Why We Switched from Bootstrap 5.0 to Tailwind 4.0 for 2026 Design Systems As we finalized our 2026 design system roadmap, our engineering and design teams faced a critical question: was our long-standing reliance on Bootstrap 5.0 still serving our goals for performance, flexibility, and scalability? After 18 months of evaluation, testing, and incremental migration, we officially transitioned all active projects to Tailwind 4.0. Here’s a breakdown of why we made the switch, how we executed the migration, and the tangible wins we’ve seen so far. The Limitations of Bootstrap 5.0 for Modern Design Systems Bootstrap 5.0 served us well for years: it offered pre-built components, responsive grids, and a familiar workflow for junior and senior developers alike. But as our design system grew to support 12 product lines, 40+ UI patterns, and strict Core Web Vitals targets for 2026, its drawbacks became impossible to ignore. First, CSS bloat was a persistent issue.…