Dragaera

Geography: An Introduction to the Map of Dragaera

David Dyer-Bennet dd-b at dd-b.net
Mon Feb 23 10:27:36 PST 2004

Bryan Newell <bryann at bryann.net> writes on 22 February 2004 at 23:33:55 -0600
 > > >> And W3C's validator couldn't even parse your site:
 > > >> http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fbryann.net%2F
 > > >
 > > > Validators can't parse my site, because I generate all html "on the fly"
 > > > using cgi-bin executables.
 > >
 > > That doesn't matter; they simply make an http connection to the site
 > > and look at the content delivered.  My dynamic sites validate fine
 > > (except when they don't, when I've got something screwed up).
 > 
 > Interesting.  I swear I tried validating it before, and it couldn't see the
 > html unless I saved it as a .html file first.  Perhaps it was a different
 > validator, or perhaps I'm just forgetful.
 > 
 > I see now, however, that you are correct; I tried running the link above,
 > and it errors out because there is no DOCTYPE declared on my page.
 > 
 > I hadn't realized that was a fatal error...  It certainly isn't fatal in any
 > of the browsers I've used.  Is that only required so the validator knows HOW
 > to validate your html?  Or are browsers also supposed to reject your page if
 > it doesn't have a DOCTYPE declared?
 > 
 > Anyone know?

I've never had a browser complain about lack of DOCTYPE, or character
encoding.  The validator is absolutely insistent on both, however.  I
don't know if it helps them validate, or if it's just a requirement in
the spec that no browser enforces, however.
-- 
David Dyer-Bennet, <mailto:dd-b at dd-b.net>, <http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/>
RKBA: <http://noguns-nomoney.com> <http://www.dd-b.net/carry/>
Photos: <dd-b.lighthunters.net>  Snapshots: <www.dd-b.net/dd-b/SnapshotAlbum/>
Dragaera/Steven Brust: <http://dragaera.info/>