This site was developed attempting to use valid CSS for it’s presentation and valid XHTML (transitional) for the structural markup. The structural markup for this site, along with the content, remain separate from the presentation because of the flexibility and accessibility this provides the user. This separation allows a majority of modern Web browsers, as well as web-enabled devices, to access the content of this website regardless of the presentation rendering capabilities of the user’s client/device. In short, this means the content is searchable and usable regardless of the presentation or the capabilities of the device or browser that presents the content.

The Site’s Use of Web Standards…

The author not only believes in Web Standards, but also actually uses Web Standards in order to create high-quality Web sites. Web Standards are more than shallow words used to dazzle clients, co-workers, and managers. Standards separate the professional Web developer from the non-professional. Developers who employ the use of standards develop easy to maintain websites. These sites will have very small download times, good accessibility, and will rank high in search engine results. They will work well in most browsers and Web-enabled devices and can undergo simpler upgrades and modifications. Standards are smart and those who use them care not only about the final outcome, but also about doing things right from start to finish. For you bottom line type folk, Web Standards can save you time and money – no joke!

If you’re frustrated with your website, it’s likely because you don’t care about or use standards, or the personnel you have trusted to create your site don’t give a rip about standards. I suggest getting savvy and educated on Web Standards, and then using them.

The Site’s Text Size…

Before this site had a line of code to its name, the author decided that it should adjust according to the text size of the users browser, not according to a predetermined text size set by the author. This means that the entire site will adjust itself to render the site’s presentation perfectly, regardless of the browser’s text settings. This should be seamless to you, the user. Adjust the default text size of your browser to demonstrate this level of adjustability. If you use Mozilla Firefox, simply hit “CTRL” and “+” to enlarge the text and “CTRL” and “-” to make the text smaller. It’s nearly impossible to break the design of the site by adjusting the text size.

The Site’s Liquid Layout…

Along with the text size, the author created the site to adjust itself to the user’s default browser size and screen resolution. To demonstrate this, simply adjust your browser window size and watch the site adjust. In addition, changing the computer’s resolution will have little effect on the presentation of the site.

The Site’s Clean URLs…

This website, as well as the content management system that maintains this site, uses clean URLs. This means that any URL to this site’s content will always be search engine friendly, stay the same, and remain readable.

The Site’s CMS tool…

In the words of Dean Allen, Textpattern is, “A flexible, elegant, easy-to-use content management system for all kinds of websites, even weblogs”. I agree!

This site uses Textpattern to manage all of its content. My choice to use Textpattern was largely based on its ability to manage an entire site, not just a weblog type content. For a clear explanation of this tool, visit the Textpattern homepage.