Worry Free Web Development

a.k.a. Web Development 2.0

Ara Pehlivanian, Coder’s Saturday, March 22 2008

Web 2.0

The glitzy look of Web 2.0 is getting a lot of attention

Web 2.broken

A lot of the technology behind Web 2.0 is still very Web 1.0

Why does it matter?

Well…

The web is like a box of chocolates

You never know what browser you’re going to get.

For example…

• The CEO who hasn’t updated their browser since Netscape 4

For example…

• The CEO who hasn’t updated their browser since Netscape 4

• The growth of mobile

For example…

• The CEO who hasn’t updated their browser since Netscape 4

• The growth of mobile

• Assistive technologies

For example…

• The CEO who hasn’t updated their browser since Netscape 4

• The growth of mobile

• Assistive technologies

• Limited functionality in a corporate setting

Murphy’s Law

“Whatever can go wrong will go wrong, and at the worst possible time, in the worst possible way”

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In an environment like this, “doing your own thing” can

lead to unintended consequences

Unintended consequences

“a negative or a perverse effect,

which may be the opposite

result of what is intended”

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How do you protect against unintended consequences?

Best practices! They will protect you

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What are best practices?

“Best practices can be defined as the most efficient and effective way of

accomplishing a task…”

Ignore them at your own risk

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Today’s best practice:

Layer and enhance

Don’t create dependencies between HTML, CSS and

JavaScript

Your site should work even if it’s deprived of one of these

technologies

Layer: HTML

Build HTML first

It should work 100% on its own

4 simple rules to keep in mind

1) Important content should be present in the markup

1) Important content should be present in the markup

(Search engines won’t crawl your JavaScript only navigation)

2) Inject pure JavaScript markup later

2) Inject pure JavaScript markup later

(If it can’t be relevant without JavaScript, it shouldn’t be in the

markup to begin with)

3) Form elements should be inside forms

3) Form elements should be inside forms

(They’re called form elements

for a reason!)

4) Links should link

4) Links should link

(No brainer right?)

This is not a link

<a href="javascript:doNext()">

Next

</a>

This is a link

<a href="/page2/">

Next

</a>

You can’t “Save as…” this

<a href="javascript:popup(doc.pdf)">

A PDF Document

</a>

You can “Save as…” this

<a href="doc.pdf">

A PDF Document

</a>

Layer: JavaScript

Add JavaScript as an enhancement

(Unobtrusively)

Simple unobtrusive JavaScript

<a href="doc.pdf" id="doc">

A PDF Document

</a>

<script>

var a = document.getElementById("doc");

a.onclick = function () {

window.open(this.href);

return false;

};

</script>

Simple unobtrusive JavaScript

<a href="doc.pdf" id="doc">

A PDF Document

</a>

<script>

var a = document.getElementById("doc");

a.onclick = function () {

window.open(this.href);

return false;

};

</script>

Simple unobtrusive JavaScript

<a href="doc.pdf" id="doc">

A PDF Document

</a>

<script>

var a = document.getElementById("doc");

a.onclick = function () {

window.open(this.href);

return false;

};

</script>

Simple unobtrusive JavaScript

<a href="doc.pdf" id="doc">

A PDF Document

</a>

<script>

var a = document.getElementById("doc");

a.onclick = function () {

window.open(this.href);

return false;

};

</script>

Simple unobtrusive JavaScript

<a href="doc.pdf" id="doc">

A PDF Document

</a>

<script>

var a = document.getElementById("doc");

a.onclick = function () {

window.open(this.href);

return false;

};

</script>

Simple unobtrusive JavaScript

<a href="doc.pdf" id="doc">

A PDF Document

</a>

<script>

var a = document.getElementById("doc");

a.onclick = function () {

window.open(this.href);

return false;

};

</script>

It’s like having a Plan B

Always have a Plan B

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Layer: CSS

Don’t hide things with CSS only to show them with

JavaScript

Flyout menus anyone?

What if JavaScript isn’t available?

Inaccessible content!

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Solution: Hide with JavaScript and show with JavaScript

But how to avoid content flicker?

JavaScript takes time to kick in!

Here’s how…

<head>

<script>

document.write(

"<link +

href='initial-states.css' +

rel='stylesheet' +

type='text\/css' \/>");

</script>

</head>

Summary

• Seek out and implement best practices(they are your friend!)

Summary

• Seek out and implement best practices(they are your friend!)

• Avoid technology interdependencies(layer and enhance!)

Summary

• Seek out and implement best practices(they are your friend!)

• Avoid technology interdependencies(layer and enhance!)

• Have fun!

Thank You!

Ara Pehlivanian

ara.pehlivanian@gmail.com

http://arapehlivanian.com