Markup Slacker

April 17, 2007

Since reading Andy Clarke's Transcending CSS, I've come to the realization that I'm a slacker. Reading along as Clarke created superb web pages without a solitary div was an eye-opening experience. Not altogether a comfortable one. Because soon after, I had to open up a file of my own HTML markup and confront The Creature.

Compared to Clarke's spartan clean markup, mine was hideously blemished with divs and ids and classes. I tell you, even now, my face pales and my heart is filled with shame. Okay, maybe not. But I did pull my hair once and grumble, "Jesus, what the hell am I doing?"

You see, I've studied CSS and HTML markup for two years now. I haven't studied rigorously for two years... Especially, maybe, the last year. Or so. But still. I should be something of an expert, don't you think? I know what I'm doing, right?

Wrong. The more I read, the more I discover how much more there is to know about CSS and HTML. And of course, the busier we get at work, the less attention I pay to the rules of proper markup. When you're in a hurry, it's so easy to toss in a div or slap on an id and rush the page out. Also (not to make excuses, but...) lately a lot of my work involves CMS like MediaWiki and, especially, Drupal. CMS are worse than DreamWeaver. They spit out junk code like a third-baseman with a wad of chew.

So my new personal top mission (dislodging the search for the perfect periwinkle shirt to go with my new pants) is to see if I can get Drupal to generate cleaner markup. I'm going to start with the Zen theme, which I've used several times and find fairly easy to customize. I'll let you know how it goes, just as soon as I get done wresting with The Creature.