[REBOL] Re: Browser gripe
From: sunandadh:aol at: 15-Mar-2002 16:19
Terry:
> "But don't hold your breath. No AOL employee we have talked to, at any
> level, claims knowledge of any current or future plans to offer AOL client
> software for Linux users. "
>
> I rest my case.
I think the point to take from this is that AOL are dismissing Linux as a
minority issue in the same way that others dismiss non-IE browsers. Both may
be wrong.
It's also worth scrolling right to the bottom of your browser identification
lists and looking at all the odd balls that make up less that 1% of your
visits. Dismiss these at your peril.
They are the spiders that index your site.
Spiders are browsers too. If they get confused by your HTML or info is hidden
behind clever dynamic URLs or stuff they can't cope with, they'll give the
site a miss -- or only index part of it.
Most spiders are written for speed, not cleverness, so many have an IQ below
room temperature. Confuse 'em and you'll lose 'em.
If it is at all important that a site is findable via search engines, then
that is another good reason to keep your HTML to standards. And, if you do
use a new browser-specific extension, it's a good idea to first make sure
that it does not trip up the spiders you rely on.
Sunanda.
