[Pydotorg-redesign] Netscape 4 support

[Simon Willison]

Tim Parkin wrote:

> My big (BIG!!!) question is support for netscape 4. 
> 
> I'd love to be able to make sure it works visually in netscape 4 but if
> we have to do that then we lose an incredible amount of the advantages
> of css and semantic html. Basically if we want it to work in netscape 4
> then I think we're back to tables (unless someone thinks the design can
> be implemented in css layout and still work in netscape, I've tried and
> not had much success).

Netsape 4's market share is so tiny now as to be insignificant. It 
really isn't worth investing much NS 4 specific work. At the same time, 
the site has to at least function in NS 4 and preferably not look like 
it was created by rank amateurs to users of that browser.

I suggest using the classid dual stylesheets appoach. The basic 
stylesheet (as used by Netscape 4) can set font styles, header styles 
and anything else that NS4's highly limited CSS can safely support. Then 
@import an advanced stylesheet with the real site design in it. A good 
example of a site that does this effectively is www.stopdesign.com - 
it's amazing how much better a site looks with just some rudimentary 
text colours on headings.

However, before finalising any decision along these lines it's vital to 
know the current browser usage as experienced by the existing python.org 
site. If it turns out for some bizzare reason that NS4 users are a 
significant percentage of visitors the site will need to make more of an 
effort to provide them with a visually attractive design.

Cheers,

Simon Willison
http://simon.incutio.com/