Coding sections in reviews
Tue Apr 21st/09 Coding & Design, Internet 3 comments
Dear People Who Think the “Coding” Section of Writing a Review Involves Just Validating on W3.org and Calling it a Day,
It doesn’t.
Sincerely,
Vanesa
Why I code Valid XHTML Strict
Sun Apr 19th/09 Coding & Design, Articles 3 comments
It seems like everyone these days wants to code valid HTML and CSS. I’m not against that, of course. I think it’s great that everyone wants to, and people can start off learning that valid code is important and what beautiful HTML looks like. Of course, not Valid XHTML Strict right away, but more like regular HTML, and then moving on from there.
I hate it, though, when people say OMG site is valid lol!!! and not say something like, “I realize my code has been crap, and I think my site would benefit others if I coded more valid and have a more accessible site”, or “Egad! My site looks terrible in Firefox! I think it would be better to improve cross-browser compatibility if I validated”, or even, “A reviewer told me so, and that reviewer is kinda cool (and kinda forceful), so I think I should code valid.”
Thinking this over, I realized I did that too. I, too, validated my site without a real reason. At first I said, “Oh, who cares, everyone cool does it, so why can’t I?” And then, “Since when was being cool a good thing?”
Reason 1: It looks neat and tidy.
And then at that time, I think I was using Valid XHTML Transitional, and thought, Strict looks more tidy. And I’m kind of a neat freak, so I decided to make it look more “neat and tidy”. Which is nicer to look at?
<body BGCOLOUR=white>
<TABLE WIDTH=80 style="color:black;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;background:white;" BORDERCOLOR=black>
<tr>
<td><P><FONT color="black" face=verdana SIZE=2>Hey y’all welcome to my website<P><P><P>Hope you enjoy your stay! :)
</TD>
</TABLE>
Or this?
<body>
<div id="layout">
<div id="intro">
<p>Hey y’all welcome to my website.</p>
<p>Hope you enjoy your stay! :)</p>
</div>
<div>
</body>
Reason 2: Cross browser compatibility
How many of you think that when people see “Best viewed in Internet Explorer” on your site, people actually change their browser? I’m not sure about everyone else, but I never do that. I don’t love your site enough to change my browser for it. A virtual pet site, a forum, or social networking site, yeah, sure, I might, but not for your site. I just dodge those messages and X out of your site.
If you forget to close a tag, or you use an invalid tag/attribute, browsers will interpret it differently, and chances are your site’s gonna look like garbage. With valid code, most major browsers will interpret it only slightly different. Well, most of the time anyway. For me.
Reason 3: It’s art.
CSS-Tricks.com mentions that code is art
. If the layout looks beautiful, does the code look beautiful too, or is it just skin-deep? A person may look pretty/cute/handsome on the outside, but what about on the inside? Are they really ugly on the inside? Remember, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.
Reason 4: Accessibility.
I know, I know, it’s mentioned all the time, but seriously, even though it’s a minor audience, you want everyone to be able to access your site. If you don’t, why did you bother putting up your site? Keep it password-protected or offline. Even though Erin Swift, a fictional character from Click Here who knows HTML stated something like, “Don’t like this site? Too bad, the webmaster does not want to hear from you!” on her website, at least she kept it offline.
Reason 5: Out of habit.
Even if I didn’t care about accessibility, browser compatibility, etc., it’s too late now. I’m a neat freak by nature and I code neat. I’m going to bold something? <strong>. Italics? <em>. Both bold and italics? <strong><em>bold and italics</em></strong>. Not a <b> in sight.