2576 upvotes, 14 direct replies (showing 14)
View submission: The web redesign, CSS, and mod tools
Since when is CSS "hard to learn" or "error prone"? Valid CSS doesn't create *any* errors, but it might not render completely as someone had imagined. CSS isn't difficult to learn as a "language". The issue is that 90% of the custom styles are just overwriting seemingly random styling rules written by someone who didn't fully comprehend the word "cascading" with the aid of a dice and a lottery wheel.
Besides this, Reddit CSS is so time consuming because there aren't enough ways to target elements properly, no way to do media-queries and because the Reddit markup and standard CSS aren't up to modern standards. I'm happy they're doing something about it, but I'm very concerned that many features will be removed. Some subreddits only work because of the flexibility CSS gave them, be it through advanced flair systems or modified interfaces.
I just hope this doesn't end up in the same way as the mobile Reddit website. Our CSS worked perfectly fine on mobile, but then the separate Reddit mobile website (yes, apparently they are still built in this day and age) came along and replaced it with less functionality. Really, I think the most important thing to do right now is to rewrite the markup to make it logical, semantic, make it responsive and rid the CSS of all the bamboozles.
It's 2017; there hasn't been a need for separate mobile websites since IE8.
Comment by inn0vat3 at 22/04/2017 at 00:34 UTC
114 upvotes, 3 direct replies
It's 2017; there hasn't been a need for separate mobile websites since IE8.
Pretty sure this change is to gain visual parity in the mobile apps, not the mobile website. All of your points are valid, but I don't think the reddit devs want to write a custom CSS parser to enable personalization in their mobile apps.
Comment by pani-hoi-jol at 22/04/2017 at 01:38 UTC
23 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Can't they just let us save different CSS for mobile? Like that would be so easy... they just have to pass the mobile CSS for their mobile site.
To the reddit admins... there are other cheaper solutions... best to consult and see what they might be before embarking on more expensive endeavours that might force many subreddit moderators to work. Backwards-compatibility is a very big thing.
Comment by chiefrebelangel_ at 21/04/2017 at 20:46 UTC
254 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I mean, literally this whole response is it. I can't say it better myself so I just have to chime in and say yes, 100% agree.
Comment by [deleted] at 22/04/2017 at 03:15 UTC*
83 upvotes, 4 direct replies
[deleted]
Comment by [deleted] at 22/04/2017 at 05:03 UTC*
773 upvotes, 15 direct replies
[deleted]
Comment by [deleted] at 22/04/2017 at 11:42 UTC
8 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I'm impressed with your ability to stay so polite while addressing all the problems with the idea.
My first thought was maybe the OP was meant for April Fools and they thought better late than never...
Comment by Saoirse-on-Thames at 22/04/2017 at 07:50 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
It's definitely not hard to learn, especially when there are a tonne of custom themes with installation instructions.
Comment by justsaying0999 at 22/04/2017 at 13:37 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Yeah - it's clearly just an excuse for redesigning the site without providing support for custom subreddit looks.
Comment by Jellye at 24/04/2017 at 00:49 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Since when is CSS "hard to learn" or "error prone"? Valid CSS doesn't create any errors
Indeed, when I read that phrase on the OP I was just... fuck, what the hell?
I can only express myself as **"I can't even"**.
CSS is quick to write, easy to read and learn, and is perfectly reliable.
Comment by bitreign33 at 22/04/2017 at 19:13 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Its worth noting Reddit works fine on mobile if you just strip CCS in user options (this is necessary just to give the entire site a uniform format for any other zoom modifications you need to make) and send a browser based user agent.
Its better than the Apps as far as I can tell.
Comment by neotek at 26/04/2017 at 14:20 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Small dissenting opinion here.
For the last six months I've had subreddit CSS turned off completely, and I've replaced reddit's default styling with my own custom version of naut which effectively makes the site night mode always, completely consistent across every sub, and very easy on the eyes. It's fundamentally changed the way I interact with reddit, and for the better I think.
99% of the time, custom CSS just seems to get in the way of the actual content and makes it harder to quickly parse what's going on, without providing any tangible benefit at all.
Very often, whoever designed a sub's stylesheet hasn't properly accounted for smaller screens or larger zooms leading to all sorts of annoying problems like flair wrapping in awkward places or the sidebar obscuring expanded images or poor contrast choices making things harder to read.
Obviously there are many exceptions to those issues, and I'm not for one second suggesting that just because I personally find custom CSS annoying that everyone should feel the same way, I'm just saying that perhaps it isn't the end of the world if subreddits can no longer be styled. The fundamental way the site operates won't change and, other than in a few very specific instances, nothing absolutely irreplaceable would be lost.
Comment by alba7or at 24/04/2017 at 04:50 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
If that's the case, it'll basically ruin the subreddit (r/chicagobulls) I'm running so I'm pissed :(
I really hope they reconsider this.
Comment by mcantrell at 22/04/2017 at 17:08 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I also find it kinda odd that a single line of HTML, basically "include this subreddit's CSS file" is all that "slow." Kinda weird.
Comment by Fatal1ty_93_RUS at 23/04/2017 at 19:51 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Really, I think the most important thing to do right now is to rewrite the markup to make it logical, semantic, make it responsive and rid the CSS of all the bamboozles.
A preview feature for posts/threads would also be highly appreaciated. It's silly how I either need to remove the post, fix the typos/issues with the formatting, and then repost, or fix things as they go, or have a closed subreddit of my own to post "previews" there