W3C

- DRAFT -

Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) Working Group Teleconference

13 Nov 2019

Attendees

Present
Rossen_, dael, dauwhe, cbiesinger, rachelandrew, astearns, florian, jensimmons, oriol, dbaron, fantasai, tantek, rego, teleject, plinss, (irc, only), AmeliaBR, ChrisL, hober, chris
Regrets
Chair
SV_MEETING_CHAIR
Scribe
dael

Contents


<scribe> ScribeNick: dael

Rossen_: We'll get going in a couple minutes
... We'll do 2 minutes past the hour
... It's 2 minutes past, let's start
... Wanted to call if there are extra agenda items or items to change

fantasai: Brief announcement

<fantasai> https://www.w3.org/wiki/Process2020

fantasai: We posted an explainer to process changes and edits at this wiki^

<fantasai> https://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/spec-prod/2019OctDec/0007.html

fantasai: If you have comments on improving, like the changes, dislike the changes, let me know about problems. If you have opinions forward them to spec-prod

astearns: TabAtkins wanted first item to be postponed slightly on IRC

Rossen_: I see Chris will be a bit late for fonts 3

astearns: TabAtkins will be at least 15 minutes late

Switch advanced attr() to being var()-like

github: https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/4482
... none

Resolved values of grid-template-rows/columns don't round-trip

publishing

Rossen_: Text level 3

florian: Text 4; fonts 3

fantasai: fonts 4 as well; fonts 3 is REC/ ! :D isn't it?

Rossen_: It is.
... Let's do text L4
... Is it editorial?

florian: Not only. At previous F2F we discussed word boundary in spaces, the text was added. It was announced and review requested. We're not getting to CR, but it's been in the ED for a while and it should go into an official space
... It's been a year since it was published. Sounds like good timing

Rossen_: And the edits are in?

florian: They are. It's the things I talked about at last F2F. Maybe some editorial tweaks

Rossen_: Great.

RESOLUTION: Publish new WD for Text 4

Rossen_: Fonts 4 should we wait for Chris?

fantasai: Chris is on IRC
... I think we publish since he requested

<ChrisL> Please wait until later

<ChrisL> Ok great

RESOLUTION: Republish Fonts 4

<ChrisL> Yay

Subsetting grid-template-areas in subgrids

github: https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/4411

<fantasai> https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/4411#issuecomment-548945615

fantasai: Summary comment^
... Two proposals, make grid-template-areas a thing and exclude names from inheriting. Currently grid-templates make start and end and those would not inherit into subgrid
... Other option is we take those names and instead of saying don't inherit in, they do inherit in and if there's partial overlap we clip start or end so they exist in the grid and you can position to the overlap
... Slight inconsitencies for both. If we exclude then a manually created grid area such as named lines as foo-start I implicitly create foo which I can position into. Kinda works on a subgrid; if both lines overlap. True in both cases
... Question is do we want...we didn't want to create inconsisent behavior for tempaltes. Want to say either set to part it overlaps or exclude all lines. Those are the two options.
... Would like to hear from other preference

Rossen_: Prefer second option.

<fantasai> A) Exclude parent template and its implicit line names from subgrid

<fantasai> B) Subset parent template to the part where it overlaps the subgrid, allowing it to be usable

Rossen_: Having the grid-template-area lines not available from subgrid is quite weird given that rows and columns are available
... I would lean toward the second solution if we have to pick from these two

dbaron: Looks like Mats preference was first, but seems reasonably okay with either. Seems he had impl of 2nd and changed to 1st.

fantasai: He originally wanted B, then did A when we weren't sure

Rossen_: dbaron do you know why he switched?

rego: It was not impl in all cases. I had example in issue that was different in 2 cases where should be same. He didn't have whole impl. I think he did the simpliest thing

<fantasai> Mats's comments https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/4411#issuecomment-542292465

Rossen_: If we go with option B (the second option)
... Would that be okay dbaron if you're representing Mats?

dbaron: I'm only reading his comments in issue

jensimmons: Still trying to wrap my head around. Seems like Miriam Suzanne and rachelandrew were advocating for A

Rossen_: A in TabAtkins summary is option 2

<rachelandrew> option 2 for me (don't think my mic is working)

fantasai: rego I think case with a difference is case of explicit line names creating implicit area.
... TabAtkins and I discussed and concluded there wasn't a good way to make that work. Would require changes to how line names were handled. Couldn't figure out how to not cause changes to normal grid
... Concluded line names from tempate are special and special for subgrids but explicit line names don't. Which means you can handle hte partial overlap nicely for template areas, but not for area with explicit names

rego: So original impl from Mats is final?

fantasai: Yeah. Either way the line names created by template area need to be special so we either notice they're excluded or clamped for partial overlaps. Seems second is more useful

rego: Still don't like difference in the example. I understand it's useful so maybe it's good enough. I think the difference can create confusion.

fantasai: Ideally we would solve both, but didn't find a good way.

<fantasai> rego, see https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/4411#issuecomment-542288855 for problems with the other options

Rossen_: Not hearing strong opinions, but more people toward option 2
... Objections to resolving on "Subset parent template to the part where it overlaps the subgrid, allowing it to be usable" unless there's additional comments

<fantasai> Example of option 2 - https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/4411#issuecomment-543174237

Rossen_: Objections to Option 2: Subset parent template to the part where it overlaps the subgrid, allowing it to be usable ?

RESOLUTION: Pick option 2 effectively subset the grid area into the subgrid

publication

fantasai: That's last subgrid so I'd like to propose every non-subgrid feature goes to L3 so we can go to CR

<fantasai> https://drafts.csswg.org/css-grid-2/#alignment

fantasai: There's a bunch that haven't been edited in. We'd defer this ^
... THere's a handful where we resolved ot add features and I propose we start a new WD with those and put subgrid L2 to CR

<ChrisL> +1 on CR for Grid L2

fantasai: We didn't edit them in because Grid 1 was a little unstable. But none of those features are as urgent as subgrid

<tantek> +1 on CR for Grid L2 with only subgrid added

Rossen_: Proposal: Break Grid L2 down to only contain subgrid features. Take L2 to CR. Start L3 with all things moved

<dbaron> presumably L2 will have the L1 stuff too?

RESOLUTION: Start L3 with all work that is in L2 but not about subgrid

<tantek> dbaron, that was my assumption too

<jensimmons> +1 Let's get going on Lvl 3 baby! All the ideas about how to make Grid better!!!

fantasai: Q for ChrisL. Grid 2 is a diff spec and doesn't have L1 content L1. There's a lot in Grid L1 that aren't posted to CR.
... I don't think I can copy it over yet. Is it okay to publish CR as a diff?

<tantek> I'd be ok with CR as a diff

astearns: I'd wait until we have L1 done. CRs are meant for review and diff is hard to review

<tantek> would rather than CR as a diff than have to wait until "L1 done"

fantasai: It's easier b/c it's one fairly isolated feature. We're adding this thing. I think it's okay as diff, but I want to fold in eventually

<ChrisL> Agreed, delta specs are harder to review

florian: Another is publish subgrid L1 as a CR

fantasai: No, not making this another spec.
... I'll wait if we want.

<tantek> agree with keeping this as grid L2

<ChrisL> But okay if explicitly stated all of L1 will be included

fantasai: We're waiting on a handful of Grid L1, but we're hung up on not having tests

<tantek> I get the feeling most people here are ok with L2 as a diff CR

florian: CR should be acceptable as REC and a diff isn't. We should wait

jensimmons: I wonder if there's people that love grid enough they'd write tests

fantasai: I think a lot are written and we need to figure out where they are

Rossen_: We can wait until next week. It would be nice to make progress

fantasai: If it's up to me to do tests I won't get to it until mid-Dec at least

<tantek> I'd also be ok with L2 as another diff WD with explicit status stating we believe the additions are all CR-worthy, and that the only change expected before CR is the incorporation of all of L1

Rossen_: Let's get them in 2019 at least
... Reading ChrisL in IRC that he's okay if explicitly stated all L1 included. I guess republish with a note? Not sure what that looks like for CR

florian: Not convinced process allows that

Rossen_: Objections ot moving grid L2 as CR? We'll figure out format but we can resolve to do it now

<tantek> florian, wrong framing. Not convinced process disallows that :)

Rossen_: And from previous resolution it means Grid L2 is the delta of 1 and subgrid
... Objections?

fantasai: Union of 1 + subgrid

RESOLUTION: Publish Grid L2 as CR

Rossen_: We'll work with ChrisL to figure out exactly what it looks like

<tantek> 🎉

Rossen_: That's awesome because Grid is awesome

Switch advanced attr() to being var()-like

github: https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/4482

TabAtkins: Several years ago we defined the more complicated attr() functionality where it supplies the type. If you say foo=5px we parse as length.
... No one impl. I realized why.
... It ends up being high cost for low value. Type checking eagerly so at parse time we can reject it it means every thing that does grammar checking have to account for possibility of attr() being there
... Lots of fiddly detail work.
... We did it because we don't have valid at parse time but rejected later. We now have that for var(). The var() machinery and building on that gives us a lot of tools that didn't exist earlier which make attr() easier

<bradk> 🐈

TabAtkins: Precise details of grammar aren't laid out, but core is we make attr() act like var(). It makes poperty automatically valid at parse time and we do parse at computed time. We validate at that time.
... Specifying type lets you validate you put the right thing in the attr(). Handling attributes elsewhere tends to allow garbage and ignore. We maintain that and check type and make sure it works.
... If we base on var() it's the same functionality for authors and a significant decrease in implementation complexity.
... I'd like to persue this change and the impl wants to experiment in it

<fremy> I strongly support this!

TabAtkins: Is WG ameniable?

emilio: I'm not opposed but concerned about type checking token string and then doing parsing again. When I looked at impl attr() I suggested doing it like variables in bugzilla.
... Complexity of doing attr didn't seem so high either. I'm concerned about parsing, tokenization, and then parsing on performance.
... Other concern is XSS but that happens either way

TabAtkins: Reason why I don't htink first bit is a concern is it ends up being identical to custom values and properties API. Ideal is it works that way but it's inline

emilio: I think that's also a concern with custom properties. I don't want to block on it, it's mostly theoretical

TabAtkins: Never say never but I doubt used in performance sensistive ways

AmeliaBR: My first concern would be how can we make it work logically with the existing use of the attribute function in the content property
... You've been talking as distinguishing if an explicit type is set. More I'm thinking maybe not necessary. If you don't have an explicit type the type is assumed string and any attribute can be parsed as a string, returned in a string. So maybe not an issue b/c string is always valid in content
... I'd like to see the exact write up and note it makes sense in backwards compat without special behavior

TabAtkins: Not possible w/o any backwards compat b/c assume valid at parse time. Content properties currently invaid but use attr() become valid at parse time. It is a behavior change if we make unspecified type attr() use this.
... Not sure what's best if we split parsing into separate function rather then flag it as attr() here. Puts you in 2 parsing modes based on detail of function grammar.
... If we think it's okay for behavior change in content where you wrote an invalid with a fallback and you're relying on that that seems minor. Otherwise good with your option.
... There's some possibilities there, we can experiment

AmeliaBR: Youre example of something suddenly valid is if something else in content property would be a parse error. Like using slash syntax with alternative text in a browser that doesn't support makes a difference if it's parse itme error

TabAtkins: Exactly. You'd no longer have the fallback

AmeliaBR: I would lean toward having a separate function for the type version and use attr() for how it's curerntly supported. Might be problematic for UA that support attr() more widely

TabAtkins: No idea if various printers support. I know no web browsers do. I'm not sure impl quality of whole thing
... But this is a behavior change. It will be off if there's a current impl. It's a custom thing or breaking change
... If no other questions just want to check for objections for me creating a full write up of changes. I can do that for review next week

Rossen_: Objections?

fantasai: Summary?

TabAtkins: There's a lot of possible ways how, but it's a change in validation to make it more var() like
... I'll have a write up fully next week. What's in the issue is the right jist
... It's switch attr() to var()-type validation rather than strict parse time validation

emilio: THe fallback might be able to be fix for attr(). Unfortunate to add new type of attr() that can't be detected. Nice if forced to a valid type. Worth thinking about

TabAtkins: Yep.

Rossen_: Objections to the approach of switch attr() to var()-type validation rather than strict parse time validation

<astearns> +1 to try this out

fantasai: Not sure, but let him write it up

Rossen_: TabAtkins there's no objections. Go ahead and write it up and we'll look when you're ready

cat: meow

Resolved values of grid-template-rows/columns don't round-trip

github: https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/4475

<fantasai> See https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/4475#issuecomment-548908448

TabAtkins: Looks like reminant, as spec grid-template-row/column when you asked for resolved value you get width of implicit tracks as well as explicit. Given you can't spec implicit tracks this doesn't make any sense at all.
... Getting the width of implicit tracks is worthwhile. Functionality is reasonable, but a number of useful grid things it would be great to get from layout that aren't in properties right now.
... IN past proposed things that would require new grid API to get
... Resolved value of grid-templates does not round trip.
... Options; 1) leave as is. Resolved value is not a valid value and confusing because unless you know number of implicit rows you don't know where explicit starts
... 2) Change to only reflect explicit rows on resolved values. implicit we leave for a more explicit API
... 3) continue to allow grid-template-rows to express implicit but change grammar so it's valid. There is some value b/c only explicit are used for auto positioning by default. Being able to give bounds to auto while sizing outside could be worthwhile
... Would need to be able to spec when the explicit grid starts and stops which would also need to return in the resolved value
... We leave as is, change return of gCS for this so that it allows roundtripping either way
... Need to decide, this was an accident. If we leave as is need to be more explicit
... I prefer changing to be just explicit tracks. I could accept any of the 3.

fantasai: web compat is a substantial concern. Might be stuck with #1

emilio: Also I also prefer 2 if we can get away with the compat issue

TabAtkins: Web compat is alwyas a concern and we might be struck with 1. Between 2 and 3 is group okay if we try for 2 and revert if web compat proves otherwise?

oriol: In issue I propose feature which allows define where grid line could be. It could place it in another place. I think something like this could have its own uses outside this issue. However I agree this prob needs more thought and be in something like Grid 3.
... If we want to fix roundtripping we need mroe urgent for L1 so it's reasonable to try and remove implicit tracks

TabAtkins: Youre suggestion was option 3, but as you say requires additional work. How it interacts is unclear right now and a breaking change anywya. If breaking, might as well do one that's easier to work with. If we ever want explicit/implicit we can do that later
... Any strong preference for keeping current behavior? Or is everyone okay with trying to change gCS and falling back to no change if there's web compat problems?

<dbaron> please make it round-trip correctly :-)

<florian> I like the proposal

Rossen_: Try it out. It makes sense.

fantasai: We don't have syntax for that right?

TabAtkins: Not for 3. No one is suggesting widen the grammar first. This is keep as is and have gCS report explicit only or have gCS report more accurately

<fantasai> sorry, I was confused

Rossen_: Resolution would be for give the 2nd option a chance and see if there are compat reasons to instead keep current
... Other opinions or objections?

emilio: No obj but I want to makes ure both Geck oa nd Chromium...info from gCS is not useful. Both Chromium and FF have special dev tools b/c gCS is not enough.

Rossen_: We can look at extending OM for grid
... I think you're pointing out more general issue. I don't disagree

<emilio> https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/source/dom/webidl/Grid.webidl, fwiw

TabAtkins: Point is valid in that what's currently returned is not enough for current use cases. So w're not losing anything and we should look into more advanced on

Rossen_: agreed
... Objectins?

RESOLUTION: Give the 2nd option a chance and see if there are compat reasons to instead keep current behavior

Spaces in grid-template-areas serialization

github: https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/4335

<fantasai> https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/4335

<TabAtkins> emilio, I'd love to with with you and jensimmons or anyone interested in this to figure out what devtools is using and how we could expose that to users.

fantasai: Want to clarify how spaces are handled. There's not compat. We said serialize between tokens we do a single space no matter if it's needed
... Want to confirm with WG

astearns: Makes sense to me

emilio: Seems weird to change string b/c we don't change string in other places

TabAtkins: You do change the string somewhat. Youd on't if parsing splits tokens correctly. But you trim spaces at end and collapse many to one

oriol: In issue #3261 we resolved against preserving percise string in favor of normalizing. Just wasn't clear on what to do with spaces

TabAtkins: Thanks

astearns: emilio?

emilio: No objections

<emilio> TabAtkins: fwiw, this is the API exposed to devtools: https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/source/dom/webidl/Grid.webidl, via https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/source/dom/webidl/Element.webidl#322

astearns: Other concerns?
... fantasai has comment at end with proposal
... Objections to this?

RESOLUTION: Specify serialization as proposed in https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/4335#issuecomment-548962309

end

<astearns> trackbot, end meeting

Summary of Action Items

Summary of Resolutions

  1. Publish new WD for Text 4
  2. Republish Fonts 4
  3. Pick option 2 effectively subset the grid area into the subgrid
  4. Start L3 with all work that is in L2 but not about subgrid
  5. Publish Grid L2 as CR
  6. Give the 2nd option a chance and see if there are compat reasons to instead keep current behavior
  7. Specify serialization as proposed in https://github.com/w3c/csswg-drafts/issues/4335#issuecomment-548962309
[End of minutes]

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$Date: 2019/11/13 18:05:40 $

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Default Present: Rossen_, dael, dauwhe, cbiesinger, rachelandrew, astearns, florian, jensimmons, oriol, dbaron, fantasai, tantek, rego, teleject, plinss, (irc, only), AmeliaBR, ChrisL, hober, chris
Present: Rossen_ dael dauwhe cbiesinger rachelandrew astearns florian jensimmons oriol dbaron fantasai tantek rego teleject plinss (irc only) AmeliaBR ChrisL hober chris
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Found Date: 13 Nov 2019
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