Topic awaiting preservation: Do I have to make it Opera compatible (Page 1 of 1)

I'm sort of new to this javascript thing (in terms of knowledge) and usually I code only for Explorer (IE). Since my page is free, I'm an amateur, it's just a hobby and I don't have time to study all the compatibility issues among browsers, that's the way I decided to do my stuff. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to do all the things I do.
But, since my site got sort of well visited (around 800 unique visitors a day), I'm starting to get worried about compatibility issues.
Currently, my stats show 94.2% share for IE, 3.2% for Netscape, 1.1% for Opera, 1.2% for unknown (mostly Mozilla compatible) and, the rest, for some other lesser known browsers that's not worth mentioning.
My first question is:

- Is there any difference between Netscape and Mozilla. I use Netscape 6.22 for testing and Mozilla 1.0 RC2 and they seem to be the same browser, specially if I select the old look for Netscape. Do I have to test for both or if I test for Netscape, automatically it is also tested for Mozilla?

- Do I have to worry about Opera? It looks like everything I do that works fine in IE6 and Netscape 6 doesn't work fine in Opera! I get really tired of trying to understand why Opera acts differently, so I usually give it up.

I keep asking me what make people use Opera if it has that boring big ad and, if I want to remove it I have to pay !!?? Is it because it is supposed to be the fastest browser around? I don't feel this speed difference in my computers (one at home, one at work), even in the slower one (p2-350).

So, my conclusion is: I code for IE6. I don't have means to test for older IEs. I also test for Netscape 6.x only. I'm aware that Netscape 4 is way different than the new Netscape generation, but I don't test for Netscape 4. And I am not going to test for Opera anymore. I'm tired of this browser.

What are you thoughts about compatibility issues?

P.S. this window, where I'm writing this message, could be a little bigger in height. Just my 2-cents thought.

Well, if you're a beginner, then I won't blame you for ignoring Opera. In fact, the fact that you're looking at Mozilla is impressive.

Netscape 6 is, as you guessed, the same as Mozilla. It's based off of a slightly older version of Mozilla. Netscape Navigator 4.x, however, is *completely* different. About 10% of the population uses it.

Here's my take on it. Don't let yourself get to the point where you're saying "i'm going to forget about this browser", because that's wrong, you're ignoring part of your audience.

Rather, if there are browsers that you don't have time to test (and there always will be), write your page in layers:
1. bare content
2. prettiness (added with style sheets) to make it look good
3. scripting (to make it cooler)

But add the second two layers in such a way that if a browser can't support them, then they don't see them. That way, old crappy browsers will see just the bare content, and it will look bad, but they'll be able to see it. People with OK browsers will be able to see the style you add to it, and people with really good browsers will be able to see it fully functional.

There are easy ways to detect what a browser can handle. With style sheets, use the @import rule to import style sheets - only newer browsers understand this rule, older ones (like NN 4.x) will ignore it. With scripts, you can self-detect what a browser can handle. (For instance, if your script requires the use of document.getElementById, then put if(document.getElementById) around it.)

That's what I do.

Well, my view is this:

If you are creating business sites for others they decide, if they don't demand anything else, you code for IE4+, NS4+, NS6, possibly Opera too.
this is because the client should not have any restrictions on who can and cannot visit their site. (naturally this goes for your own business as well)

If it's a private site, it's completly up to you!
Personally I would recommend that you at least support the w3c standard as far as possible, that should cover IE5+ & NS6/Mozilla and Opera5/6 (mostly)

That way you help the web to evolve more than if you stick to one browser only. the only way the standards will be of any use is if ppl actually support them.

That's my take on it.
/Dan



-{ a vibration is a movement that doesn't know which way to go }-

I'm having the same problem with a script I'm making right now, but I'm thinking of just making a plain text+menu page that loads instead of the main page if the user is using Opera. None of my scripts seem to work in that browser

But I think the most important part is that the content is viewable in all major browsers, even if some of the effects doesn't work. If the effects are important to the page you could also add a line on the first page or something saying that the page looks better in another browser if the user is using the browser that is not supported...


Thats my $.02



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Anyone who has lost track of time when using a computer knows the propensity to dream, the urge to make dreams come true and the tendency to miss lunch.