The new owner announced the return to independence on the CSS‑Tricks homepage in 2026.
CSS-TRICKS GETS NEW INDEPENDENT OWNER IN 2026
*After DigitalOcean’s 2022 purchase, founder Chris Coyier hands the reins to a new solo owner. The shift revives the site’s original ad model while pledging broader community access. The stakes are survival and relevance in a tightening front‑end talent market.*
In 2022 DigitalOcean bought CSS‑Tricks, the front‑end hub founded by Chris Coyier in 2007. Four years later the site is shedding corporate ownership and returning to independence. The new owner, a longtime contributor, announced he now holds “the keys to the castle” and is making the venture his full‑time job. He brings a small, dedicated team and a roadmap that blends old‑school advertising with fresh community tools. The announcement arrives as the front‑end ecosystem faces a widening skills gap, making the site’s future relevance a pressing question for developers worldwide.
What changed in 2026?
The site’s founder, Chris Coyier, sold CSS‑Tricks to DigitalOcean in 2022 after launching it in 2007. Four years later, the author of this post declares personal ownership, calling himself the “keys to the castle.” He now runs the operation full‑time with a small team handling day‑to‑day tasks. The owner admits feeling “overwhelmed and nervous,” underscoring the personal risk of steering a niche tech publication solo.
Will CSS‑Tricks survive as an independent site?
Revenue will revert to the pre‑DigitalOcean playbook: display ads, sponsored posts, and newsletter sponsors. The owner also rolls out a membership tier on Discord, a shop, and a forthcoming HTML/CSS beginner course. He jokes about a trillion‑dollar valuation but quickly retracts, signaling realistic funding expectations. Advertising, memberships, and course sales together form the financial backbone needed to keep the lights on.
How will content output shift?
The publishing schedule will tighten to “one or two articles most weeks” as the owner balances writing, editing, and sponsorship work. A backlog carries the site through the rest of the year, but new guest submissions will face a queue. The guest‑writing form is back, and the newsletter returns after a long hiatus, offering another channel for audience engagement.
Will CSS‑Tricks become more inclusive?
The owner pledges a “real community” that welcomes learners at any stage. He plans entry points for beginners, citing a growing front‑end skills gap. While he will not dominate the voice on the site, he aims to help writers develop theirs, positioning CSS‑Tricks as a platform rather than a personal soapbox. The focus shifts from elite tutorials to broader educational access.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns CSS-Tricks now?
The site is now owned by the author of the announcement, who says he has “the keys to the castle.”
When did DigitalOcean purchase CSS-Tricks?
DigitalOcean bought CSS‑Tricks in 2022 from founder Chris Coyier.
What changes does the new owner plan for CSS-Tricks?
He plans to return to traditional advertising, launch a membership Discord, sell a beginner HTML/CSS course, revive the newsletter, and reduce article frequency to one or two per week while reopening guest submissions.
CSS‑Tricks stands at a crossroads: revive its original ad‑driven model, expand into membership and courses, and broaden its audience. The owner’s candid admission of nervousness signals a hands‑on approach that could either reinvigorate the community or expose the fragility of a solo‑run tech site. The next months will test whether the blend of nostalgia and new revenue streams can sustain the brand in a competitive learning market.
Sources: Hacker News (CSS-Tricks has a new owner)