Thoughts on IE8 browser version targeting
JAN 25th 2008 • 0 Comments
I've just been reading up on Microsoft's idea of browser targeting (that Aaron Gustafson supports) that would allow web developers to essentially opt-in to the standards mode of Internet Explorer 8. The idea is to add a simple META tag that lists out the browsers that the site was tested and proven to work properly on. Like so...
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=8;FF=3;OtherUA=4" />
The idea behind this is that a site that was proven to work properly on Internet Explorer 8 won't suddenly break when they release Internet Explorer 12 in 10 years for example. Newer, more advanced browser versions can come out and never have to worry about possibly breaking an older site that only rendered correctly because it was built on a flaw or bug in a previous version.
The problem as I see it has to do with the concept of providing backwards compatibility. At first glance it seems like a noble thing to do, we don't want a page that is rendered correctly in one version of a browser to suddenly break when the browser is upgraded. I admit, that's bad - no doubt about it, but what I think is worse is to essentially forgive developers who don't follow standards correctly. If we do that, we're basically saying that it's ok if you don't follow web standards. Web standards are no longer important because what's the point in following them if you know your site will render correctly without them?
Web standards exist to help put us all on the same page and help us to pave the way to the future of the internet. If we follow those standards, there's no need for browser version targeting unless there's a fundamental change in the standard. But that's not likely to happen.>
The fact is, the only reason for the browser versioning is because Microsoft found itself in a position where it's past sins were haunting them. They can't follow web standards properly without breaking backwards compatibility in previous versions of IE. I pity the situation they're in, but sometimes you just have to cut off the old and start fresh with the new, and that's something Microsoft is scared to death of doing.
It's unrealistic to set a goal of supporting years and years worth of buggy websites that were built for a bug ridden browser and also support standards too. You either support one or the other. You can't have the best of both worlds.
It's hard to move forward when you've nailed your foot to the floor.
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