No more JavaScript Animation

I've written my fair share of JavaScript animation. Though from this day forward, I'm declaring it's time for it to stop...

For the last few years (and perhaps longer) there has been a lot little niceties added to libraries such as jQuery to improve the feel of websites and applications through small animation touches. While these have been wonderful, I think it really is time to start focusing on only using CSS3 to deliver our animations.

Interestingly, as I say this, I find myself in full agreement with John Allsopp's recent post, The Next 6 Billion. So how can I make a statement saying animation should only be done using CSS3 which is only supported in a handful of browsers?

Well, I say it based on the fact that animation (by and large) is something we add to our applications and sites to give them that little something extra. I can say with certainly through the process of writing Tile5 that I spent a lot of time focusing on implementing animation in JavaScript, and... it's a distraction.

Rather than focusing on broadening browser support or thinking about how HTML5 shims / polyfills might be used to work with my library, my brain is obsessing over easing equations and the like. Guess what folks, the problem is already solved and CSS3 does a bloody good job of it.

While I'm not going so far to say that I'm not developing for older browsers (although the fact that I write so much JavaScript does bring about some limitations) I am saying that if the web is for everyone, then we need to look at our products from a cake and icing perspective:

The cake is for all. The icing is for those who choose, or have the privilege of using a modern browser.

So personally, I'm going to try to start spend more time on the cake, and utilize premixed icing where it works.