In this episode of the Herding Code Podcast, the guys sit down with Milan Negovan of ASP.NET Resources to discuss web standards, usability and accessibility. Milan also shares his opinions on the onslaught of new technologies coming out of Redmond, why developers should avoid big conferences, the benefits of independent consulting, the motivation of Microsoft MVP Program and his impressions of ALT.NET.
- The show kicks off with Milan’s explanation of semantic markup – thinking first about content and then presentation – and the Web Standards Trinity which includes Structure (HTML, XHTML, XML), Presentation (CSS), and Behavior (JavaScript).
- Milan talks about Quirks Mode vs Strict Mode. Jon asks about the benefits of XHTML especially with XHTML 2 recently being shot down in favor of HTML 5.
- Milan states that CSS has always been more of a recommendation rather than a true standard. He asks why anyone would use skins and/or themes. Jon bites and guesses because it is a typical Visual Studio control-first option and themes (unlike cascading style sheets) are always applied last and may enforce corporate design standards. Milan also shares his frustration with the bloated, non-standard markup generated by ASP.NET Server Controls and he names names. That’s right, DataGrid! He’s talking about you.
- Milan provides an overview of his impressive Microsoft.com redesign experiment and speaks briefly of Section 508 and his Color Blindness Simulator.
- K Scott asks what a .NET developer should do to better adhere to web standards. Milan talks specifically about control development, ASP.NET MVC and the shift back to client-side development.
- Milan speaks his mind about Silverlight’s poor usability. He states Silverlight is being marketed to the wrong audience and it is not a replacement for JavaScript. Milan also calls out the educational gap for developers needing to act as designers. Shall I continue? Jon agrees but provides a rebuttal.
- K Scott seeks Milan’s opinion on new technologies, big conferences, independent consulting, the Microsoft MVP Program and ALT.NET. Milan shares that you’ll go insane if you try to learn everything which is coming out of Redmond and suggests that developers specialize. Milan describes big conferences as nothing more than “booze and noise” and recommends developers avoid conferences like Mix and participate in the local community instead. Milan talks about life as a business owner/independent consultant, job security and building one’s personal brand. Milan questions the motivation of the Microsoft MVP program and suggests it is merely another marketing channel for Microsoft. Milan shares his positive impressions of ALT.NET and comments on the “remarkable crap” published by Patterns and Practices. Scott K calls Milan out for being too much of a kiss-up marketing shill. Fin.
Show Links:
- Milan’s Blog
- @MilanNegovan
- ASP.NET Resources
- Microsoft.com Home Page Design: Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Developing Web Applications with ASP.NET and Web Standards
- Bait Station Ahead – How to keep your sanity in this onslaught of new technologies
- Color Blindness Simulator
- A List Apart
- Smashing Magazine
- Section 508
- Josh Holmes
- Joe Stagner
- Ted Neward
- South by SouthWest
- Bill Buxton
- Steve Andrews
- Alan Stevens
- Keith Elder
- Mary Jo Foley
- ASP.NET MVC
- MEF
- Patterns & Practices
- Implementing the Singleton Pattern in C#
- Boston Code Camp
- Connecticut Code Camp
- Utah Code Camp
- Richmond Code Camp
Book Recommendations from Milan
- Universal Principles of Design
- Non-Designer’s Design Book
- Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability
- Stop Stealing Sheep & Find Out How Type Works
- Transcending CSS: The Fine Art of Web Design
Download / Listen:
Herding Code 59: Web Standards with Milan Negovan
[audio://herdingcode.com/wp-content/uploads/HerdingCode-0059-Web-Standards-with-Milan-Negovan.mp3]Show notes compiled by Ben Griswold. Thanks!
