Summary
Written by admin on May 5, 2009
This essay has argued that as Web enabling software nears maturity, the matter of final standards compliance is not just a question of clean up. Standards ticks are desireable, and there are specific cases where rigid use of standards are enforceable, but there are also specific cases where rigid standards support is most undesireable.
In particular, as Web architecture items such as browsers become mature and well-understood, the need for such software to be tolerant of problematic user input increases rather than decreases. As people bandy about the software with increasing confidence, that software in turn must be resilient, responsive and forgiving. Most obviously in the area of HTML markup, but also across the full spectrum of implemented features, standards-ticks are not the ultimate end goal. There will always be new human entrants to the world of HTML and the Web, and they should not have to climb any further than entrants of years before in order to successfully express themselves.
The best built Web is in fact rather elastic: when accidentally dropped, dented, twisted or mis-stated, it somehow copes and manages to flex back into shape. That applies also to pieces of the Web – their interfaces, processing and general expectations of use. Such is the case for all mature software products, and the Web is no different.
- Nigel McFarlane
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