For the past six months, I have been running comiCSS, an "experiment" in which I draw web-related cartoons and comics using HTML and CSS.
I published a version of the Angry NPC Wojak meme a couple of weeks ago. It went mostly unnoticed, but it didn't matter because it was just preparation for this week's comic. A larger version of the meme that explored a question that pops now and then on Twitter: Is CSS a programming language? Then I twisted and stretched it a little and took the joke further:
The comic seemed to go unnoticed again but then became viral on the /r/ProgrammerHumor channel on Reddit (without the poster adding a source or attribution for it 😓). And the answers from people were… interesting, to say the least –that's the Reddit way, no?
I had a blast reading the comments. From both sides, but especially the ones from people that are taking a joke way too seriously: people calling me an idiot for not knowing what OOP is, people defending CSS as their life depended on it, people debating if inheritance or polymorphism in CSS is possible considering this or that other factor…
As always, with the "XYZ is not a programming language" controversy, it's not a matter of proving a point. So many people want to drag other developers through the mud and diminish their contribution, which is sad. Whatever your opinion is, don't be that type of person.
But I digress. Now, for the question in this article's title: Is CSS an object-oriented programming language? The answer is "No." Even if it fulfilled the main concepts of OOP (which are exaggerated and stretched for comic purposes), that wouldn't make it an object-oriented programming language. But that doesn't matter because being OOP or not being OOP doesn't make CSS (or any other language) a lesser language. It is beautiful, useful, and incredible as it is (and will keep being.)
There will be more comiCSS cartoons and comic strips in the future. I hope all of them are as entertaining as this one 😊
If you liked this cartoon, follow comiCSS on Twitter or support it by becoming a patron on Patreon.
Latest comments (21)
See the "street of fame"? CSS should have a place there
Why it is not considered as an OOP ? جلب الحبيب بالنظر الى صورته
People have a problem trying to attack the concept because people bought so deeply into the concept of OOP and not the actual programming. There is no programming in CSS, like there is no concept of variables or functions - that's the programming part. What CSS can do is mimic how variables work - like creating 8,16, or 32 bit registers, and creating how functions work by utilizing html events. Is it scalable? Not for business logic. It's super amazing for the presentation of any html framework. That's why seeing applications built by html and css looks magical, but lets see them carry the business load of requirement revisions. There's no way code like that can be copied and pasted without some sort of architectural consideration.
I think with a descent standard library, CSS could make it..
Anyone seriously contemplating the definition of CSS for a long time....needs to rethink things. In the mean time I'll be over here building websites and web applications. lol
Thanks!
I've always viewed CSS as the language to create rule sets for a domain specific rules engine.
CSS Selectors define the conditions when the rule applies.
CSS Declarations define the actions to take when the conditions match.
Specificity and source order govern rule priority.
RulesEngine
One issue is that people will often try to define things in terms they (think they) understand rather than taking a step back and trying to evaluate whether they are missing some key information (in their "known unknowns" or "unknown unknowns" zones) that may explain things better.
Now i understand the principles of OOP😃
The next one should be about Turing completeness of CSS, it will blow out
Something something calc() and attr() something something 😅
My God, attempting to read through the reddit comments was like trying to steer a cruise liner by pushing it with a safety raft. Perhaps the subreddit is more for people laughing at others than with others.
I guess that's the Reddit-way?