A Web Directions event Code 2016 Australia's Digital Government Conference

Workshop Details

Rachel Andrew

CSS Layout for layout is changing:

Rachel Andrew Founder, Perch

CSS Layout has been stuck somewhere around 2006 for the last ten years. We are still hacking around with techniques that were never designed for full page layout, let alone complex web application layout. However hope is in sight. A raft of exciting new layout methods are making their way into our browsers and our hands right now. However modules such as Flexbox and CSS Grid Layout are so different to everything that has come before, and need a very different approach.

In this workshop you’ll learn how to really use these new layout methods. From the modules that can be used right now in many browsers - Multi-column layout, Flexbox and Shapes to those that are just around the corner such as CSS Grid Layout. This workshop is completely hands on, we’ll be writing CSS together all day. By the end of the day you should have the confidence to use and experiment with these layout methods, and be able to make good decisions about what to use in your projects now and in the future.

This workshop will cover:

  • An intro to the new CSS Layout: what are these modules and why are they so different to what has come before
  • Multiple-column Layout: not just for newspaper columns, this module has good support in browsers and can be used in some helpful ways.
  • Flexbox: it’s time to really see what Flexbox can do for us. This specification has been designed for one-dimensional layout. What does that really mean, and where should we put Flexbox to use?
  • Shapes: flowing text around non-rectangular objects is possible! We take a look at Shapes, a module that can be used in a progressively enhanced way to add finesse to your designs.
  • CSS Grid Layout: This is the game-changer, a true system of two-dimensional layout on the web. Define a grid and place content on it. It’s a huge specification and Rachel has been working with it as it has emerged over the last 3 years, she’ll share her knowledge and get you quickly up to speed.
  • Box Alignment Level 3: this is the vertical centring module! Taking the alignment capabilities of flexbox to other positioning methods.
  • Other interesting things: there are some tantalising new features lurking in CSS Specifications and browser implementations - Regions, Exclusions, we’ll take a look.
  • Browser support: throughout the workshop we’ll discuss browser support and how to use these features in a progressively enhanced way.

Rachel Andrew

Rachel Andrew lives in Bristol, England. She is one half of web development company edgeofmyseat.com, the company behind Perch CMS. Her day to day work can include anything from product development to devops to CSS, and she writes about all of these subjects on her blog at rachelandrew.co.uk.

Rachel has been working on the web since 1996 and writing about the web for almost as long. Her books include the bestselling CSS Anthology from Sitepoint and recent ventures into self-publishing have seen her write The Profitable Side Project Handbook, and CSS3 Layout Modules, 2nd edition. She is a regular columnist for A List Apart as well as other publications online and print. When not writing, Rachel often acts as a technical editor for other authors.

Rachel is a keen distance runner and likes to try and encourage people to come for a run when attending conferences, with varying degrees of success! You can find her on Twitter as @rachelandrew.

Don't miss your chance to see Rachel Andrew and many other inspiring speakers at Code 2016.

Tickets start at $999, for two in-depth days with the world's leading Front End Engineering experts.

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What is Code?

Australia's Front End Engineering Conference

A 2-day, single track conference for JavaScript and Front End Engineers, now taking place in Sydney and Melbourne.

Curated by founder John Allsopp, who has over 20 years of experience with Web development technologies, Code is recognised around the World as an agenda setting event, covering the latest developments in the Web's programming language, JavaScript, the Web platform, and current practice in security, performance and Web engineering.

Like all our events, Code features a mix of renowned international speakers, and local experts, all sharing deep experience of real world projects.

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Praise for past Web Directions events

Web Directions is the must-attend event of the year for anyone serious about web development.

Phil Whitehouse, General Manager, DT Sydney

I’ve been admiring the Web Directions events for years, and was honored to be part… What a fantastic event!

Ethan Marcotte, inventor of "responsive Web design"

Out of any conference, Web Directions is far and away our favourite

Dave Greiner, founder, Campaign Monitor

our audience watches intently

About Us

Co-founded and now run by John Allsopp, Web Directions has for over a decade brought together leading developers, engineers, visual, IxD, UX and product designers, Art and Creative Directors, indeed everyone involved in producing web and digital products to learn from one another, and the World's leading experts across this vast field.

We spend our lives thinking about what comes next, keeping up with trends in technology, practices and processes, and filtering the hype, to make sure you don't miss trends that matter, and don't waste time on hype that doesn't.

We promise attending one of our events will leave you significantly better versed in the challenges you face day to day, and in solutions for addressing them.

In 2016, we'll be organising Respond in Sydney and Melbourne, Transform in Canberra, Code in Sydney and Melbourne, and Direction in Sydney.

vignettes form our events, social, speakers and more. Includes Hannah Donovan skylarking.

John Allsopp

John Allsopp has been working on the Web for over 20 years. He's been responsible for innovative developer tools such as Style Master, X-Ray and many more. He's spoken at numerous conferences around the World and delivered dozens of workshops in that time as well.

His writing includes two books, including Developing With Web Standards and countless articles and tutorials in print and online publications.

His "A Dao of Web Design" published in 2000 is cited by Ethan Marcotte as a key influence in the development of Responsive Web Design, who's rightly acclaimed article in 2010 begins by quoting John in detail, and by Jeremy Keith as "a manifesto for anyone working on the Web".

Code of Conduct

For over a decade, we've worked hard to create inclusive, fun, inspring and safe events for the Web Industry.

As part of our commitment to these values, we've adopted a code of conduct for all involved: ourselves, our speakers, our partners and our audience.

If you have any concern or feedback, please don't hesitate to contact us.