Migrating to Tailwind CSS: How We Changed Our Approach to Frontend Development

In the frontend world, where efficiency and scalability are key, our team took a significant step by transitioning from traditional CSS preprocessors to Tailwind CSS. This utility-first framework, initially requiring a shift in mindset, quickly proved its worth, becoming a favorite even for us, with our extensive experience using various preprocessors and architectural styling approaches.

One of the initial challenges was the complexity of the mindset shift: we were accustomed to semantic classes and preprocessor nesting. However, Tailwind forces you to think in terms of low-level CSS classes, which is, at its core, much closer to basic CSS and liberated us from needing to create our own layers of abstraction.

• Simplicity in Setup: There's no longer a need to configure complex preprocessors in bundlers or install accompanying plugins. Tailwind requires a minimal config to start, while remaining flexible enough to adapt to any design system's needs.
• Clean Code and Performance: Thanks to built-in PurgeCSS (or its modern JIT-mode equivalents), we no longer worry about dead code, even on large projects. Only the used styles end up in the final bundle, significantly reducing its size.
• Convenience for Experienced Developers: If you have a solid understanding of how CSS works, you'll write on Tailwind CSS efficiently. It uses CSS variables, which are very convenient for fine-tuning, and its utility-first approach eliminates the likelihood of style conflicts.
• Reduced Onboarding Time: New team members ramp up on projects much faster since they don't need to learn a complex custom CSS architecture – all styles are built from predictable utilities.
• Easy Upgrades: The project boasts excellent support and a large community, ensuring smooth updates and access to extensive resources.

We began using the first version of Tailwind CSS on the Clearbit project. As the project evolved, we performed two migrations, eventually upgrading to version 3 of the tailwind lib. We followed the library's development and always implemented best practices.

As a result, Tailwind CSS became our primary styling tool for the web applications we worked on, which allowed us to fully appreciate the advantages of this approach on large and complex projects.

For example, the Upstream project components were also built with Tailwind CSS that allowed us to maintain a consistent style across different developments and easily support their continued evolution.

Migrating to Tailwind CSS proved to be an excellent investment of time. It allowed us to:

1. Significantly increase the speed of developing new features and interfaces.
2. Completely eliminate dead code in final builds.
3. Minimize style conflicts.
4. Maintain a unified design system with unparalleled ease and configuration flexibility.
5. Makes it easier to contribute code for future support

Tailwind CSS transformed our styling approach, making it more efficient, performant, and enjoyable. It proved that a utility-first approach can become a favorite even for teams with rich experience across various paradigms.