Datasheet

FUTURE-PROOF WEB DESIGN

Resolving Issues of Compatibility

 ere is one  nal, essential survival skill that all designers must have if they want to over-

come the challenges of achieving compatibility. By understanding an environment, you

can identify the core issues you need to address; by planning ahead, you can reduce the

chances for errors; and by remaining open to adaptation, you can implement satisfactory

outcomes. But every now and then, you will encounter quirks that trip you up and solu-

tions that fall short of meeting your layouts’ requirements. Knowing what to do when

things go wrong will help you survive and maintain ubiquity.

Debugging for durable devices

Comprehending the complexities of the Web involves knowing how to spot errors, deter-

mining the cause of the problem, and  nding a nice, clean, and workable solution. Ideally,

all your sites will look and feel amazing on every medium and in every environment, but

of course, things often don’t work out that way. By ensuring that your sites work well for

your many users, you provide a perception of professionalism and competence.

To the average person, the Web may be a bit of a mystery. People don’t understand its ori-

gins and complexity (Figure 1-13), but they marvel at how it can be experienced and uti-

lized through many mediums. Your responsibility to produce durable, bug-free experiences

for users is much an extension of this. Because the Web seems so mysterious, part of its

appeal is simply that it works. However, if compatibility on the Web falls apart, any illusion

is lost, the failings of a site are exposed, and its elegance and beauty evaporate.

Figure 1-13:  e average website contains many variables.

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