When I turn off JS, it shows a loader instead of the terrain. Is this really CSS...

arbll · 2025-11-04T17:22:53 1762276973

I'm assuming it's the render engine that is in pure CSS. You could display a static map in CSS but things like the tools to modify the terrain definitely need JS.

psygn89 · 2025-11-04T18:07:58 1762279678

You might not need it using the new :has() and different inputs as modifiers. Though that's a lot of :has() and probably would kill performance.

thih9 · 2025-11-04T20:10:02 1762287002

I wanted to check if your assumption is correct but I couldn’t find the source code.

Why do you think the renderer is pure css and not e.g. mostly css?

embedding-shape · 2025-11-04T20:23:15 1762287795

The top right button has a "Download code" which gives you a .zip file. That .zip file doesn't have any JS in it, and renders the terrain just like in the online editor, except you can turn off JS and it still works.

Edit: someone else wrote basically the same an hour ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45814791

thih9 · 2025-11-04T20:37:19 1762288639

Looks like it’s a “(css-only terrain) generator” - a generator that lets the user create and download a css only terrain.

As opposed to a “css-only (terrain generator)” - a terrain creation studio built with css only.

nightpool · 2025-11-04T18:08:06 1762279686

GP linked an example of a similar project that allowed you to modify the terrain without any JS at all

decimaldesign · 2025-11-04T19:13:35 1762283615

I think what's intended is that the completed and downloaded solution doesn't require any javascript.

Build something then hit the Download Code button - that packaged HTML solution doesn't require any javascript to render locally.

senfiaj · 2025-11-04T20:30:14 1762288214

Yeah, it worked, it seems to be a static rendered html with no interactivity though.