A HTML5 Primer for the Overwhelmed http://www.sencha.com/blog/a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed Although there are many excellent resources out there describing details of HTML5, including the core specification itself, they are generally technical and many of them are out of synch with the current state of the specs. So, we thought a short primer on HTML5 might be in order. en-us michael@sencha.com Copyright 2010 2010-05-23T22:14:12+00:00 Comment by Michial Thompson I find it interesting that the HTML Standards have grown so vastly towards trying to make Web Application Development so much better.  YET they still haven’t addressed the most simple of development needs which would take Web Applications into a TRULY USEFUL arena. After a decade of trying to make Web Apps the standard we still do not have basic entry format controls without relying on a bunch of Java CRAP in our code.  Why can’t they add a simple “FORMAT” property to the <input> tag that would allow programmers to control the format of the input?  I’m not asking for much, but as long as I am reliant on JAVA to enforce formatting controls I am less likely to move to HTML Apps for 90% of business needs. It’s bad enough that Microsucks has dumped so much crap into the HTML stream for .Net Web Forms, but to be forced to add even more is getting old.  Bandwidth may be improving daily, but browser rendering is still dependant on the hardware. Get real people do something USEFUL in HTML5 I find it interesting that the HTML Standards have grown so vastly towards trying to make Web Application Development so much better.  YET they still haven’t addressed the most simple of development needs which would take Web Applications into a TRULY USEFUL arena.

After a decade of trying to make Web Apps the standard we still do not have basic entry format controls without relying on a bunch of Java CRAP in our code.  Why can’t they add a simple “FORMAT” property to the <input> tag that would allow programmers to control the format of the input?  I’m not asking for much, but as long as I am reliant on JAVA to enforce formatting controls I am less likely to move to HTML Apps for 90% of business needs.

It’s bad enough that Microsucks has dumped so much crap into the HTML stream for .Net Web Forms, but to be forced to add even more is getting old.  Bandwidth may be improving daily, but browser rendering is still dependant on the hardware.

Get real people do something USEFUL in HTML5

]]> Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:36 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:22827#date:15:36 Comment by telecom books Good overview about html5, can you suggest the best book to learn it. Good overview about html5, can you suggest the best book to learn it.

]]> Thu, 03 Mar 2011 04:45 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:17892#date:04:45 Comment by Alan Languirand Thanks for the great article. I’ve had friends talking about this, but didn’t quite know if I was getting it. There is plenty of good here, but like you say there’s also plenty of hype. Thanks for the great article. I’ve had friends talking about this, but didn’t quite know if I was getting it. There is plenty of good here, but like you say there’s also plenty of hype.

]]> Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:07 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15496#date:19:07 Comment by Herbert Good html5 intro, i will know what to expect when i am reading and trying out html5 family technologies Good html5 intro, i will know what to expect when i am reading and trying out html5 family technologies

]]> Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:58 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15495#date:11:58 Comment by p6ril I don’t agree on calling that “HTML5 familly” and I believe it’s actually confusing. HTML and CSS are separate subjects and specifications. There is nothing stopping a developer from applying CSS3 styling on an HTML4 or XHTML document. The point about HTML and CSS is simply to decorelate the content from it’s presentation. Hence although this post is highly interesting for its content I think it’s misleading with regards to what HTML actually is. The “HTML5 familly” as you call it is the web next generation (including potentially CSS3 and SVG for instance as you mentioned it) not just HTML5 as defined by the W3C. Anyway I agree your approach has a good teaching potential in simplifying the mix of involved technologies. Thanks for your interesting post. I don’t agree on calling that “HTML5 familly” and I believe it’s actually confusing. HTML and CSS are separate subjects and specifications. There is nothing stopping a developer from applying CSS3 styling on an HTML4 or XHTML document. The point about HTML and CSS is simply to decorelate the content from it’s presentation. Hence although this post is highly interesting for its content I think it’s misleading with regards to what HTML actually is. The “HTML5 familly” as you call it is the web next generation (including potentially CSS3 and SVG for instance as you mentioned it) not just HTML5 as defined by the W3C. Anyway I agree your approach has a good teaching potential in simplifying the mix of involved technologies. Thanks for your interesting post.

]]> Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:38 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15494#date:16:38 Comment by b I agree with Ben, HTML5 and CSS3 are cool and will help us out in about 4 years once they are widely adopted, until then it just means more of a mess for designers and developers to support both as people transition. Quite frankly I still don’t see dramatic differences in HTML5/CSS3 and what flash/Flex does today for application development, it levels the playing field and takes the stupid browsers out of the equation. I think I have spent too many hours trying to work around browser incompatibilities that I don’t care to do it again for the next wave, please, wake me up when its over. I agree with Ben,

HTML5 and CSS3 are cool and will help us out in about 4 years once they are widely adopted, until then it just means more of a mess for designers and developers to support both as people transition.

Quite frankly I still don’t see dramatic differences in HTML5/CSS3 and what flash/Flex does today for application development, it levels the playing field and takes the stupid browsers out of the equation. I think I have spent too many hours trying to work around browser incompatibilities that I don’t care to do it again for the next wave, please, wake me up when its over.

]]> Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:49 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15493#date:18:49 Comment by Jay Robinson FHJ: “Please, please, please, pretty please with a cherry on top, do a primer for CSS3. ” Done! Look for our blog post on CSS3 here: http://extjs.com/x/2t FHJ: “Please, please, please, pretty please with a cherry on top, do a primer for CSS3. smile”

Done! Look for our blog post on CSS3 here: http://extjs.com/x/2t

]]> Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:40 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15492#date:21:40 Comment by Derek Tomes Thanks for the very clear summary, it is much appreciated. Thanks for the very clear summary, it is much appreciated.

]]> Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:00 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15491#date:03:00 Comment by Peter Spicer-Wensley Thanks, Michael for an excellent and succinct article. For those querying browser readiness check here: http://html5readiness.com/ to see how your browser fares. IE6 will break but it was already broken and you shouldn’t be using it - welcome to 2010. My 20c worth. PeterSW Thanks, Michael for an excellent and succinct article.
For those querying browser readiness check here:
http://html5readiness.com/
to see how your browser fares.
IE6 will break but it was already broken and you shouldn’t be using it - welcome to 2010.
My 20c worth.
PeterSW

]]> Wed, 02 Jun 2010 01:42 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15490#date:01:42 Comment by Joeri I’m using localStorage as a state provider already, with fallback to userData for older IE versions. Not having a dozen cookies sent to the server on each request helps a lot. I’m using localStorage as a state provider already, with fallback to userData for older IE versions. Not having a dozen cookies sent to the server on each request helps a lot.

]]> Mon, 31 May 2010 10:05 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15489#date:10:05 Comment by Joe Excellent description and clarification.&nbsp; Thanks Excellent description and clarification.  Thanks

]]> Sun, 30 May 2010 04:16 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15488#date:04:16 Comment by Bob Great article.. Great overview and clarification Great article.. Great overview and clarification

]]> Fri, 28 May 2010 15:19 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15487#date:15:19 Comment by Guide to HTML 5 - SLUniverse Forums [...] excellent guide to what HTML 5 is and is not, since the term is getting as misused as Web 2.0:&nbsp; A HTML5 Primer for the Overwhelmed ? Ext JS Blog ? JavaScript Framework and RIA Platform &nbsp; __________________ Can the military overcome their problems recruiting young people? Yes, by [...] [...] excellent guide to what HTML 5 is and is not, since the term is getting as misused as Web 2.0:  A HTML5 Primer for the Overwhelmed ? Ext JS Blog ? JavaScript Framework and RIA Platform   __________________ Can the military overcome their problems recruiting young people? Yes, by [...]

]]> Fri, 28 May 2010 05:20 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15486#date:05:20 Comment by fhj Please, please, please, pretty please with a cherry on top, do a primer for CSS3. Please, please, please, pretty please with a cherry on top, do a primer for CSS3. smile

]]> Thu, 27 May 2010 23:32 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15485#date:23:32 Comment by Michael Mullany There are lots of rough edges in the implementations right now. But this should get a lot better There are lots of rough edges in the implementations right now. But this should get a lot better

]]> Thu, 27 May 2010 18:51 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15484#date:18:51 Comment by Thorsten localStorage kinda sucks right now, specially when it comes to Webkit based browsers. First off, recent versions of Chrome do not support the Application Cache Api (coming with future versions, though). Safari does not seem to load cross domain resources once Application Cache is activated, no matter how you configure the Network section in the manifest. This makes the API for this browser completely useless - imagine an App that uses the Cache but has a Twitter Client which obviously needs to load image data from the Twitter servers.&nbsp; I hope it gets fixed in one of the next releases… localStorage kinda sucks right now, specially when it comes to Webkit based browsers. First off, recent versions of Chrome do not support the Application Cache Api (coming with future versions, though). Safari does not seem to load cross domain resources once Application Cache is activated, no matter how you configure the Network section in the manifest. This makes the API for this browser completely useless - imagine an App that uses the Cache but has a Twitter Client which obviously needs to load image data from the Twitter servers.  I hope it gets fixed in one of the next releases…

]]> Thu, 27 May 2010 13:56 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15483#date:13:56 Comment by Bob Chesley Excellent overview on HTML5 and related standards.&nbsp; Now time to dig in… Excellent overview on HTML5 and related standards.  Now time to dig in…

]]> Thu, 27 May 2010 09:22 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15482#date:09:22 Comment by Piers Finlayson As well as being a useful summary of the recent and ongoing specification activities I like the way you have identified that use of “HTML5” to mean a combination of the latest HTML, CSS and JS technologies to create a rich web experience. Do you have a view on how mobile standards such as BONDI and JIL, and the ongoing WAC initiative, should be integrated with the “HTML 5 family” to form a single set of specifications for access to native device capabilities, including geolocation, camera, mics, contacts data, etc? As well as being a useful summary of the recent and ongoing specification activities I like the way you have identified that use of “HTML5” to mean a combination of the latest HTML, CSS and JS technologies to create a rich web experience.

Do you have a view on how mobile standards such as BONDI and JIL, and the ongoing WAC initiative, should be integrated with the “HTML 5 family” to form a single set of specifications for access to native device capabilities, including geolocation, camera, mics, contacts data, etc?

]]> Thu, 27 May 2010 09:17 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15481#date:09:17 Comment by Alex S Fascinating article!&nbsp; Reinforces my commitment to Ext.&nbsp; As @ben mentioned above, this does introduce a completely new set of challenges and knowing that the Ext team is focused on these issues and that they have a solid understanding of the HTML5 landscape leaves me feeling content in doing what I do best - building applications. Fascinating article!  Reinforces my commitment to Ext.  As @ben mentioned above, this does introduce a completely new set of challenges and knowing that the Ext team is focused on these issues and that they have a solid understanding of the HTML5 landscape leaves me feeling content in doing what I do best - building applications.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 19:22 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15480#date:19:22 Comment by Randy Peterman @Ben: Just because something is not downward compatible doesn’t mean you don’t have to take advantage of some of the changes.&nbsp; For example: you can use local storage and web workers (or many of the features) where they apply, but then have something that gracefully moves onto the supported approach.&nbsp; Just because IE didn’t have a native XMLHTTP object doesn’t mean we stopped using AJAX (on the contrary we looped through a sad number of possible implementations).&nbsp; By doing cool things on new browsers users will be more inclined to upgrade, which can only benefit the industry. @Ben: Just because something is not downward compatible doesn’t mean you don’t have to take advantage of some of the changes.  For example: you can use local storage and web workers (or many of the features) where they apply, but then have something that gracefully moves onto the supported approach.  Just because IE didn’t have a native XMLHTTP object doesn’t mean we stopped using AJAX (on the contrary we looped through a sad number of possible implementations). 

By doing cool things on new browsers users will be more inclined to upgrade, which can only benefit the industry.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 14:26 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15479#date:14:26 Comment by Ben The only problem is that there are a whole host of old browsers out there that don’t support HTML5, so isn’t this just adding yet another layer of browser compatibility issues. There’s no point writing HTML5 rich apps if loads of your users can’t use them, and a whole bunch of them have no control over which browser they’re using anyway. The only problem is that there are a whole host of old browsers out there that don’t support HTML5, so isn’t this just adding yet another layer of browser compatibility issues. There’s no point writing HTML5 rich apps if loads of your users can’t use them, and a whole bunch of them have no control over which browser they’re using anyway.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 13:16 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15478#date:13:16 Comment by basavaraj koti Thanks for the HTML5 sum-up. Hope for more timely updates. Thanks for the HTML5 sum-up. Hope for more timely updates.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 04:32 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15477#date:04:32 Comment by Cyril Gupta Excellent article Michael. Excellent article Michael.

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 04:31 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15476#date:04:31 Comment by Roland Rich Came to this site via Google looking for answers on putting maps on my page and just wanted to say thanks for your help! Came to this site via Google looking for answers on putting maps on my page and just wanted to say thanks for your help!

]]> Wed, 26 May 2010 03:00 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15475#date:03:00 Comment by S. Sanches Thanks for the update. It’s most clarifying! Thanks for the update. It’s most clarifying!

]]> Tue, 25 May 2010 23:07 GMT http://www.sencha.com/blog//a-html5-primer-for-the-overwhelmed#id:15474#date:23:07