The future of markup

where we've been and whats next?

[korkus2000]

I have seen many browsers come and go. We have been forced to use a base set of markup for compatibility issues. Hopefully we are seeing NN4 disappearing. So after all of the blink tags and marquees are we going to see the browsers stop the wars of functionality?

Each product needs its enhancements, but we have all seen how the Netscape and IE battle made the web a scary place for users. It seems currently that the browser manufacturers do have a commitment to standards, but will this last? We are basically talking about programs that are free. The average surfer is not really driving the market, or are they?

We have seen HTML stand the test of time. It is moving to XHTML, but it is basically the same thing. We have seen bolt-on technologies like JavaScript and CSS. Is this the future creating more bolt on stuff or are we going to see it move to an all-inclusive standard?

So where are we going? What is your future? Are we leaving a browser based web?

^{2000 posts yaaaa}

[threecrans]

I for one would love to see a standardization that would not only get all browser manufacturers on the same page BUT allow for expansion.

It is this second point that I feel is vital. As you pointed out Korkus, most expansion has been achieved through plug-in/bolt-on technologies such as Flash, JavaScript, etc. These "kludgey" approaches make life hell for web developers when it comes to browser compatibility.

So, to combat our browser compatibility woes, what do we do?...revert back to plain HTML so we can be viewed my the largest audience possible.

No other sector of technology adheres to these rules. When have you ever hear Microsoft say, "Hey, we can't release this software. It doesn't work in Win 95 which is still used by 2% of the public."? However, web developers have to bend over backwards for the 2% that is still using NN4.

[lorax]

XML is where it's at and where the future lies.

It is necessary that we seperate data from style and XHTML is only a half-solution. Granted, XML is a few years ahead of itself but the ability to save data in a hierarchical format ready to deliver to a web browser or web application, to be formatted for those with 20/20 eyesight or the visually impaired (even the blind), to pull and exchange raw data as needed with data repositories on any server platform is where the web is headed - and where it should be headed.

[Alternative Future]

Along with XML we have XSLT / XSL, with what I would assume to be bolt-on of XSL-FO but you are right in saying it is the way forward. And as for picking it up its even more simple than HTML (or should I say a uniformed HTML)

PDF print capabilities etc

-gs

[copongcopong]

hopefully xml and all its allies xsl, xslt, xpath etc ... would be much easier to learn, but ... it still leads us to a new learning curve. Hoping for the new markup would be easy as H-T-M-L and C-S-S.

:)