CSS is still a programming language

The other day on one of the social media sites, I saw someone post…

Web newbies start with HTML, CSS and then get thrown off their feet by JavaScript because that’s where the real logical programming starts. HTML and CSS creates this cup cakes and rainbow impression of dev. Been wondering if starting with JavaScript first would be a good idea.

And just… wow is this a shitty take.

1. HTML and CSS aren’t “cupcakes and rainbows.” They’re hard, as evidenced by how many JS developers are just absolutely terrible at them.
2. Knowing HTML and CSS helps you write better JavaScript. Period. The web is a hot mess in large part because so many people who write JS don’t understand the whole medium.
3. Logical programming doesn’t “start with JavaScript.” HTML and CSS are programming languages.

Being just being wrong, this post perpetuates the idea that JavaScript is a “real programming language” while HTML and CSS are just play things.

If you want to learn more about HTML and CSS, I’m planning to expand the Lean Web Club with more content on both of them in the near future (as soon as I’m done adding my back catalog of JavaScript material).