GoKawiilMarch MadCSS tournament spotlights CSS's growing power as a real programming tool
A WIRED column examines the long-running debate over whether CSS counts as a true programming language, noting that despite lacking compilation or runtime errors, it has grown from roughly 50 properties in 1996 to hundreds today. The piece highlights developers like Cassidy Williams, who built a database-query engine in CSS and competed in the inaugural March MadCSS tournament, showcasing feats such as a CSS-only recreation of Doom and 3D rendering engines.
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The dismissal of CSS as 'not real programming' undervalues a skill set that increasingly powers complex, interactive web experiences without JavaScript. As browsers add more native CSS capabilities, the line between styling and logic continues to blur, reshaping how developers think about front-end engineering.
- CSS has expanded from about 50 properties in 1996 to hundreds today.
- Developers have used CSS alone to build games, 3D engines, and query systems.
- The March MadCSS tournament reflects growing recognition of CSS as a serious technical discipline.
Source: wired.com — Pete Millspaugh, 2026-09-21
Published there as: “Justice for CSS”
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