Interesting times
We live, as the Chinese adage says, “in interesting times” when it comes to the core technologies of the web. In recent weeks, days and even hours, there have been significant developments when it comes to core standards like CSS and HTML, and technologies like the browsers without which we don’t really have a web at all.
Whatever your position on these debates and developments, you’ll find very significant contributors to the development of these technologies and standards, from companies like Microsoft, Opera and Adobe, from the W3C, from the Web Standards Project, as well as others keenly interested in making the web work right at Web Directions North. There’s no better way to cut to the chase, or even put your case, than to meet and discuss these issues with those best placed to influence and implement them.
One thing I’ve learned over the years in meeting and chatting with folks like this is its best to leave your preconceptions at the door. They are just as committed to and passionate about the web as you are. Passions can run a little high from time to time about some of these issues, which is both a great thing (people really care) and can lead to difficulties in the heat of a discussion. But if we keep in mind that at the bottom, we are all on the same side, then the differences can be seen in the context of differing challenges faced by different people and organizations in the web ecosystem.
So if you see folks from Microsoft, Adobe, Opera, the W3C, Wasp at Web Directions North - people whose names you may recognize, whether speakers, or attendees, go and say hi - that’s a significant reason why they come along. Chat about the issues that interest you - your opinion will definitely be respected, though maybe debated and discussed, so be prepared for that too.
January 22, 2008 | 5:35 pm
Are you (WDN) going to make it easier for us (attendees) to talk about these things in an organized manner? Maybe have a “Birds of a Feather” for specific topics about current and developing technologies, and how they can/should be implemented.
With these debates about how IE8 should support their new rendering mode, it would be nice to have a venue to talk about it in person, as we will all be there (or at least some of us.) I know there are a lot of people smarter than me that have their own opinions, but are probably just waiting for the right time to say something, which may never come.
Just a thought.
- Jon Hughes
January 22, 2008 | 5:45 pm
Jon,
indeed we have two BOF sessions lined up - at each lunch time. They’ll take place at lunch tables so you can grab your lunch, pick the discussion you want and head over.
We called for proposals a few weeks ago, and received a lot of good ones. The proposers will be the “unorganizers” - in the tradition of barcamp.
We’ll be posting the topics hopefully today, so keep an eye out
Thanks,
john
January 26, 2008 | 12:35 pm
I’ll echo John’s statement. Chris Mills (our Dev Opera editor) and myself will be there from Opera, and we’d love to talk with everyone at the conference. The feedback we get from Designers and Developers at events such as Web Directions is invaluable for us to deliver a product that meets your needs.We are very open to hearing your ideas.
As well as my regular role of working on web site compatibility and standards evangelism (In some ways I’m Opera’s version of IE8 meta element), I also have a new role in representing web developer’s interests in regards to our standards support. That means I have a direct link to push for standards implementation of the things that matter most to developers.
I’m also looking forward to meeting up with the MS people at the event. I’ve got a great working relationship with a number of the people on the team, and I know at least Joshua Allen will be there. He’s seen first hand the issues Opera is caused by developers using expected old IE behaviour (A number of MS sites break in Opera due to this reason, and he’s helped a lot with helping us get some of them fixed), so it will be interesting to hear his take on the whole meta element issue, which will be in effect legitimising using this broken code, as no version on IE will ever break when getting that code.