Why is validation so neglected?

accessibility and usability

[eboda]

If web developers would take their roll more seriously and validate their coding, many of the usability issues would be reduced for both Mac and PC users. So many of us expect the browser to resolve bugs in dirty coded websites - Actually we should push a lot of the blame over to the web developers.

To support my point… Would you buy or live in a house in which the foundation did not meet building codes? Of course not… it puts the contents of that residence at risk.

If the foundation of a website is weak, content is at risk. Accessibility and usability are limited and that could result in a loss of memberships, sales, and users.

I love it when people say: “Mac users only make up 5% of our customers, why should we design for them?” Can you imagine a 5 percent increase in users and or sales just by providing them access to a website!

This is almost not worthy of a discussion as validation should speak for itself. Someone (I think it was a gal named Chio? Here at WebmasterWorld) said: “It is a sign of a good programmer.” Those words echo in my mind with everything I do now… I am also working on some research regarding validation. I am sold on validation for months and is the core of my work ethic. I cringe at my old work – non-validated code! Blegh! Everything I do from here on out has been more productive and enjoyable for my clients, their site users, and my reduction of headaches.

So why is Validation shelved? It should play a big part in what we do… Not to mention saving our clients money in the long run.

[dvduval]

Though there are some exceptions (for sure), it seems that most validated paged favor a plainer look with a couple of graphics and lots of text. It is pretty rare to see graphics intensive pages that are also validated. Some people I think would prefer to have a more "exciting" page as opposed to a validated page.

One important point: when validation becomes an important part of the software that writes web pages, only then will it become important to webmasters.

[TheWebographer]

Do yourselves a favor and drop your use of FrontPage and DreamWeaver.

Learn to program and code: the common herd points and clicks to create websites.

Take those training wheels off. You will be glad you did.

[dvduval]

Criticize Dreamweaver all you want. I use it. I also do lots of hand coding as well. Dreamweaver has rarely been a problem for me. I'm not a 'code purist' and and my sites are doing great. Though I don't choose to validate every page, I also don't have any major problems with browser compatability to the extent that my users can't use the site.

Dreamweaver has nothing to do with training wheels, but it does help if you know about common problems and how to avoid them.

Very important...complex layouts are best done with a WYSIWYG, hence hand coding just doesn't cut it in those situations, and therefore sites by 'code purists' are often less exciting to look at.

[TheWebographer]

nothing to do with 'code purists'.

Let me put it this way:

Paint by Numbers Kit vs Mastering Painting
Training Wheels vs Mountain Bike
WYSIWYG Editors vs "Hand Coding"
....

Sure, in each case either method works and its your choice.

If you know how to hand code you can make far more complex layouts than any WYSIWYG editor. If you believe otherwise then you do not know (X)HTML.

[HyperGeek]

I love it when people say: “Mac users only make up 5% of our customers, why should we design for them?” Can you imagine a 5 percent increase in users and or sales just by providing them access to a website!

We don't design specifically for Mac users, or any user that has Netscape 4.x for that matter.

I have, however, completely validated each page of their web sites according to W3 standards.

The profit that my clients could gain from this user group does not justify the cost of time (and money).

If I saw that it would be advantageous to do so (at least an 8% increase in sales), we would, but it's not for their industries.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
If you use NS 4.x to surf the web... I doubt you even know how to submit an order form.

[dvduval]

The point I'm trying to make, Webographer, is I know how to code and have writtens TONS of pages using code only (especially when I'm writing an app in CFM, PHP or ASP). Yet, there are times when it's so much faster to throw some images and tables and text together, AND most of the time validation plays a very small role in the useability of the page in question (especially if you know the common problems that Dreamweaver or Front Page cause).

I'm not really sure what you are attacking more, WYSIWYG's or people who don't validate? In either case, as I said, until it becomes important to the software makers, it won't be important to as many webmasters. Using the word 'usability' in a completly different way, you need to realize that usability is an important ingredient in software as well.

[edited by: dvduval at 9:01 pm (utc) on May 22, 2003]

[dvduval]

If I saw that it would be advantageous to do so (at least an 8% increase in sales), we would, but it's not for their industries.

I have never had a single complaint from a Mac user.
I used to have an occasional problem with NS4 users, but I can't remember the last time now.
WYSIWYG's are an important part of web developement. I really don't know ANY webmasters who don't use them (but then again...I am from the South ;-).