Lara Schenck
Artist, programmer, researcher
All Posts
Ordered reverse-chronologically.
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Sloppy Screencasts: Test-Oriented UI Development with BackstopJS / Larva Show-n-Tell
A very cool, test-oriented workflow has emerged with the introduction of Backstop JS into our design system tooling. I recorded some sloppy screencasts to show it off! Watch me struggle and make mistakes and also accomplish things.
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Something I spent too long debugging at the end of the day
I spent a while debugging a font-face issue. Can you spot the problem?
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selector-property-whitelist: a potential CSS algorithms rule for Stylelint
For example, a `color` property should not be in an algorithm that is intended for CSS grid properties. This is a potential Stylelint rule that would report that!
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Testing CSS Algorithms!!!!!!! Part 2 [WiH]
In part 2 of this enthusiastically titled mini series, we will set up some test methods in JavaScript. Next will be the test itself! Maybe I’ll write that tomorrow, maybe not…
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Testing CSS Algorithms!!!!!! Part 1 [WiH]
I think I figured out a really cool, fun, exciting, and not complicated way to write tests for CSS algorithms! This post introduces the concept of writing unit tests and test driven development.
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Be careful when checking for support of the `gap` property
I thought I encountered a browser bug, but I didn’t. I learned some things, and now you can read this and learn them, too!
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Designgineering Chronicles: Months 9.5-11ish?
A slightly delayed Chronicle, but no less juicy! In preparation for the kick-off of Blueberry, we are figuring out how to actually share and publish modules as the design system (named Larva) becomes a product that stands on its own.
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Story time monsters
Another slide from my talk, this image represents the end of a short story about how a CSS algorithm saved the day!
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Monsters working on a house of cards
These monsters are working on a house of cards, an experience similar to working on a code-base that has not been tended to appropriately over the years! This is a slide from my “Algorithms in CSS” talk.
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“Best Muffin Of My Life So Far” is Awarded to Spinach-Feta Muffin in Amsterdam
I am in Amsterdam, visiting many coffee shops (that’s actual coffee shops, not “coffee shops”, mind you). I just had a very incredible muffin and created an award to commemorate it!
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Is CSS Turing Complete?
I took a deep dive into this question, and the answer is: kinda, mostly, yeah! CSS + HTML + user input is Turing complete. Is it possible to remove the user input part? Then I can re-title this post to be more, ahem, declarative.
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Algorithms in CSS Tour Dates, Summer 2019
My talk and I are going on tour this summer! In other words, I submitted to a bunch of conferences and got into some of them. So stoked!
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Roadtrippin’ to Pittsburgh!
I am in the midst of a driving across America, from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh. That’s right: see ya later, Los Angeles, I’m moving back to Pittsburgh!
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Designgineering Chronicles: Months 8.5-9.5
Cantaloupe, a.k.a. Deadline.com, has launched!!! This installment of the Chronicles discusses the project’s huge success, the beginnings of a design system roadmap, and an introduction to Blueberry, the next code-named redesign for PMC.
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“Lock your computer”: What really happened
As a result of a “fun” prank, I learned a bit about cron scheduling!
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“Lock your computer”
Something really disturbing and malicious has been happening to my personal laptop over the past couple of months. This post is part true, part April Fools’ joke.
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Another quick CSS algorithm for a “Roadblock CTA Grid”
This post is an account of pair programming with a fellow front-end developer to figure out a tricky responsive layout issue. Time for a CSS algorithm!
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Embryonic design system
What do you call a design system before it has published modules but after it has started providing useful tools? Naming is hard.
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Required Reading: Team Human
Have you ever read or learned something and wondered how you were able to operate without that knowledge before? I don’t say this lightly: this book is game changer.
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Monster reminiscent of a Star Wars character
Do you know the one I’m talking about? Boba fet, maybe?
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Today I am 11110!
This is the first official installment of a new tradition, Binary Birthday, where I re-learn binary every year on my birthday and express my new age as 1s and 0s.
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Being and Doing
I am about to turn [age] tomorrow. I sat down a few minutes ago to do some last minute reflection on my life so far, and instead opened up my RSS feed. I’m glad I did because I saw this article by Ben Callahan on Sparkbox’s blog, the Foundry.
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Designgineering Chronicles: Months 6.5-8.5, Part 2
And here is Part 2! Read this for technical notes about how the Cantaloupe pattern architecture is working out, examples of CSS algorithms, and (for us) the solved problem of JavaScript.
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Designgineering Chronicles: Months 6.5-8.5, Part 1
It’s a month later than I would have liked, but at long last an update on project Cantaloupe which is full steam ahead on development. What’s it like to build and use a design system at the same time? In Part 1, we talk workflow, CSS utilities, and houses of cards.
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A 10/10 Sunday in Queens
I had a great day exploring Queens this weekend. Highlights include coffee, a large biscuit sandwich, coffee, the Socrates Sculpture Park, and unexpectedly encountering some of my family’s heritage!
