Modern CSS Architecture for Large Applications

CSS architecture has evolved dramatically. Let's explore the modern landscape and find the right approach for your project.

The Current Landscape

Today's CSS ecosystem offers several approaches:

Tailwind CSS: The New Standard

Tailwind has become my go-to for most projects:

<button className="px-4 py-2 bg-primary text-primary-foreground rounded-lg hover:bg-primary/90 transition-colors">

Click me

</button>

Pros:

Cons:

Design Tokens

Regardless of your CSS approach, design tokens are essential:

:root {

--color-primary: oklch(0.72 0.15 180);

--color-background: oklch(0.13 0.01 240);

--spacing-4: 1rem;

--radius-lg: 0.625rem;

}

Component-Based Styling

The key is consistency. Whether you choose Tailwind, CSS Modules, or CSS-in-JS, establish patterns and stick to them:

Conclusion

There's no one-size-fits-all solution. Choose based on your team's experience, project requirements, and maintenance considerations.