[html4all.org] [HDP] Response to Review of HTML Design Principles Questionnaire (fwd)

[Leif Halvard Silli]

Hi - I think most of you who have voted for the «Support Existing Content» are actually against that principle - see my message to public-html below.

Leif Halvard


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 2007-08-23 04:22:46 +0200
From: Leif Halvard Silli <lhs at malform.no>
Subject: Re: [HDP] Response to Review of HTML Design Principles   Questionnaire

2007-08-22 16:57:30 +0200 Lachlan Hunt:

> 2. Support Existing Content

> This principle is essential. [...]

> It really doesn't matter whether a particular feature was defined in HTML4, 
> XHTML1 or not defined at all [...]  If there is significant existing content 
> on the web that relies on particular user agent behaviour, then that 
> behaviour should be specified [...] 

Take note, Laura and others: According to this interpretation, many of those you that have sofar voted strongly for this principle, are probably actually against it!

> For example, <marquee> [...] 

While forexample headers= are allready counted by our editor as insignificant, and would not be supported - not even in legacy/existing content ...

> This is my proposed rewording:

A new, honest, title is all this principle needs: «UAs Should Support *Significant Existing* Content». Then we would have understood what this is about: 

Statistics and percentages, again and again. 

By this interpreation, new UAs are allowed to ignore all parts of the old HTML standards and extensions, exept those parts of it that have popular support. In additon UAs are not allowed to ignore non-standard extensions, if they have popular support.

This way, it is actually the opposite of what it looks like: It is not about which old features to support (the market decides that anyhow), but about which old features UAs should have the blessing to ignore: Sorry AT users, but we abide by the law.

At this point, we do not even know which parts of «existing legacy html» will have «legacy» status after HTML5 is ready. And no more do we know which of this would be «significant».

Thanks for helping me in the voting process. 
-- 
leif halvard silli