The SPF Pure HTML & CSS Competition

**RyanReese** · Feb 3, 2011 18:53

Not referring to anything, I haven't even looked at the examples as to hopefullly not steal ideas.

I've always been bad at getting web design jobs though

.
Not fair!

**xhtmlcoder** · Feb 4, 2011 08:16

Well, you will learn, if you look at the source code of those examples!

Looking at the examples you'll notice there are a lot of 'deliberately introduced mistakes' with the markup in all three; just in case you were wondering?

Well, you will probably know from experience (when you get a face-to-face interview with a panel). They usually ask for either a portfolio or will give you a website to analyse and tell them what is wrong; how it could be improved; or how you would tackle such a feat.

Occasionally they will also give a 'coding task', which are usually even more inflexible than the rules in the competition. Then ask you to complete it during the interview. Sticking to the 'copy' text content is usually a very good idea.

The examples were done before the rules were finalised so might be slightly different or again contain deliberate 'differences' to the 'copy' text, or what CSS you can apply, etc.

**Blake Tallos** · Feb 4, 2011 16:50

Question - I know were not allowed to have any backend programming within our applications, but can we save our files as a .PHP extension?

Scratch that! Nevermind, I'll just HTML5. Ugh!

It sucks we cant use a programming language. It's going to be so bare with no functionality. : (

**xhtmlcoder** · Feb 5, 2011 06:27

I would suggest you use *.htm or *.html, for the MARKUP file as your extension; as no scripts are allowed (refer to footnotes about CSS and fonts). The page will be opened directly via a browser window, so even; *.xht and *.xhtml may cause opening issues with IE6 let alone *.php

If the entries are impressive; even tiny details like sensible CSS file names and extensions will be considered during the marking processes.

There won't be any more marks available for using HTML5 over either; HTML 4.01 or the 'XHTML Family' but if you choose to write <!DOCTYPE html> make sure you do use HTML5 elements where appropriate, etc.

Yes, we are restricting you for two reasons; we want to push the veterans by laying constrains on them and make it more friendly for the newbie types who are only just mastering HTML and CSS.

Obviously I know some people have had 'concerns' about browser choice earlier but like I mentioned [we] will take that into account. Albeit the rules WILL NOT be changed.

Basically: I am the JUDGEcoder! 'I Am The Law!'

**xhtmlcoder** · Feb 5, 2011 07:21

Because it took us a while to get the specialised SitePoint email services setup we'd like to inform all competitors; if they haven't already realised.

To prevent ambiguity regarding submissions Shaun asked me to say the following.

E-mail submission notes:

The zip folder is named after the member's username, and also the <meta copyright> and <meta author> tags should be the member's username.

For example:

Code:

<meta name="author" content="SitePoint username here" />
<meta name="copyright" content="SitePoint username here" />

Thus preventing confusion and allowing us to identify ALL submissions as your own work. Therefore we will also be able to trace back all files to the user in question.

Thankee

**imaginekitty** · Feb 5, 2011 22:41

I emailed my entry.

**xhtmlcoder** · Feb 6, 2011 14:46

Thank you Mark, we have successfully received your competition entry and you seem to be the first submission.

Just a reminder for submissions. Please make sure that you all email the correct address as in post #1 and ONLY use the subject title: SPF HTML & CSS competition

So that it doesn't get auto-redirected to the wrong SitePoint inbox and zapped by grid bugs, etc.

I would also suggest you ALL post in this thread once you have e-mailed your submission so if anything does get lost we are aware you have sent us something and can possibly track it down, etc.

Thanks
JUDGEcoder

Robert Wellock

**LePhuronn** · Feb 7, 2011 09:16

Can I have a clarification on a rule before I submit my entry?

"Copy cannot be permanently hidden using CSS". That's cool, but what if I wanted to do something like an image replacement (not with an image, obviously)? I'm wanting to replace a word with a symbol - I'm not modifying copy, I'm not hiding anything, content is still there and will degrade gracefully.

Would this be allowed?

**Shaun(OfTheDead)** · Feb 7, 2011 11:57

Originally Posted by LePhuronn

Can I have a clarification on a rule before I submit my entry?

"Copy cannot be permanently hidden using CSS". That's cool, but what if I wanted to do something like an image replacement (not with an image, obviously)? I'm wanting to replace a word with a symbol - I'm not modifying copy, I'm not hiding anything, content is still there and will degrade gracefully.

Would this be allowed?

What do you mean, like a roll-over effect?

Yup, that's fine.

**LePhuronn** · Feb 7, 2011 12:05

Originally Posted by Shaun(OfTheDead)

What do you mean, like a roll-over effect?

Yup, that's fine.

No, I mean rendering a symbol, like a square or a disc, instead of a word in the markup using :before and some width and overflow trickery.

**ScallioXTX** · Feb 7, 2011 13:53

Not a problem LePhuronn. Go for it

**LePhuronn** · Feb 7, 2011 14:15

Sweet!

Submitting soon then.

**Hueij** · Feb 7, 2011 14:20

I've seen that used in the first example that was posted so I decided to use that trick too. I hope it is allowed because I really want that HTML cup

Another question, re "There won't be any more marks available for using HTML5 over either; HTML 4.01 or the 'XHTML Family' but if you choose to write <!DOCTYPE html> make sure you do use HTML5 elements where appropriate, etc."

I started using <DOCTYPE html> with some of the new elements but since the html5 shiv is disallowed I replaced them with divs with classnames that resemble those elements. So a short doctype but no new elements. Should I change my doctype?

Having fun with this, although my collegues look at me as if I'm crazy

**xhtmlcoder** · Feb 7, 2011 15:07

If you use <DOCTYPE html> it will get treated and marked as HTML5 so if you have done things like a pseudo <div id="header"> instead of using a real <header> I would strongly suggest you change it to one of the fully normative recommendations like HTML 4.01 or XHTML 1.x

Since it would be just treated as a generic class or ID and would only hinder you regarding proper use of (HTML5) semantics. Hopefully that clears things up.

Thanks

**Hueij** · Feb 7, 2011 16:02

Right. Back to HTML 4.01 then. Too bad though, I thought that since HTML isn't versioned anymore the doctype version wouldn't matter anymore.

**imaginekitty** · Feb 7, 2011 16:24

Originally Posted by xhtmlcoder

If you use <DOCTYPE html> it will get treated and marked as HTML5 so if you have done things like a pseudo <div id="header"> instead of using a real <header> I would strongly suggest you change it to one of the fully normative recommendations like HTML 4.01 or XHTML 1.x

Since it would be just treated as a generic class or ID and would only hinder you regarding proper use of (HTML5) semantics. Hopefully that clears things up.

Thanks

I do disagree with this one. I use a doctype for one reason and that's to switch a browser into standards mode and I choose the html5 doctype for it's brevity. There is nothing inherently wrong with using <div id="header"> in lieu of <header> especially when taking into account the intentional limitations.

**imaginekitty** · Feb 7, 2011 16:31

Originally Posted by Hueij

... I thought that since HTML isn't versioned anymore the doctype version wouldn't matter anymore.

I agree.

I'm not lobbying to change the rules or anything. Just chatting aloud and wondering which doctype I used in my entry. I just really like the short and easy to remember html5 doctype. I want to dig up the grave of IE6 because it's still breathing for some reason.

**Pikacsu81** · Feb 8, 2011 04:09

I sent the e-mail to You with my zipped html attached!
Iam so excited. I hope You will like it!

**ScallioXTX** · Feb 8, 2011 04:19

E-mail received. Thanks, Pikacsu81

**Pikacsu81** · Feb 8, 2011 04:35

Originally Posted by ScallioXTX

E-mail received. Thanks, Pikacsu81

Ok. Thank You for the feedback!

**xhtmlcoder** · Feb 8, 2011 04:37

Mark, I understand where you are coming from with regards to potential scenarios and that it's your own opinion, which is fine by me - you are just thinking 'out-loud'. You used a normative markup language for the submission.

I was aware of why somebody may use a pseudo value. Like I previously stated at best; it would be considered 'pseudo' and at worst: <div id="bubblegum"> just for the sake of this Competition. But like I said it will be basically treated as a DIV.

We have previously established some other people disagree with the rules of the fact that IE6 appears. The other Judges are probably going to be even 'tougher' to please then myself.

Thank you for airing your concerns.

Some say I ride a horse that is fiery red but the rules are the rules (however awkward; they are set in stone) and that is the stance the Judges will be using.

We do take 'constructive comments' into account and can be lenient or harsh but we previously decided on the above. Since we'll be using our eyeballs for assessing semantics via direct 'source code' analysis for some of the judging.

Like Rémon said; Csaba (Pikacsu81) we have received your submission and it is very colourful.

Thankee
JUDGEcoder

Robert Wellock

**RyanReese** · Feb 8, 2011 12:56

I've read over this thread but I don't believe this was answered, is IE7 involved? Almost done my design and now I'm debating on what to do for IE7, whether it will be judged.

**xhtmlcoder** · Feb 8, 2011 14:26

I'll have to dust off the ancient 'Scrolls of Rules' and read them...

Hmm. "Who was that Maud person anyway?"

To my knowledge we will be only testing in the browsers as stated on page one. So that to me reads as NO IE7 (lucky you) or at least in my book anyway.

When you submit make sure you use the 'correct/exact' email address as in post #1 and 'subject title'. Else it will be swallowed by something more unpleasant than M$IE6 so they tell me.

Thanks
JUDGEcoder

Robert Wellock

**noonnope** · Feb 10, 2011 02:10

Well, watching UFC MMA, there is but one thing repeated over and over:

NEVER LEAVE IT IN THE HANDS OF JUDGES !

**xhtmlcoder** · Feb 10, 2011 04:20

Ryan is aware of the rules; I personally checked up on him to make sure he wasn't getting too distracted.

Μitică, those types of judges probably don't have the slightest clue whom Maud actually is... DUAM XNAHT

Our judges are much better. So no need to worry I have 'fireproof hands' that can withstand molten markup. Anyway, I expect something good from the noonnope. Else I shall put you in the corner. Wearing a Dunce cap; "Your cap constricts briefly, then relaxes again."

Thanks
JUDGEcoder

Robert Wellock

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