As I’ve mentioned previously, I’m in the process of redesigning this web site. It’s very much a work in progress.
As a first step I’m building a pattern library and I’ve decided to open source the repo during the build process. I’m using Pattern Lab for the purpose.
The MDN page titled Sections and Outlines of an HTML5 Document includes the following warning:
There are currently no known implementations of the outline algorithm in graphical browsers or assistive technology user agents [...] authors are advised to use heading rank (
h1–h6).
Given the speed at which CSS3 is implemented, this is disappointing. Visitors to this site use modern, capable browsers; it’s a shame not to be able to use the most logical document outline.
WordPress uses 301 redirects to redirect URLs to their canonical version.
In cases where the non-canonical version will show the correct content, it is possible to use the HTML5 history API to show visitors the correct URL without the additional HTTP request.
This reduces HTTP requests, speeding up access for visitors and reducing the load on your server. Continue reading
For years, Firefox has taken the prize for the single most frustrating rule in a UA stylesheet.
input {
line-height: normal !important
}In my last post, I mentioned I was trialling the SUIT CSS naming convention as I redevelop this site. More generically, let’s address why a naming convention should be used at all.
For the purposes of this post, I’m talking specifically about class naming conventions. (While one may have naming conventions for JavaScript functions, variables, and HTML IDs too, they’re not the focus of this post.) Continue reading
I’m in the process of redeveloping this site. The site will still use WordPress but I’ll be adding a custom skin.
I’ve been wanting to try Pattern Lab for a while, so the first step is to create a pattern library. It’s early days, today’s task it to set up a reset and base styles.
Additionally, I’ll be sampling a CSS naming convention I’ve been meaning to try for a little while. A personal project is the perfect opportunity. Continue reading
As a tribute to Eric Meyer’s daughter Rebecca, the named colour rebeccapurple has been accepted into the CSS spec. Rebecca passed away on her sixth birthday recently. Continue reading
Based on the standard browser font-size of 16px, the following media query to have an affect on screens 160 pixels wide and up.
@media only screen and ( min-width : 10em ) {
html {
background-color: #ddd;
}
}Now, I would expect adding the following code would cause the media query above to have an affect on screens 320 pixels wide and up.
html {
font-size: 2em;
}
John Allsopp had a rant on Twitter recently – as is his want from time to time – he was remarking on vertical rhythm tools around the web and his point boils down to:
why do all the vertical rhythm tools for web design use pixels everywhere? I wonder if anyone paid attention at all in class.
— John Allsopp (@johnallsopp) June 6, 2014
This speaks to me of a wider problem; web developers are forgetting the 90s. Continue reading
Pattern libraries are becoming better known as sites such as the BBC and A List Apart release their pattern libraries publicly. For the uninitiated, a pattern library is a collection of elements used on a web site. They define everything from the base font to page layouts.
Brad Frost and Dave Olsen’s Pattern Lab is one tool for creating a style guide. As the demo shows, it combines both a style guide and a method for testing the responsiveness of a web site.
When creating a style guide using Pattern Lab for your site, it’s necessary to store the /source directory in your Git repo. Continue reading