed persistent pay disparities, with men consistently earning more than women. Furthermore, respondents from the United States reported the highest number of six-figure salaries, highlighting a regional trend toward higher compensation in Western countries. The findings are reflected with the industry’s overall trend of unequal pay distribution and regional income concentration.

According to age demographics, developers in their 30s have the highest representation (42%), followed by those in their 40s (21%). Developers aged 50 and above accounted for a smaller but significant segment of respondents. This distribution emphasises the continued presence of experienced professionals in an industry that is frequently perceived as being driven by younger talent.

Another significant finding was that 44% of respondents have fewer than 10 years of experience, implying that many practitioners are new to the industry. Developers who started their careers in 2014 joined the industry during the early adoption of Flexbox, and after the CSS3 and HTML5 standards were established. This group did not encounter earlier obstacles such as table layouts or legacy techniques, indicating a shift in the foundational knowledge of newer developers.

CSS feature adoption and underused tools

The survey also examined the usage of various CSS features. While filter effects were among the most popular, some underutilised features drew attention. Hanging punctuation, for example, had a low usage rate of 1.57%, but more than half of the respondents expressed an interest in learning more about it. Similarly, anchor positioning had a 4.8% usage rate, although this figure may rise as browser support grows and more educational content becomes available.

Cascade Layers, which simplify CSS management, were used by 18.7% of respondents. This feature, along with @scope (also at 4.8% usage), suggests that newer tools aimed at improving CSS organisation are slowly gaining traction.

Most-wanted CSS features

The survey highlighted the most desired CSS features, including mixins, conditional logic, and masonry layouts. Progress is being made on these fronts: a draft for CSS functions and mixins has been published, conditional logic has been added to the CSS Values Module, and competing masonry layout proposals are under way. The developments represent promising advancements for developers looking for more dynamic and versatile CSS solutions.

The survey underscored the necessity of reliable sources for remaining informed. CSS-Tricks remains a significant source for content, demonstrating its dedication to offering useful educational materials. The rising popularity of other resources demonstrates the impact of dedicated contributors in the field. The CSS community is alive, well, and vibrant.

While survey statistics offer a snapshot of current trends, they also emphasise the importance of continuous learning and adaptation. The CSS community’s commitment to growth and innovation is evident, ensuring that front-end development remains a dynamic and evolving field.

(Photo by Markus Spiske)

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Tags: coding, css, development, html5