Topic: Personal website

[Dark Lightning]

Not that many of you care but I just converted my .asp site to .php and HTML 4.01 Transitional to XHTML 1.0 Strict; maybe I was bored, maybe I wanted a challenge, or maybe I'm a masochist.  Either way, if you're bored check out:

http://www.johngauthier.com/

I've added quite a few automotive FAQs and how-to's, with more to come.

[Dark Lightning]

And by all means, if you see a broken link or something not working right please let me know.  Thanks guys.

[spud]

Nice, looks good.  I have always loved web design, played around with it for a while, and now I have a class and am learning a whole lot more. 

Nice A4 as well, same year/color as mine (I have 2.8L).  Have not seen many that color, but I personally like it.

[djs]

Not that many of you care but I just converted my .asp site to .php and HTML 4.01 Transitional to XHTML 1.0 Strict;

Um...................what? 

[Dark Lightning]

Not that many of you care but I just converted my .asp site to .php and HTML 4.01 Transitional to XHTML 1.0 Strict;

Um...................what? 

<WARNING: I'm about to gloss over a lot of technical details.>

In the beginning there were HTML pages.  These are your average website's style: someone designed it, put it online, and you see it exactly how they created it.  If the owner wants something changed (bigger text, new information, etc) then someone has to go in and edit the code.  This is much like a newspaper: you get exactly what you wrote but you can't change it on the fly.  You have to go back, edit, and republish any changes.

ASP stands for Active Server Pages.  Here you can design how a site looks (title at the top, menu on the left, the latest news articles on the right) and the server will go out to get information for you to fill in each field.  In simple English, this is more like the stock ticker at the stock exchange.  The minute something changes, BANG! it's updated. 

PHP is another way of doing what ASP does, but there is an important difference: ASP was sculpted by and is supported exclusively by Microsoft; PHP is open source and everyone can use it.  So no matter if your server is Windows Server 2000, Redhat or Ubuntu Linux, Unix, Apple, or powered by a gerbil, PHP will work.  ASP requires a Windows server.

So in saying I went from ASP to PHP I'm saying that I went from a Redmond, Washington based satanic cult worshiping the Devil reborn to a California based slumber party who's outside toasting S'mores.  It also means that I am much more flexible in how and where I am able to host my website.

With me so far?

Now, HTML 4.01 and XHTML 1.0.  In writing website code, there are several bars by which to measure your code.  There's barely running, meaning your code sucks but Internet Explorer can figure out what you meant and get the idea across to your visitors.  That's ok for personal sites with few visitors or for companies that got ripped off by their web consulting firm.  Well written code is judged by the World Wide Web Consortium and has various levels of "correct" code based on how anal retentive you are and your own personal comfort level with masochism.

HTML 4.01 Transitional will let you get away with a lot of errors and in general is like that grandmother you had that let you steal from the cookie jar regardless of how often you beat your brother to a lifeless pulp.  XHTML 1.0 Strict is closer to the drill Sergeant from Full Metal Jacket, but only after he's drunk plus he recently found out you knocked up his sister.

So in saying that I'm XHTML 1.0 Strict, I'm saying that I really can code a website properly.

If any of that didn't make any sense, eh, don't worry about it.  I'm just saying I'm a geek and I enjoy my hobby.

[edited for clarity]

[kjegerer]

Well done!

[djs]

I was just being sarcastic originally, but that is a really good write up, really good.  I followed it and understood it.  Thanks.   

[bushido]

Great explination John!

[Castle]

wow...that was the most entertaining techno geek babble I've ever read.  Its like I know what you mean now...kudos 

[spud]

I have just created a site with XHTML 1.0 Strict using php.  I have made a few websites before, though usually using some program that generates the code.  This one I coded completely from scratch, though it still needs some work.   I am learning a lot of how it all connects.   Its for Calvin and Hobbes fans, you can check it out at: http://www.theboyofdestiny.com

[jm]

Welcome to the light.

[Dark Lightning]

Thanks guys.

I have just created a site with XHTML 1.0 Strict using php.  I have made a few websites before, though usually using some program that generates the code.  This one I coded completely from scratch, though it still needs some work.   I am learning a lot of how it all connects.   Its for Calvin and Hobbes fans, you can check it out at: http://www.theboyofdestiny.com

Good work.

My next step may be incorporate AJAX so there are no page loads as you navigate my site (well, no visible page loads).  I'm already doing this on other sites I've written but I'm not sure how far I want to go with own personal site in terms of complexity.

[bushido]

Question - How do you get flash to load faster without the load time?

[jm]

Thanks guys.

I have just created a site with XHTML 1.0 Strict using php.  I have made a few websites before, though usually using some program that generates the code.  This one I coded completely from scratch, though it still needs some work.   I am learning a lot of how it all connects.   Its for Calvin and Hobbes fans, you can check it out at: http://www.theboyofdestiny.com

Good work.

My next step may be incorporate AJAX so there are no page loads as you navigate my site (well, no visible page loads).  I'm already doing this on other sites I've written but I'm not sure how far I want to go with own personal site in terms of complexity.

Be careful here, AJAX is really cool, but remember that people won't be able to use the back button (unless you are like google and do crazy javascript) and that people won't be able to simply link to a page they are on unless you introduce some extra complexity that kind of negates the coolness.
There are certainly many places to use ajax though where those two concerns aren't important. 
You should probably use the Scriptaculous and Prototype libraries
http://script.aculo.us/
Everyone uses them, first of all, so why be different!  Honestly, the reason is because they have everything you'd want, they do it with great implementations, its super easy to use, and most important, its cross-browser compliant!

Question - How do you get flash to load faster without the load time?

You need to have a little 'loader' flash movie that loads first and then loads in the real file and in this way can show your users a progress bar or some other little graphic while the main thing is loading.

[Dark Lightning]

Be careful here, AJAX is really cool, but remember that people won't be able to use the back button (unless you are like google and do crazy javascript) and that people won't be able to simply link to a page they are on unless you introduce some extra complexity that kind of negates the coolness.
There are certainly many places to use ajax though where those two concerns aren't important. 
You should probably use the Scriptaculous and Prototype libraries
http://script.aculo.us/
Everyone uses them, first of all, so why be different!  Honestly, the reason is because they have everything you'd want, they do it with great implementations, its super easy to use, and most important, its cross-browser compliant!

I'm using Scriptaculous and Rico right now for various features.

And yes there is a fine line between really cool and realistically unusable...  I'm on the fence about going any farther than I have (aside from simple visual updates.)  Eh, we'll see.