The other day, I was reading through blog posts and articles about HTML5, CSS3 and other new technology. One pattern that seemed to be repeating itself was this:

1. Several persons comments how great it looks.
2. Then, one person points out that it doesn’t work in all browsers, for example in Internet Explorer.
3. Another person, often the blog author, chimes in and comments that this is only a demonstration.
4. And yet another person gives a comment like “who gives a fuck about Internet Explorer?”
5. All hell breaks loose…

While I understand the importance and need for those demonstration blog posts, I feel that we, the developers, should be really careful in what tools we chose to use. I know we all love what we’re doing and most of us love to experiment with the latest technology. But behind every website, there’s a client who doesn’t care if we accomplish that fancy shadow effect with CSS3, jQuery or images. He just wants it there, preferably in the browsers that their user base make use of. He doesn’t care about validating code, proper semantics or which version of HTML you use!

Did you know that it was only recently that I stopped caring about Internet Explorer 6?

I think this is really important to remember – often, we don’t design and code for ourselves; we’re doing it for an audience. I don’t even think you should take the client into the equation, I think that’s the wrong approach. The one person you should care about is the end user!

Decisions to take early on in a project

First thing first. Every company has their own way of doing things. Some company’s make use of studies to determine what kind of users they believe are the website’s primary target. There are several reasons for doing these studies, but these are the main things that you may want to know:

• What are the age of the targeted audience? How computer-savvy are they?
• What kind of computer do they use? PC, Mac, notebooks, iPads?
• What browser do they mainly use?
• And so on…

But not all companies have the funds, or the time, to do these kind of studies. In these cases, it’s really good to have a clear communication with the client. What kind of customers do they have? Are these the same people that they want to target with the website?

The answers to those questions should help you make the decision as to what tools to use when you begin building the website.

So…we’re stuck with the same tools as ever?

You know, I really wouldn’t say that either. Some of these new technologies offer a way to fool-proof the design all the way back to Internet Explorer 6. You know, the browser I just told you I didn’t care about anymore. (And what a relief THAT was, let me tell you!)

So what tools CAN we use? When will I ever get to the point?! All right, here it is:

Basic HTML5
Perhaps this one requires a bit of testing before I can fully commit to this statement. But marking up your document in proper HTML5 tags, such as <header>, <section>, <footer> and the like is not wrong! All the browsers in use of today support it; just treat them as regular <div> tags. (But don’t forget to put the display: block property in the CSS! That’s the only thing these new tags don’t share with regular <div> tags.)

JQuery
Yes, one of the benefits behind this JavaScript library is the extended backwards support. This allows you to create really nice looking effects for your website, unhindered by what browser the end user might have.

Google Font Directory
Yes, their list of fonts isn’t exactly big…but it’s really easy to use and most important of all – it works all the way down to Internet Explorer 6! But, as always, use a back-up font. However, I understand you may feel uncomfortable using a library on someone else’s server, even if it is the giants Google we’re talking about.

Regular HTML4 and CSS2
I have only one simple thing to tell you, and here it is:

Only bad craftsmen blame their tools.

There’s a lot of things you can accomplish with these simple tools that you already know so well. Be creative! That’s your job, after all.

Exceptions to the rule

You want to know something funny? I write this blog post about how it may be in your best interest to hold off on these new, fancy technologies just a little bit, but…look at this very website! Look at the rounded corner in the picture up there! Look at the shadow effect in the portfolio section. You don’t see it? That’s because you’re using Internet Explorer 8, 7 or 6.

Remember though – Studio51 is not for some client. This is my own playground where I get to arrange every part the way I see it fit. In here, where I am free from restrictions and can play around in every way I care to, in here I think it’s important to put those technology’s to use! If nobody ever uses HTML5 or CSS3, then no browser will ever see the need to implement it.

Final words

I love watching demonstration sites. I love to fantasize about what great things you can accomplish with all of these new tools. But you have to live in reality and give the client what he or she wants. In the end, we’re not doing what we’re doing only because we love it – we’re delivering products.

Always try to keep that in mind.