Coding to Validate to Code

According to the new CSS-validator over at w3.org, my CSS on my site validate. Some might say “So what?”

What they and you don’t realise:

I do not use any special software to write my HTML (eg: Dreamweaver, Frontpage, etc) nor my CSS (eg: Topstyle, Stylemaster, MacRabbit, etc).

I taught myself from reading and learning the online examples of others, from many very expensive books, and from persevering when I hit brick-wall after brick-wall.

I initially taught myself Dreamweaver v.4: I reverted to MS Notepad when I realised that I wasn’t learning: I was only applying library items.

There is nothing gained nor learned from simply repeating the works of others – unless that’s all you want to do.

I rarely use online tools.

But the best thing I ever got: Mozilla Firefox & Chris Pedericks Developer Extension – and now the new Firebug. No web site developer can effectively build a site without the use of these.

By designing purely to capture the IE market, you are setting yourself up for failure. If you are still designing sites that rely solely on tables and/or flash-imagery, you are restricting your traffic and will remain (if you are so lucky) a listing in someones favourites to look at when they upgrade to Broadband. Ok, that comment was for the flash-websites.

Anyone still designing content-based sites using tables is a bloody fool. Tables are for tabulated data like calendars and… is there anything else? Not even horizontal side-navigation requires tables!

I am a MS Notepad coder and damn proud when my code validates.

In fact, that’s what keeps me interested in this industry.

In the same way that both my father & grandfather are/were impressed when their weeks of toiling over a draftsman’s board to draw the various specifications for a home resulted in a incredible home was approved by council and built by the client, I am also impressed by my ability to absorb & apply the necessary information that results in a easy to view, quick-loading, web compliant and interesting web pages.

What keeps you interested in web-site design? Is validation your first or last concern?