by Karina Beattiger 10.March 2008 15:09
I've stated this before, I'm sure. If not here, then numerous times to other people, imaginary or otherwise. I'll state it again for fun and profit, though: My brain doesn't work the way mathematicians' and developers' do. It always seems as though it could, given enough incentive and drive, but midway through whatever problem it's diligently working on, there's a loud popping sound followed by the deflation of thousands of tiny brain cells. And then I find myself thinking, "Gosh, you know, dark chocolate sounds great right about now..."
I was decent in math class. I enjoy math -- are you reading this, Mom? -- and I found myself happily ensconced in the world of quadratic equations, plinking away like a kid with a puzzle. Mind, I wasn't always great at it, and I'm known for stupid mistakes (which tends to be slightly less forgivable than sheer ignorance), which also means that when applied to the world of code, the theory is the same. I can get lost in it. I even enjoy, in a sick sort of way, working at it, as long as I'm not on a deadline and don't feel like I'm wasting someone else's time by doing it. There are whole chapters that probably fly right over my head, but the parts I do get are as fascinating as a foreign language, with none of the conversational ability.
So, when I hear Kyle talk about this mythical beast called CSS3, I find myself alternatively intrigued and resigned. The former because of all the great info circulating out there, all the hopeful "fixes" and new abilities, and the latter because just as I'm starting to feel I have at least a decent handle on CSS, I'm going to have to a) wait until the browsers all recognize what the heck it is (are you hearing me, IE?), and b) learn even more. Not just learn more, either, but also learn more knowing -- dreading -- that when I turn to a site I've designed in Firefox, IE won't look right. Not until IE8 -- we hope. Not until the Great Browser Conglomerate finally manages to decide what, when, how to get compliant.
If to get compliant, and on whose terms.
Speaking from, as I always do, my own point of view, I'm alternately nervous and excited for the sighting of the magical CSS3. I'm hunting unicorns. One small -- verysmall -- portion of my brain is wandering about, keeping a sharp eye out for magical beasties and requisite bait, while the rest of my brain continues to poke away at what I'm learning. All the while, I'm thinking to myself, How much of this will be useless, or at least not used, when CSS3 comes out? How long will the unicorn magic last, and will the ground up horn of CSS3 actually work to cure the compliance disease?
Will the Seahawks ever make it to the Superbowl without choking again?
I believe there's always hope. I can't tell you home many sites I design in Firefox, only to open it in IE7 to see enough marginal differences to make me scream. Perfectionist? Yes. Lazy? When I can get away with it, which usually means on my own personal site, and nowhere else. Enter the new stylesheet. Enter the new layout edits. Open in IE6. Have conniptions. Possibly cry. Enter the new stylesheet. Enter the new edits. Enter the wish for the magical "make 1px = 1px no matter what browser darn well opens it" button. (Note to whatever gods are listening: it should be large. And red. Like my rage.) Really, is it too much to ask that all modern browsers react the same way to all things?
... I already know the answer is yes. While I don't expect CSS3 to be the new cure-all, I do expect all modern browsers to at least recognize what the selectors are. I also, it should be pointed out, expect that all shoes I try on to come in my size, so I am not without my blindness of optimism. Am I putting all my eggs in one poorly-destined bucket? Perhaps. I am just informed enough to have hopes and not informed enough to be bitter. This works out in my favor -- I am never informed enough to be disappointed, because I don't have enough details to expect less than the universe on a platter. Since the chances of myself getting this are slim, disappointment never lingers, and I am usually content with what I do get.
If a unicorn rides up and deposits his lissome rider at my feet, then boy, won't I be surprised. Until then, though, Kyle combs the news for details and, like a fishwife at market, shares all his gossip about which browser is thumbing its nose at which developer, and what designer scoffs at what multibillion conglomerate. (Intermix as desired.) I learn a little more about all of the above every day, and a little more CSS every day (my latest awesomeness: class[type="type"], my current struggle to remember: pseudo-classes) and have to ask Kyle a little less.
Of course, then we get into javascript training...
Ahem.
... I think I'll go poke around for unicorns some more.