Re: [csswg-drafts] Let’s Define CSS 4 (#4770)

As an observer, I've seen the everyday categorization of certain specifications and levels as "CSS3", "CSS4", "CSS5" and so on, to be extremely arbitrary. There is no pattern to it — not even a year-/period-based pattern as far as I can tell. And as mentioned, different modules (and levels thereof) are written, tested, and implemented, at such wildly different paces across competing implementations that there is just no sane way to keep track of them all.

Anything that looks "newer" or "unlike traditional CSS3" is binned "CSS4", such as variables for example. Yet, some specifications like Selectors have somehow managed to survive most of this arbitrary categorization unscathed — level 3 selectors are considered CSS3, and level 4 selectors are considered CSS4.

> I believe this work should start with a conversation with Authors

I can answer at least the first question, to some extent. I don't have the energy to comment on any specifics but I wanted to say something general right now at least while this is fresh in my mind.

> Would it help to officially define CSS4, and what’s in progress for CSS5?

It would, provided vendors are willing to focus their efforts on each version or level of CSS-as-a-whole. selectors-4's FPWD was over eight years ago, and we still barely have any implementations other than Safari since 2015, and Firefox a little more recently, despite at least half of it being relatively stable and unlikely to change.

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Received on Thursday, 13 February 2020 16:41:38 UTC