Vendor lock-in due to non-standard CSS syntax

7/10 High

Tailwind's `@apply` directive only works within Tailwind and is not part of the CSS standard. CSS files written for Tailwind are fundamentally incompatible with other CSS frameworks and tooling, creating a one-way dependency that prevents migration.

Tailwind CSSCSS
Category
compatibility
Workaround
none
Stage
migration
Freshness
persistent
Scope
single_lib
Upstream
wontfix
Recurring
Yes
Buyer Type
team

Sources

Collection History

Query: “What are the most common pain points with Tailwind CSS for developers in 2025?”4/5/2026

@apply mt-3 in a CSS file only works if you use Tailwind. If you remove Tailwind from your build process, that statement doesn't work and your CSS is broken. Once you go Tailwind, you can never leave.

Created: 4/5/2026Updated: 4/5/2026