Simple Project Template, v1.0.6 available
This is only a small bugfix release.
Changes in Version 1.0.6 - 09/03/24
- bugfix: corrected path to iehacks.css in css/patches/patch_my_layout.css
Essay on CSS Frameworks
HTML and CSS are interpreted on the client side. Code should therefore be kept as streamlined as possible for any individual project. CSS frameworks, however, are project-independent modular systems, built with the goal of presenting the most universal solutions for the greatest variety of layouts. How do these seemingly incompatible approaches fit together?
As the developer of the (X)HTML/CSS Framework YAML, I constantly have to meet this challenge to keep the development of YAML on course. Together with Nils Pooker I wrote an essay on this topic and published it on my website in German and English language. In this essay, we clarify our position on the most common criticisms of frameworks.
Comments and discussions are strongly encouraged.
YAML Debug – Markup Analysis Tool (open beta test)
Since version 3.0.1 (summer 2007) YAML comes with a special debug stylesheet, which allows to visualize the layout structure as well as indicating whether the CSS file iehacks.css is integrated correctly in Internet Explorer. Also for some time, there was a bookmarklet available to use this stylesheet on any webpage. In general this was a good idea but the results were confusing, because of too much information. That's why I've fully revised this solution and made a new stand-alone application.
YAML Debug is a new assistive tool for web developers, that allows you to quickly review code quality and semantic structure of any website (particularly those based on YAML) as well as testing it against common oversights.
The new application is based on jQuery and as a bookmarklet it can be loaded on any website. So, have fun with the tool and get your bookmarklet on the official project page.
The current version 0.9 is still in beta stage and with this open beta test I want to get to know your thougths about this tool. For comments, bug reports or feature requests, I've set up a contact from on the project page. If there are no bigger problems, YAML Debug will replace the existing debug.css in the download package in the YAML release.
Note: If you need a playground for testing, the YAML layout examples are well suited. For testing the WAI-ARIA feature, take a look at Einfach für Alle.
6 out of 34 plus additional number – BIENE Award 2008
The German BIENE Award is an annual software evaluation of internet applications with a special focus on accessibility, initiated by two major German social welfare organisations “Aktion Mensch” and the “Stiftung Digitale Chancen”. In 2008, the BIENE competition is organized for the 5th time with the aim to award a prize to the best accessible German-language websites.
Today the 34 finalists were announed and I'm extremely proud to say that six of the nominated websites are based on the YAML CSS Framework. Here they are:
Gemeinde Kranenburg
Hauptbahnhof Wien
Sozialforum Tübingen
On-Line
Düsselenergie
Darmkrebs.at
And — finally we are waiting for the additional number — the web site that presents us with the finalists, "Einfach für Alle", is using YAML too.
This is fantastic news and I really want to thank all of them for their trust in YAML and, of course, all the best for the competition. The prize winners will be announced on January, 30th in Berlin.
Update 17th. Feb. 2009: I allmost forgot to mention, that ALL six YAML-based finalists became award winners (1x golden award, 4x silver award, 1x bronze award). Congratulation.
YAML 3.1: fresh and polished into 2009
After a long period of development with quite a few breaks, I am very happy to announce (in the new blog!) that YAML 3.1 has been finished. The difference in numbers between 3.0.6 and 3.1 might not seem like much, but there've been many changes under the hood. I think that with this version, YAML has finally become a versatile developer's tool, supporting web programmers throughout the entire designing process of screen layout, navigation, content, forms, and print versions. The extremely flexible design possibilities have been expanded even more.
Highlights in the new version
- Expanded layout possibilities: the new CSS classes
.page_marginsand.pageallow an even more variable page layout. - Form construction kit: a complete form construction kit supports the production of accessible forms, with all the design freedom you could wish.
- Equally tall content boxes: an optional extension of the flexible subtemplates allows column containers of equal height, without compromising robust design or compatibility to older browsers -- all in pure CSS.
- Add-on: microformats: this add-on provides templates for visual presentation of the most widely used microformats.
- Add-on: RTL support: this add-on delivers complete support for working with Arabic or Hebrew script. It contains all the necessary adjustments for the core and the navigation components.
The complete list of changes is available in the Changelog.
Important changes
The standard IDs #page_margins and #page have become the CSS classes.page_margins and .page. This change does not influence existing YAML layouts, backwards compatibility is guaranteed, code adjustments of existing layouts are not necessary.
In YAML 3.1, the markup of the navigation menu components was completely reworked, unified, and changed to be based completely on CSS classes. When updating existing YAML projects, please either update the markup of your menus or copy the navigation components into your own CSS folder before you update -- and link them to your layout from there.
The entire download package has been tidied up. The folder and file structures of the layout examples have been unified, and seven new layout examples are included to demonstrate the use of all the new features. All the graphics used in the package that are smaller as PNG files have been converted, and the corresponding Photoshop files are now in one central folder named examples/photoshop-files.
The Simple Project and the YAML Builder are gone through a compatibility update for YAML 3.1, keeping the current functionality. This deals mostly with the navigation components, where the markup had to be rewritten.
The new development blog
A few words on the blog. This replaces the News area of YAML.de and will be writtten exclusively in English. YAML has found a constantly growing worldwide community that I would like to encourage. Support and documentation of YAML will of course continue to be provided in German as well.
My sincere thanks go out to all my hardworking testers for their support and feedback, and I wish you all happy programming with YAML 3.1.
Dirk Jesse
Dresden, 20.01.2009
Last Comments
Robert: Super.....JYaml war schon extrem hilfreich. Umso gespannter bin ich natürlich nun auch
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