Comments on: When breaking from the Web standards makes sense.

By: Tony Scialdone

Tony Scialdone — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 02:27:04 +0000

While I agree with some of what you wrote, I think you (and those who wrote comments) have missed the point of web standards. Obviously, standards aren’t rules…they’re guidelines. The question is, “What are they designed to do?”.

Web standards are designed to make websites better from the ground up. Having built websites for almost a decade, I can tell you that life is a million times better than during the browser wars. Many designers had to build two websites: one for Netscape and one for Internet Explorer. We don’t have that problem today…simply because we’ve begun to standardize the web.

Many people haven’t thought it through, but you don’t END with web standards…they’re just the beginning. Validate your HTML and CSS and then add your javascript layer. Validate your HTML and CSS and then add your embedded flash video. Validate your HTML and CSS and then add your AJAX. Don’t abandon the reason websites work just because your enhancements won’t validate…use them and rise above them!

When you begin with valid (X)HTML and CSS, you reap the benefits: less cross-browser testing, lower bandwidth costs, simpler code, better search rankings, and portability. Make your killer website, but don’t shoot yourself in the foot in the process.

Thanks for an interesting conversation!

By: Stefan Mischook

Stefan Mischook — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 18:10:19 +0000

“… come up with a simple way that new web site builders could get a better start. And could understand all the jargon that is suppose to be such a big help.”

The answer is simple, just spend a couple of hours learning the basics. Once you have them under-your-belt, it’s a no brainer to learn the other stuff … actually it turns out to be much easier than you think.

Check out:

http://www.killersites.com/videoTutorials/Tutorial_WebDesign/webDesign.jsp

http://www.how-to-build-websites.com/

By: BB

BB — Sun, 12 Mar 2006 22:03:12 +0000

WOW….I sure wish someone would come up with a simple way that new web site builders could get a better start.
And could understand all the jargon that is suppose to be such a big help.

In other words……build me a simple web site that I could keep going. To change as I wanted, or add what I wanted, etc.

I am sure this comment does not pertain to what is being said here…..but in a bigger way…..it does pertain to all that is said here.

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 23:08:58 +0000

Common sense article I think. My opinion of web standards has always been that they are worth following – until they interfere. Which is as good as saying “dump them whenever you want”. Seriously, what is a standard? It’s just a convention you should probably use to be compatible with the major browsers. But that means that the true web standard is not what freakin’ w3c puts out but whatever the major browser platforms decide to make it.

Seriously, if it’s available in IE and firefox – its as good as a standard.

By: Stefan Mischook

Stefan Mischook — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 22:31:46 +0000

Ajax is a combination of technologies:

JavaScript / DOM scripting
XML

When you say Java, I assume you mean JavaScript.

By: seun

seun — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 22:06:46 +0000

men,
this discovery is quite fantastic, web standards are norms that restricts one to some extent

i think ajax is better than the normal java

kudos, keep moving

By: Jonathan Mileshik

Jonathan Mileshik — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 15:18:09 +0000

Excellent post,
It helps put things into perspective. I believe that web based technologies should be fast, coherent and easy to use. You highlight good points. Perhaps a more comprehensive standard, or use based standard would be more suitable to this evolving medium.

By: Stefan Mischook

Stefan Mischook — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 14:06:17 +0000

Erick,

I think the Web standards are a good thing and was/is really needed. My point is that some people have taken it a little too far.

A culture has developed in web design, that has created extra work for people in an attempt to be Web standards compliant, regardless of the reality out there: browsers are not fully compliant to the standards.

By: Erick Schluter

Erick Schluter — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 11:58:10 +0000

Mmhh…
It seems like everybody has forgotten the time pre-webstandards. The good old days…

When a page is not build according to webstandards and it still works fine, what is actually the problem ? (Please do not list them) Isn’t it all marketing- and searchengine crap ?

I am a validating-junkie but I am wondering more and more.

So if there is a nice gadget that will not validate I encourage people to use it, this so some gadgets could become standard…Isn’t that the way !?

By: Stefan Mischook

Stefan Mischook — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 22:36:56 +0000

“InnerHTML will not work with True XHTML … can only be used when XHTML 1.0 is served as HTML ‘Tag Soup.’”

Nor does XHTML work with about 80% of the browsers being used – IE 6 and soon to be released IE 7. XHTML becoming ‘tag soup’ is a reality for today’s web designer.

Personally, I believe people should not use XHTML since for the most part, there is no real advantage given the IE issue and because it makes DOM and AJAX scripting a pain in the ass for no advantage.
-

Since all the major browsers support innerHTML and given that it’s such a useful tool, I would think that one day, it may be made part of the standard … why not?