Re: The argument for |bugmode|

On 19/04/2007, at 2:33 AM, Chris Wilson wrote:
> I want to explicitly state - I neither asked for nor want the HTML  
> WG to specify a "bugmode" attribute in HTML.  I expect bugward- 
> compatibility markers to be IE-proprietary, and I hope we can get  
> rid of them over time.  I DO want the HTML WG to recognize that  
> they cannot be ripped out today (or for the next several years).

At last, there is something we can agree on.  Any version/bugmode  
attribute definitely cannot be part of the spec simply because the  
spec shouldn't endorse browser-specific behaviour and opt-ins.

I would accept if IE added some sort of proprietary and non- 
conforming bugmode attribute for specifically opting in to some set  
of IE bugs, but I will draw the line at requiring authors to use non- 
conforming attributes just to get the latest standards mode.  As a  
web developer, I certainly do not want to forced to use such an opt-in.

In other words, the default absolutely must be always-standards  
mode.  The bugmode attribute should be aimed at those authors who do  
not write to standards, but rather rely on browser specific bugs, not  
those who actively use and promote standards, and are actively  
calling for an always-standards mode switch.

-- 
Lachlan Hunt
http://lachy.id.au/

Received on Thursday, 19 April 2007 01:35:19 UTC