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Will HTML5 ever be a tool for the masses?
I've been following the HTML5 movement for some time now and am pretty excited about the potential it offers. I say potential since it is still a work in progress. I've been interested in building a HTML5/CSS/Javascript portfolio website for myself. I want it to be an interactive portfolio with dynamic graphics and such. But as I explore different HTML5 features I continually run into cross-browser incompatibilities. I am sure there are workarounds, but what I have found is that they tend to be pretty complex - relegating their development to only the most talented of programmers.
So this brings me to my question - will HTML5 ever be ready for "prime time" in the sense that it will be usable by the masses? Or are we headed to a world where unless you invest heavily in a rich development platform and have the programming skills to back it up, you are better suited to simply buying a ready made template (and look like everybody else...)?
Thoughts?
BTW - if you want to see a pretty impressive HTML5 website check out Wired Magazine's UK "Mind" site.
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5 Answers
Hi Robert,
Just visited Wired's "Mind" site, and the first thing I notice is that we're back to "optimized for..." land.
I think that over time there will be sufficient standardization of HTML5 that the common man can take advantage of it, but it might be some time -- perhaps 2-4 years out. With something this complex and feature rich, there are far too many ways to support it, and not enough impetus for the various vendors to cooperate.
So, I'm tentatively optimistic about the situation in general, but not about the timeframe... :)
-ASB: http://XeeMe.com/AndrewBaker
HTML 5 requires finalization as a standard, then adoption by the major authoring tools vendors. Only then can you expect mass use.
It will take about 5 years for any direct economic benefits to be realized, as it typical for most new IT technical standards. In the meantime, there is a lot of money to be made in authoring books about it and conducing educational seminars.
My issue with web dev is the fact that the browser vendors can't agree to follow the standards! Until users kick the backsides of these people to at least adhere to some form of basic standard, it will always be a headache developing complex sites that run in multiple browsers without having to write the same code 50 ways.
It should not fall back to developers having to find ways around the system - the system should not be broken in the first place!
I don't see the cross-browser differences and any departure from the current status quo. We already have these, and have had to live with them as long as I've been working on the web. Yes, there has been progress, but we are not there yet. My biggest weapon of defense is the Drupal content management platform, which is moving quickly to HTML5.
As for the web site you point to. And site that takes more then a minute to load (I'm on a fast cable) is not worth looking at.
As long as the HTML5 is being developed and supported gradually, i think we should adopt it the same way. in other words you can always use the base of the HTML5 like the semantics which is supported by all browsers and then you can add on to your experience when the other features are being supported. we cant just wait it to be supported and cross browser to start using it
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