CSS-Tricks has a new owner

The commitment to fostering a community and building culture is what matters most, according to the new owner of CSS-Tricks, who finds their primary role is helping others find a voice and a platform for it. After a twelve-year tenure with the site, the individual admits feeling somewhat nervous and overwhelmed by the new responsibility, stating, "Yes, I've got the keys to the castle, so to speak."

This marks a significant shift, as CSS-Tricks is returning to independent ownership. To provide context, DigitalOcean acquired the site from Chris Coyier in 2022, the founder who operated it until that acquisition. Now, in 2026, the writer is assuming independent stewardship. This means the site is now owned by them, a realization they expressed with surprise: "(Wow, never imagined I would get to say that!)" Despite this new role, a small, dedicated team will assist with the daily operations.

Anticipating changes, the new owner intends for them to occur in positive directions, perhaps even suggesting a question-and-answer format might be beneficial given how much the discussion is still evolving. The writer confirms their ownership, reiterating, "Yes, I've got the keys to the castle, so to speak," and acknowledges that this endeavor represents a substantial investment, making it their full-time occupation, at least temporarily.

A core aspiration is to transform CSS-Tricks into a space that is truly inclusive for everyone, regardless of where they are in their front-end learning progression, a goal that will certainly demand considerable effort and time. Addressing the financial aspect, the writer notes that while their recent IPO made them worth "one trillion dollars," this is not a sustainable model. Consequently, advertising will become necessary, but the approach must change. Previously, during the time before DigitalOcean, they sold established ad packages, including display ads, sponsored posts, and newsletter sponsorships; as an independent entity, they must revert to these advertising foundations, so interested parties are encouraged to get in touch.

However, ad revenue alone cannot sustain operations. The writer has numerous initiatives underway, including the development of an HTML/CSS course designed for beginners, which can now be supported via membership. Recognizing that educational content has recently been lacking, the commitment to inclusivity remains strong. While the site historically catered to experienced practitioners, the writer is dedicated to establishing more entry points for newcomers, especially given the growing skills gap in the industry, believing that mastering fundamentals is more crucial now than ever.

The method of learning is what requires innovation, as traditional front-end courses are struggling across the board. While other projects are in progress, the course is expected to be one of the first releases. Furthermore, the newsletter will be returning after an extended break. Regarding new content, publishing articles will continue, though the frequency may be slightly less than previous readers are accustomed to, as these articles are part of the investment being made.

This renewed publishing schedule also reactivates the guest writing form. Although there is a healthy stock of articles lined up for the remainder of the year, this means new submissions will require some patience; while the writer promises to review every submission and follow up as best they can, they cannot accept every piece, barring submissions they deem low quality.

To address cost concerns, the writer firmly rejects the idea of having contributors write most articles; instead, the objective is to create a platform where individuals can share valuable ideas, preferring this over using the site solely as a personal platform, noting, "I think we all prefer that over me just using it as my own soapbox." Having contributed extensively over the past twelve years, the writer finds greater satisfaction operating behind the scenes, spotlighting others. They might contribute occasionally, work on site development, refine draft articles, or assist with sponsorships, though they admit to disliking the spotlight of titles, preferring the role of publisher. Their primary duties are centered on empowering others to develop their voices and providing them with a stage—it is about "community and culture building," which is their preference.

Support for the site can be offered in several ways: joining a members-only Discord community with associated benefits, exploring the new shop, or purchasing advertising for a company. The aforementioned course will also become available for purchase in the near future. While the writer is hesitant about soliciting funds, they stress that "there's no pressure," and financial support is not the only way to help. In today's crowded digital landscape, readership is vital; therefore, actions like subscribing to the newsletter, sharing liked articles, clicking through from RSS feeds, and viewing sponsors are all highly valuable forms of support. The writer concludes by inviting further dialogue, stating, "I'm an open book, though, and I'm happy to answer anything you might have in the comments."