This is beautiful wild, but let’s get correct to it since it’s big news:
CSS-Tricks is an autonomous location formerly again!
Just to recap: DigitalOcean purchased CSS-Tricks in 2022 from Chris Coyier, who founded the location in 2007. Chris ran it all the way up to that purchase.
Here we are in 2026, and I’m taking autonomous ownership of the site.
So, wait, who owns the site? That’d be me. (Wow, never imagined I would get to say that!) Of course, I have a small, notable team to assistance alongside the day-to-day administration of the site.
That all said, I do envision that several things volition change. In fact, I’m preparedness that they volition alter in what I anticipation are extremely fine ways. Maybe a question-answer item makes awareness current since this is extremely much an evolving discussion.
Do you, like, own the location now?
Yes, I’ve got the keys to the castle, so to speak. And, equal following 12 years of operating on the site, I’ll acknowledge I’m a small overwhelmed and nervous concerning that. I mean, it’s an funding for sure, as you can imagine, and I’m making this my full-time job. At smallest for a while.
I desire to create CSS-Tricks the two a genuine community and a location that’s inclusive of everyone, no matter anywhere they are in their front-end learning journey. That’s going to obtain several activity and time.
How can you oversee this?
My latest IPO launched, and I’m now value one trillion dollars. Wait, wait. That’s not right.
It’s going to be hard. Advertising volition certainly be needed now. But, in command to keep the lights on, I’ll have to method them differently.
In the pre-DigitalOcean days we sold genuine ad packages alongside things akin display ads, sponsored posts, newsletter sponsors, and the like. As an autonomous website, we volition need to come back to our promotion roots.
So, if you’re in a location looking to advertise, please do attain out!
LOL, advertising.
Right?! Ad income can’t be the lone item paying the bills. I have many of ideas and multiple plates already spinning. Like, I’ve been neck profound in evolving an HTML/CSS way for beginners.
(And you can now assistance the location by becoming a member — gratitude in advance!)
LOL, courses.
Educational satisfied has been in the dumps lately, right? Again, I’m expecting that CSS-Tricks volition be additional inclusive, no matter anywhere you or anyone alternatively is at in the learning journey. This location has traditionally been for folks who cognize what they’re doing. But I’m really committed to creating additional admission points for those getting started, particularly as our site is in the first throes of a expanding skills gap.
And yes, I do accept that learning the basics is additional crucial now than ever. But what learning really looks akin is what’s key. Front-end courses are down throughout the board. It have to be done differently.
There are another things in the works, but I think a way is among the archetypal things you’ll see.
Oh, and the newsletter. That’s coming rear following a way-too-long hiatus.
What concerning publishing new articles?
That’s motionless extremely much a thing! We’ll keep our regularly scheduled broadcast going.
But perchance a small little than you’re used to. Those articles are part of the funding I’m making. Expect perchance one or two articles most weeks, at smallest as the domain starts rolling.
That additionally method the guest penning form is rear in business! We have a nice backlog of articles through the remainder of the year, which is great, but additionally method new submissions volition have to delay a bit.
I won’t be capable to obtain everything that comes in, but I volition entirely peruse them and follow-up as finest I can. Unless it’s a slop submission, of course.
Will you be penning most of the articles to preserve cost?
Nah! My goal is to create CSS-Tricks a phase that gives folks a sound to portion awesome ideas. I think we all favor that complete me fair using it as my own soapbox. I’ve written plentifulness for this location the former 12 years. I’m happier (and additional comfortable) being rearward the curtain and giving others the complete spotlight.
I may be penning a bit, evolving the location current and there, editing a small stack of part drafts, or assisting alongside sponsorships. I gag at the idea of titles, but publisher hits finest for me. My fingers are in all the bowls, but my most crucial responsibilities are:
- Helping writers create a voice, and
- giving them a phase to use that voice, so that
- they assistance others get a small improved at their jobs.
The finest item I can perchance do is assistance folks create a sound and provision them a phase to use it. It’s concerning community and civilization building. Publisher. That’s additional my jam.
Can I assistance you in several way?
You totally can. I put a small affiliation agreement together where you can associate a members-only community on Discord alongside alongside several perks. Or inspect out the new shop. Or purchase advertising for your company. In the near-future you volition be capable to acquisition the aforementioned way as well. Any small bit helps, of course. I squirm at the idea of asking for money, so there’s no pressure.
Support doesn’t equal have to be financial! We all cognize that satisfied publishers need all the eyeballs we can get in these prompt-filled days. Things like subscribing to the newsletter, sharing articles you akin alongside others, clicking through from your RSS app, and checking out our sponsors are all very, extremely awesome ways to assistance us.
I have so many thoughts concerning this.
Yeah, me too. This article could go on and on. I’m an open book, though, and I’m blessed to answer item you power have in the comments. I know, so 2015, right?
Here we go!
