[ANN] Beta test of the W3C Markup Validator (0.7.0 beta 1)

== Beta test for the W3C Markup Validator - version 0.7.0 beta 1 ==

I am pleased to announce that we are starting today a Beta test period
for the W3C Markup Validator, version 0.7.0 (beta 1).

               http://validator.w3.org:8001/

The W3C Markup Validation Service, also known as "HTML validator", is a
popular free service and software providing Web content authors a way to
check their documents against their grammar. The previous stable version
of the tool was released in July 2004, and we hope that this beta test
will lead to a release of a new stable version in the weeks to come.

Please send your feedback (see below for instructions) on this beta
versions through Monday, July 26, 2005. 


  **  Changes  **

The new "0.7.0" version brings a number of changes and bug fixes to the
architecture, interface and documentation of the Markup Validator.

The changes are listed at
http://validator.w3.org/whatsnew.html#t2005-07-12, and include:
- Templated XHTML output
- Better feedback mechanisms
- User Interface improvements
- The return of the "direct input" validation
- Validation of documents using "custom DTDs"
- Global updates to the documentation
- ... and overall, more than 30 issues or bugs addressed.


 **  How to Test  **

In order to make the stable release as successful as possible, the tool
will have to be tested in a variety of conditions by as many people as
possible.

   * Test the new version online

In addition to the usual service, a test instance of the Markup
Validator is available online at the following address:
http://validator.w3.org:8001/

   * Send Feedback

When testing the beta version of the validator, you are invited to look
for, and report, any bug or issue you may encounter. This includes
validation bugs, software errors, User Interface issues, and other
suggestions. Bug reports regarding the recognition of document types are
particularly welcome.

Instructions for feedback are given at:
http://validator.w3.org:8001/feedback.html

It is recommended to read through these instructions, and check the
Mail archives and Bug database, before sending a new bug report to the
publicly archived mailing-list www-validator@w3.org.

   * Install the validator locally

The validator is free software, and it is possible to install it on a
local Web server. Testing whether the latest version install and runs
properly on all systems, and checking that the installation guide is
correct and up to date (see below) would be valuable. People already
maintaining a local instance of the validator are especially invited 
to install and test the beta version.

A tarball of the latest version of the validator, as well as the
catalogue of grammars it uses, are available:

http://validator.w3.org/dist/validator-0_7_0b1.tar.gz
http://validator.w3.org/dist/sgml-lib-0_7_0b1.tar.gz

The installation guide is online, and distributed with the software:
http://validator.w3.org:8001/docs/install.html

  * Spread the word

As mentioned earlier, getting a high number of people to participate
to this beta test would help make it a success. If you are part of
a community of Web designers, developers, or other types of users
of the W3C Markup Validator, you may want to invite others in these
communities to participate, too. Please refer to this announcement on
the www-validator mailing-list:
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-validator/2005Jul/0056.html


  **  Thank you  **

Many thanks to the large, great community around the validator, for
making this beta version happen. Thanks and congratulations to the
volunteers of the QA Tools development group for their contribution,
thanks to the participants of the www-validator mailing-list for
providing invaluable feedback, suggestions, and an excellent support
for every user of the tool. And finally, thank you all for participating 
in this beta test.

olivier
-- 
olivier Thereaux - W3C / QA / Tools

Received on Tuesday, 12 July 2005 08:07:20 UTC