Jacks_Buzz Words

Since I have gotten back into the job market, I am reminded of all the emphasis on buzz words. I recall of how simple things used to be and how the Internet speak has evolved. Anticipating the changes html 5 will bring, I want to look back at all the buzz words that have bothered me.

DTHML

Thank goodness this is not used as much any more. This was a completely worthless acronym. For those luck few who have never come across this, let me explain what it is. DHTML is those HTML attributes that allow you to capture events into JavaScript. For instance onClick, onFocus, and onSubmit. I am pretty sure they got their own classification because they where not part of the HTML spec.

The problem is, that it can not do anything on its own. DHTML needs to be in HTML and it only works with browser based scripting languages. (JavaScript, JScript and VBScript). Therefor, if you need something done in JavaScript and HTML; you can assume that it would be using DHTML.

So every time time you see it in a job posting, it is redundant information. It is completely useless and implied. Don't mention it any more, it declare it deprecated.

CSS and HTML

I think you'll be had pressed to find someone who knows CSS and not HTML. True, there are ways you can use CSS without HTML but that is by far the most common use.

It is also way over used by those who do not know much about it. You can not design a website in CSS. You should be able to change an entire website by just changing the CSS (As shown by CSS Zen Garden) but in the real world, HTML and CSS are vary tightly coupled together.

Asking someone if they can write HTML and JavaScript should imply HTML, CSS, DHTML and JavaScript. Actually, I think you should have working knowledge of all those to call your self a website developer. There is no reason to ask me if I know each one during an interview.

XML

Why does XML get so much attention?? I had heard a lot about it before I decided to look into it. I was actually under the impression that it was a scripting language or markup. I started looking into it, expecting to spend months mastering it. Then I came to the realization that it was only a file format.

Are you kidding? Thats like asking for CSV experience on your resume. Knowing a file format is not a skill. I looked at sitemap spec yesterday and wrote one. I personally assume that a developer with a brain can conform to a file format. I don't want a list of formats they have used.

AJAX

Ajax is not the cure all for everything you know. I used to yell at people for using Flash too much, now I yell at them for using too much Ajax. I personally cut back on the amount of JavaScript I used. Its not secure and your taking a risk that it will not work the way you expect. Not to mention, the shear amount of security holes it opens up for someone who like me to break into your site.

I have bypassed JavaScript validation on so many websites because its annoying. I accidentally brought down a site like that before. I put invalid data in a text field, removed the onSubmit event and submitted the data. All I got was http 500 errors after that.

Web 2.0

A couple years ago, before web 2.0 was a really well known term, I was introduced to this argument. Simply, http protocol 1.1 has not been changed in 15 years. There has been no major change to the infrastructure of the web. HTML has not changed that much either really. XHTML did not bring many changes at all. So, saying that something is Web 2.0 is a bull shit term. Good website developers have been doing things the same way for years. The only things that have changed is that the general populace has been catching up to the standards that where set 5 years before and the marketing team of company X had to sell it as if it where something new.

I just don't use the term. Its hollow to me, it has no meaning. I would discourage educated people from using it.