Sites with No CSS Classes?

[MatthewSchenker]

Greetings Everyone,

Recently, I read about styling sites entirely without CSS classes -- using the CSS "rel" attribute for everything.  I have my doubts, but at the same time the idea has appeal.  "Rel" adds some dynamic qualities to CSS.

Paired with ProcessWire, I think this technique actually opens up some interesting possibilities.

Here's a site where the technique is used: http://www.heydonworks.com/

And here the author makes a case for this approach: http://coding.smashingmagazine.com/2013/08/20/semantic-css-with-intelligent-selectors/

What do you think?

Thanks,

Matthew

[Adam Kiss]

While it served as a good wake up call for me — I'll look into semantics and specs a bit more, for sure — i can't really stand some of the articles arguments, such as the button example; and what bothers me most is how quick the author is when dismissing opposing opinions, because 'he personaly never seen such situtation', and, judging by his companys references/his dribbbles, there's much more of what he hasn't seen than what he has seen.

[MatthewSchenker]

Greetings,

I agree that the author has a bit too much of an all-or-nothing attitude about CSS classes.  I gave some thought to what he's saying and realized that it is probably true that a lot of what we do with classes can and should be done with "native" HTML elements.  But that takes you only so far, I believe.  It seems like there is an important role for classes in more complex layouts.

But the article is pushing me to explore those CSS attributes.

Thanks,

Matthew

PS: I posted a response to this article, but it was deleted because I mentioned that I use ProcessWire!