Tag: Internet Explorer

/Development, Notes

The beginning of the end for Internet Explorer 6

Internet Explorer 6 is facing unprecedented, high-profile criticism. Could this be the start of a broad public movement to persuade users to finally abandon the browser? While the arguments presented by developers and designers over the last decade have largely gone unheeded, declarations from government institutions and media providers may carry more significance. Posing the browser as a security risk and an obstruction to new, feature rich web applications is a clever and completely justifiable argument.

July-August 2009: Digg considers dropping IE6 support, YouTube begins phasing it out

15 January 2010: Microsoft admits the attacks on Google’s system by Chinese hackers permitted by a flaw in Internet Explorer

16 January 2010: The German government issues a strong recommendation for users to upgrade or switch browsers

18 January 2010: A government agency in France responsible for cyber security restates Germany’s assertion

1 March 2010: Google will begin phasing out IE6 support for Docs and Sites

end of year 2010: Google will begin phasing out IE6 support for GMail and GCal

/Notes

IE6 Considered

As my earlier post made clear, I have dropped support for Internet Explorer 6 — the percentage of visitors to this site who are still running the browser is negligible. However, I feel compelled to offer a compromise. Andy Clarke posted a very clever solution on his site a few months ago; a notion to serve the same basic, content-focused stylesheet to all IE6 users. He was then gracious enough to host it at Google Code as well. I have implemented that universal stylesheet on this site. Enjoy

/Notes

A Note on Internet Explorer 6

As a developer, I make a concerted effort to build websites with strong interoperable support among web browsers. Generally, this translates to providing a separate style sheet – with all the necessary hacks and edits — needed to keep Internet Explorer 6 from mangling an otherwise beautiful layout. I know that as long as there a broad range of users to cater to, the effort is required.

A slow but growing consensus of web developers is beginning to abandon support for IE6. I agree with the vocal majority that if you believe you have a user base with need for continued support, by all means offer it. Otherwise, drop support and never look back.

That said, I take a small drop of satisfaction in stating this site will not make any more effort than needed to support Internet Explorer 6. Take a minute to upgrade or download the latest Firefox.