🔗 Do we still need build tools?

How necessary are build tools for frontend development in 2026? The article raises crucial questions about their relevance, particularly for CSS and JavaScript. It examines the effectiveness of tools like Autoprefixer, esbuild, and Lightning CSS for managing vendor prefixes and syntax lowering. While some CSS features have become standardized, tools still provide value in combining files and minifying code. The discussion extends to JavaScript, where module bundlers like Webpack and esbuild are highlighted for their performance advantages, despite potential downsides in caching. With HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 changing the landscape, the necessity of bundlers is increasingly debatable. Ultimately, the article argues that build tools still play an essential role, although there are viable no-build alternatives for smaller projects or specific cases.