Tailwind CSS on Large, Long-Lived Projects How Do You Keep It Manageable?
I've been using Tailwind CSS for a while now, and I genuinely enjoy it; it's fast to prototype with, the developer experience is smooth, and I rarely have to context-switch between files to style a component. But the more I use it, the more a question keeps coming back to me. On large projects that live and evolve for a long time, does Tailwind start becoming a pain to maintain? Between utility…
Tailwind CSS has become a popular choice for developers due to its fast prototyping capabilities and smooth developer experience. However, as projects grow in size and evolve over time, concerns arise about whether Tailwind becomes difficult to maintain. The utility classes are scattered throughout every template, design systems can change, and different team members may have varying habits, potentially leading to messy code.
Before adopting Tailwind, the author relied heavily on SCSS, utilizing variables, mixins, partials, and a clear folder structure. While this setup felt organized and easy to evolve, it also introduced additional overhead. The author expresses a desire to learn from those with real-world experience using Tailwind on large, long-lived applications.
They inquire about the approach taken when combining Tailwind with other styling techniques like SCSS or CSS Modules. The author is also interested in any conventions or rules implemented to prevent the project from deteriorating over time, along with what has worked well and what hasn't.
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