RSS, or Really Simple Syndication, is a big deal…maybe even a huge deal. In recent years, some would have you believe that RSS would be the next panacea of the internet. As the data exchange format to end all data exchange formats, it would be the future of everything we consume online- neatly wrapped as RSS 1.0, RSS 2.0, Atom, etc.
RSS has become the defacto means by which many internet users get their daily news, weekly opinion, inspiration and occasional laugh. However, in 2008 possibly the most popular online channel continues to misuse, misunderstand, and flat-out-ignore the benefits of RSS: that’s right, we’re talking about you, Online Retail. Even today, as RSS is solidifying its place in the annals of syndicated content history, very few online retail stores have found a way to successfully integrate RSS into their list of marketing tools and primary customer touchpoints….
JavaScript is only one actor in a much bigger performance. It plays a role, but is dependent upon it’s support cast (Style Sheets, HTML). The best JavaScript code will be useless when combined with poorly structured HTML and badly written CSS. Likewise, the most logically structured XHTML will perform badly if combined with poorly written JavaScript. All three elements need to pull together to make a well functioning and rich user interface.
Structure (HTML/XHTML/XML), Style (CSS & non content images), Behavior (JavaScript).
These three items are interdependent but the user interface should be constructed to function without the JavaScript and CSS. The principle of “progressive enhancement” is based on the idea that you should begin with your core content. The core content is structured using markup. That marked up content is then enhanced. That enhancement might be stylistic, using CSS, or it might be behavioral using DOM scripting.
One of the best parts about WWDC every year is the pre keynote predictions. For years we’ve had office pools to see who could guess, this year we’re making those predictions public.
Inline JavaScript.
All JavaScript should be contained within it’s own JavaScript file/files that should be included at the top of the user interface:
Bad:
<script type=”text/javascript”> /* Lines of JavaScript Code */ </script>
Good:
<script type=”text/javascript” href=”scripts.js”></script>
Inline JavaScript Function Calls:
Bad:
<a href=”#” onclick=”somefunction(’value1′)” title=”some”>Link</a>
Good:
<a href=”something.jsp” id=”object1″ title=”some”>Link</a>
The good example has the onclick functionality added dynamically from the JavaScript, for example using code like:
addEvent(document.getElementById(’object1′), [...]
After missing out on a Modo many years ago (if anyone has one they want to sell, let me know). I’ve become somewhat of an ‘cool’ electronics obsessive. So when OLPC the people behind the $100 XO laptop started their Give1Get1 program last year, I was there day 1 with Amex in hand.Well it finally arrived and here are my, and others first impressions.
First Instinct Go Online - not so easy: I’m sure that WEP and WPA networks aren’t their #1 consumer priority, so I wasn’t surprised that networking was a little fudgey, but I look forward to some of it being cleaned up. I have yet to connect to any secure network (WEP at work doesn’t work, WEP Transitional at home through Apple Airport Extreme is well documented as a nightmare - yet I still can’t connect). Luckily I have my open meraki mesh network at home for this exact reason and was able to connect to that throttled but open connection with no issue.
What if we were to tell you that there was a way to grow a mustache, and help kids learn stuff- at the same time!?
You’d probably say “I don’t believe that’s possible”, and we’d say “No, it’s is possible…here just look at my face, under my nose. Isn’t it glorious?”, and [...]
We just got an email from ATG, announcing the launch of their “ATG e-Commerce Ingenuity - Business Plan Competition“.
….this competition is a unique opportunity to turn your innovative (dare we say, ingenious) business concepts and plans into reality. Through this competition, ATG will connect budding entrepreneurs with leaders in e-commerce, and provide valuable feedback from [...]