Validation Schmalidation & Context
Jeffrey Way’s article Here’s the Thing about Validation is another reminder that everyone isn’t on the same page with web standards. It’s a response to another one of those nasty you don’t validate so your site sucks emails / comments. As it turns out, Jeff’s CSS (Cascading Stylesheets) files don’t validate for good reason.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m very big on validation. More so on the validation of (X)HTML markup than CSS perhaps, but I see them as slightly different fish with their own drivers. The basic answer, as Jeff points out, is that validation is a tool to help you. That’s the fastest simplest way you’re going to track down bad structural markup or minor errors in styling that are causing you major grief. Validate, validate, validate. It will save you money.
Personally I’d like to see all (X)HTML markup on the web as valid. It won’t be, but I’m here to tell you that the more consistent we can make our tools the better and easier they will inter-relate with other technologies. However, validation isn’t everything, it’s just the beginning. At some point real world constraints are going to come onto you – things you want to do (like use advanced CSS 3 selectors), and constraints put on you by market forces such as the boss or the client.
The real trick to this is doing your best. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But what I mean by that is you learn enough about your craft / skill / profession that when you meet those constraints you can make considered decisions – not dogmatic ones. And the worst thing is hearing such and such faymus said this or that. Think for yourself, situation by situation. Do things for good reason. Etcetera.
