The document discusses best practices for worry-free web development, including layering HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to avoid dependencies between technologies. It recommends building HTML first to ensure important content is present without other technologies, then using JavaScript and CSS as enhancements. JavaScript should be added unobtrusively and not be relied on to show hidden content, to maintain accessibility. Seeking out and implementing best practices and layering technologies are emphasized as ways to develop websites robustly.

1. Worry Free Web Development a.k.a. Web Development 2.0 Ara Pehlivanian, Coder’s Saturday, March 22 2008

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

3. Web 2.broken A lot of the technology behind Web 2.0 is still very Web 1.0

4. Why does it matter? Well…

5. The web is like a box of chocolates You never know what browser you’re going to get.

6. For example… The CEO who hasn’t updated their browser since Netscape 4

7. For example… The CEO who hasn’t updated their browser since Netscape 4 The growth of mobile

8. For example… The CEO who hasn’t updated their browser since Netscape 4 The growth of mobile Assistive technologies

9. 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

10. Murphy’s Law “Whatever can go wrong will go wrong, and at the worst possible time, in the worst possible way” http://www.flickr.com/photos/27447877@N00/3242903/

11. In an environment like this, “doing your own thing” can lead to unintended consequences

12. Unintended consequences “a negative or a perverse effect, which may be the opposite result of what is intended” http://www.flickr.com/photos/khawaja/151777694/

13. How do you protect against unintended consequences?

14. Best practices! They will protect you http://www.flickr.com/photos/micke-fi/86932091/

15. What are best practices? “Best practices can be defined as the most efficient and effective way of accomplishing a task…”

16. Ignore them at your own risk http://www.flickr.com/photos/88311728@N00/254275998/

17. Today’s best practice: Layer and enhance

18. Don’t create dependencies between HTML, CSS and JavaScript

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

20. Layer: HTML

21. Build HTML first It should work 100% on its own

22. 4 simple rules to keep in mind

23. 1) Important content should be present in the markup

24. 1) Important content should be present in the markup (Search engines won’t crawl your JavaScript only navigation)

25. 2) Inject pure JavaScript markup later

26. 2) Inject pure JavaScript markup later (If it can’t be relevant without JavaScript, it shouldn’t be in the markup to begin with)

27. 3) Form elements should be inside forms

28. 3) Form elements should be inside forms (They’re called form elements for a reason!)

29. 4) Links should link

30. 4) Links should link (No brainer right?)

31. This is not a link <a href=&quot;javascript:doNext()&quot;> Next </a>

32. This is a link <a href=&quot;/page2/&quot;> Next </a>

33. You can’t “Save as…” this <a href=&quot;javascript:popup(doc.pdf)&quot;> A PDF Document </a>

34. You can “Save as…” this <a href=&quot;doc.pdf&quot;> A PDF Document </a>

35. Layer: JavaScript

36. Add JavaScript as an enhancement (Unobtrusively)

37. Simple unobtrusive JavaScript <a href=&quot;doc.pdf&quot; id=&quot;doc&quot;> A PDF Document </a> <script> var a = document.getElementById(&quot;doc&quot;); a.onclick = function () { window.open(this.href); return false; }; </script>

38. Simple unobtrusive JavaScript <a href=&quot;doc.pdf&quot; id=&quot;doc&quot;> A PDF Document </a> <script> var a = document.getElementById(&quot;doc&quot;); a.onclick = function () { window.open(this.href); return false; }; </script>

39. Simple unobtrusive JavaScript <a href=&quot;doc.pdf&quot; id=&quot;doc&quot;> A PDF Document </a> <script> var a = document.getElementById(&quot;doc&quot;); a.onclick = function () { window.open(this.href); return false; }; </script>

40. Simple unobtrusive JavaScript <a href=&quot;doc.pdf&quot; id=&quot;doc&quot;> A PDF Document </a> <script> var a = document.getElementById(&quot;doc&quot;); a.onclick = function () { window.open(this.href); return false; }; </script>

41. Simple unobtrusive JavaScript <a href=&quot;doc.pdf&quot; id=&quot;doc&quot;> A PDF Document </a> <script> var a = document.getElementById(&quot;doc&quot;); a.onclick = function () { window.open(this.href); return false; }; </script>

42. Simple unobtrusive JavaScript <a href=&quot;doc.pdf&quot; id=&quot;doc&quot;> A PDF Document </a> <script> var a = document.getElementById(&quot;doc&quot;); a.onclick = function () { window.open(this.href); return false; }; </script>

43. It’s like having a Plan B

44. Always have a Plan B http://snurl.com/21uf6

45. Layer: CSS

46. Don’t hide things with CSS only to show them with JavaScript

47. Flyout menus anyone?

48. What if JavaScript isn’t available?

49. Inaccessible content! http://www.flickr.com/photos/easilyamused747/17118475/

50. Solution: Hide with JavaScript and show with JavaScript

51. But how to avoid content flicker? JavaScript takes time to kick in!

52. Here’s how… <head> <script> document.write( &quot;<link + href='initial-states.css' + rel='stylesheet' + type='text\/css' \/>&quot;); </script> </head>

53. Summary Seek out and implement best practices (they are your friend!)

54. Summary Seek out and implement best practices (they are your friend!) Avoid technology interdependencies (layer and enhance!)

55. Summary Seek out and implement best practices (they are your friend!) Avoid technology interdependencies (layer and enhance!) Have fun!

56. Thank You! Ara Pehlivanian [email_address] http:// arapehlivanian.com