I have read all threads on the asp.net forum regarding css and xhtml in Dot Net Nuke. Resently there was a change of things, as the good O'Brien made a tutorial for getting Dot Net Nuke to output valid xhtml code.
Read the thread here, good reading!also there is
one related thread here, make sure to read that one too.
So when you now are up to speed on what this is about, lets think about what we can do about this. I have seen people posting comments like, pure css in dnn is a lostcause, do not bother. Css will make dnn break.
Well in my opinion neither css nor xhtml makes dnn break. Dnn makes dnn break, with pure css and xhtml valid skin. And no I am not crazy, thank you.
There have been made choices along the development of dnn, and the one choise I would like to change is to follow the excisting standards. If you take a closer look at
O'Brien's tutorial you will see how few changes to the dnn that actually will make it valid. Sure this is just one example, and to make the core as a whole validate is more work, but doable.
Other comments like "xhtml and css is alost cause because it is impossible to implement in a dynamic database driven inviroment" is just as wrong. There are dozens of dynamic database driven project out there today that have valid output code, yet maintain a true css driven layout and design. If you take a look at the MySQL PHP world, you will see lots of them, and funny thing, the dynamic content does Not break the framework.
There are written pages on pages on standards and why to follow them, but we see all the time that companies or OS projects choose to not follow a certain standard. Sometimes that can be a valid thought through choice, but for many projects it could just as well be that they where not aware of the advatages by following such a standard, or that they do not know how to implement the standard. I am ot sure what reasson the dnn team had when they made a chioce to write the code in a way that made it not valid. Nor is it importent.
What I find of high importance is to get a general debate of what can be done to meet the standard, and have valid output xhtml code from the dnn. Sure it is not over night, but the sooner the debate starts, the sooner we have solution.
This is importent both for the core team, but also for individual that develop modules, and skin developer as well.
I will write more tomorrow, make a little pro and con article.
For now, enjoy the links and please be a good boy and place your thoughts here.