articles

As if writing big tomes wasn't enough to satisfy my overly verbose self, I write features and columns, too.

Semi-recent favorites include:

• The Meaning of Semantics (Take I). Nearly every web designer is guilty of forcing line breaks, creating tables that don't hold tabular data, and a host of other egregious HTML sins. Now that CSS is around, I (lovingly) slap your hands and explain why we should pay attention to each element's content, not just its looks.
• Untold Mysteries of CSS. Three untold CSS mysteries you might not know about include the universal selector, !important keywords, and multi-classes. Look behind the curtain with me to find out how these under-described aspects of CSS can be put to use to assist with diagnostics during development, savvy global styling, out-and-out hacks, better design flexibility, and accessibility.
• Position This! CSS Positioning Demystified. Looking for the right position? Look no further. This article examines the four true positioning schemes in CSS, clarifies the confusion between absolute and relative positioning, and explains that although floats are often great for use in layouts, they should not be confused as an actual part of CSS positioning.
• Seven Deadly Markup Sins. HTML or XHTML? If you're in Web design and development, you're using something to mark up your pages. And, if you've been in the industry awhile, no doubt you've learned some standards-based techniques. But despite all our growth and knowledge, some nagging problems remain. In this article, I help you hone in on the most common markup mistakes and shows you how to repair them with ease.
• Strategies for Long-Term CSS Hack Management. Using CSS in a contemporary browser? You'll probably need to use a variety of CSS hacks to accomplish the best possible cross-browser compatibility. In this article, I help you determine if you need hacks, how to manage them effectively if so, and which hacks you can employ to solve a range of common compatibility problems.
• Social Networking - The Relationship between Humans and Computers is Coming of Age. The interaction between community, computers, and society is now being referred to as "social networking," and it's making a lot of heads turn. But what is social networking, really, and what does it mean to web technologists? In this compelling article, you'll learn what social networking is, which languages are emerging to support it, and what it might mean for the next generation of web design and development
• CSS Beyond the Retrofit. Do you think Web browsers are the reason for all your CSS woes? Or that CSS is filled with so many limitations it can't be used well for all aspects of design, including layout? Think again. Today's contemporary browser support and the availability of smart workarounds make the promise of CSS more real than ever. I'll show you how CSS was meant to be used and demonstrate how to begin using it fully today to make your life (and your designs) more efficient, flexible, and even more beautiful than ever.

I currently write two regular columns:

• Integrated Web Design: This is the next-generation of my original Web Techniques column, Integrated Design. Of course, Web Techniques is no more, so InformIT was kind enough to pick up the column and house it in its Web Design Reference Guide, which deals with all aspects of web development and design.
• Cornerstones of Dreamweaver Design: This is a series of introductory level tutorials for Dreamweaver users with a slant on web standards. It's premium content via DMXZone, which means forking over a couple of bucks to read each installment. I typically include lots of examples, step-by-step learning, and code samples in each tutorial.

In addition, you can find a lot right here:

• Articles and Columns, organized by topic
• Presentations
• Interviews by and with, also organized by topic
• Article Map

Note that the articles published here on Molly.Com tend to be a year to 2 years old. The reason for this is due to intellectual property concerns. Typically, I can't publish articles here until after the terms of the contract. So please keep in mind that lots of things change, and I've learned a lot in the last year (as have we all!). If you have specific questions, you can contact me directly.

If you've read an article by me but cannot find it, please email me and let me know. Similarly, if you find an article I do not have posted here, let me know about it too. I have much work lost to the winds of time. I am trying to gather it all home.

Topics

Markup and CSS.

I hope you'll find these articles on web markup (HTML, XHTML) and CSS informative and helpful. Go >>

Web design.

Are you passionate about color, space, shape, and type? If so, I hope these articles will keep that passion alive. If not, I hope these articles will inflame that passion. Go >>

Web thoughts.

Here's a grab-bag of wireless development, alternative device development, information architecture, project management, intellectual property concerns and a host of other general internet and computing topics I've emassed from year to year. Go >>

Interviews.

Interviews I've done and had done to me. Well, hey, love the one you're with, yeah? Go >>

Article map

Article map.

Just in case you're not sure what you want to read, here's a complete list of articles online, organized by year. Go >>

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