[ANN] Alpha test of the W3C Markup Validator (0.7.0-alpha2)

Dear all,

We are proceeding to the second step in testing the next version of
the Markup Validator: starting today, the (alpha) test instance of the
validator is running version 0.7.0-alpha2.

The test instance is located at:
    http://validator.w3.org:8001/


* Changes since version 0.7.0-alpha1 *

Thanks to your feedback since the beginning of the first alpha test [1],
we have fixed a number of bugs and issues with the validators.
Special attention was also given to polishing the documentation,
particularly regarding the basic concepts of validation, conformance,
and more generally the mechanisms at work in the validator. 

[1] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-validator/2005May/0106.html

The changelog [2] includes a list of modifications and bug fixes since
last released version, and has a specific section on changes since
0.7.0-alpha1.

[2] http://esw.w3.org/topic/MarkupValidator/ChangeLog


* Goals of this test *

The first alpha test seems to have shown that this new version of the
validator is not utterly broken. Time to get into specifics.

One of the main changes in this version (even moreso than the previous
aloha version) touches how document types are detected. The validator's
development version appears to be passing our usual test collection [3],
but as we saw during the alpha1 test, there are many document types and
special cases, and some thorough testing of various documents would be a
great outcome for the alpha2 test period. We are counting on your help
in finding HTML, XHTML, SMIL, MathML, SVG documents and running them
through the validator.

[3] http://qa-dev.w3.org/wmvs/HEAD/dev/tests/

As you will have noticed, the style and colors in this test validator
are different from the current production service. There have been a
number of experiments since last release, and we seem to be reaching a
reasonable point of balance. I realize that discussing such a matter of
taste is perilous, but if we can manage a constructive discussion on
style and usability, I think this could be very useful for small
improvements to the current design, and for our future reflexions.


* Next steps *

If all goes well, This alpha test should shortly be followed by a beta
test for a wider audience, with a release target still hopefully in
early summer.

Thanks!
For the W3C Validator Team,
-- 
olivier Thereaux - W3C / QA / Tools
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You can help improve the validator:
http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-validator/2005Apr/0031.html

Received on Friday, 24 June 2005 00:06:59 UTC