Front-end standards group/2016-03-09

Copied from https://etherpad.wikimedia.org/p/FrontEndStandardsGroup

Attending: Volker E., Timo T., RobLa, Bartosz D., Julien G.

Social
(nothing this week)

Action & Code

 * Front-end standards related ArchCom-RFCs: https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/project/board/52/query/X7D3dZrpZ9Ai/

Follow-up

 * UI changes: Consolidation of `progressive` and `constructive` flag got merged in OOjs UI and core (VE, BD) - https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T126309
 * TT: good direction to go, there are a few views, where the consolidaiton might have to be revisited.
 * RobLa: would wait for a few weeks and then remove band-aid quickly

TT: maybe as opt-in gadget instead of core given the raised questions by Volker about concerned user group last meeting.
 * [RFC] Section headings should have a clickable anchor (VE) - https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T18691
 * VE Will be getting back to this in next couple of weeks. Current take: Collect the issues raised to all proposed solutions and question the task for our given users.


 * [RFC] Standardise on how to access/register JavaScript interfaces (TT, RK) - https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T108655

New quests

 * (new RFCs) - none this week

TT: We've been discussion how Less is performing in production. same thing today, we would not deploy it in RL Lots of nesting as performance implicator. jQuery are sticking to CSS and PostCSS JG: when sticking to plain CSS, you're VE: guideline syntax checker for avoiding nesting (with PostCSS again?) PostCSS RfC? Biggest concern when not using Less, is currently Less variables. They are widely used in f.e. OOjs UI and support needs to be provided for UI consistency. On the other hand TT: CSS: runs through min, janus, could first run through PostCSS,
 * https://github.com/lesshint/lesshint Less style checker
 * Syntax linter (for MW modules) already done as part of https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T106780
 * VE: Current linter is checking for errors, but not there for implying guidelines. There is a current trend to move away from Less.
 * TT: Given the performance implications by easily running into overnesting selectors, jQuery team has been deciding to stick with plain CSS.
 * JG: In new Wikipedia Portal we are using PostCSS right now, but we also don't have big necessities to fulfill there. I share the concern of people "running away" from Less.

Topics for next meeting
Review, as promised in last meeting: 4 topics finished, 2 topics on the way