Web-Standards

Valid XHTML v1.0 (Strict): Before and after validation comparison. We killed over 250 validation errors, to generate a final solution that is XHTML/CSS-valid, WAI-accessible, 60-75% lighter, doesn't rely on JavaScript, loads faster, is easier to maintain and is future proof.

One of the hallmarks of AstonishMe! is that we hand-craft XHTML/CSS-valid and WAI-complaint web pages. We believe that authoring clean, elegantly-coded web pages, written to web standards, offer the best value. They are cross-browser friendly, which means that the visitor experience is the same, regardless of which browser they might be using. Our pages generally contain less HTML and CSS code, which means they load faster and are easier to maintain. We never require JavaScript and when we use JavaScript, it is only to enhance the viewer experience. Web standard pages are also future-proof, as the Internet is steadfastly moving towards standardized HTML. WAI accessibility means that our pages are easier to read, are viewable from hand-held devices, text-readers, cell phones and other non-traditional means.

For Lycos, this meant that the directory template we built uses approximately 60%-70% less HTML and CSS than any of their original pages. This means faster page-loads and reduced server load. We converted all JavaScript to CSS/WAI-complaint code. We removed JavaScript rollovers for menus, which can be done faster with CSS and is more accessible. Their old pages required JavaScript , just to open some linked pages. We removed that requirement (the links no longer fail if JavaScript is disabled) but left the enhanced functionality (the links do open in new windows, for visitors with JavaScript enabled).

Compare the validation results for two pages:

• Our XHTML v1.0 (Strict) Lycos directory page
• Lycos' XHTML v1.0 (Transitional) home page

Static to Dynamic

Lycos Logo: Working with such a popular and well-respected client was a treat. We're betting that they are astonished with the quality, timeliness and reasonable rates. (If you look closely, you can see that the Lycos dog is wagging its tail).

Building a directory database from scratch, converting static pages to dynamic pages, was a huge undertaking. We believe that the hard work paid off. Now, only one template needs to be modified to change EVERY ONE of the more than 100,000 directory pages! This will be a huge man-power savings for Lycos, moving forward.

One concern about dynamically delivering the content: What happens when the database breaks or is overloaded?

We developed a unique caching system which solves this problem and which also optimizes page delivery, further reducing server load and guaranteeing page delivery. The solution to deliver "dynamically static" content! (Huh?)

It works by maintaining an up-to-date cache of directory pages. Each time a visitor requests a certain directory page, the cache is consulted, to see if it's up-to-date with the database. If it is (or the database cannot be reached, for whatever reason), the cached page is delivered. If it's not up-to-date, then the database serves the [new] page to both the visitor and the cache. It's a unique way of reducing database load and ensuring page delivery, in the unlikely event of a database problem.

Multi-disciplinary Approach

AstonishMe! brings more to the table than web design. With expertise in programming, web-hosting, custom scripting, blogging applications and other web tools, we can deploy a broad spectrum of knowledge for your web project. The Lycos directory project is an example of such a multi-disciplined solution.

AstonishMe! also has strong affiliations other web-companies, such as Happily Hosted (web hosting) and Link Centre ® (search engine and directory pages).

For Lycos U.K. directory pages, they are currently hosted on a dedicated server (and backup server), managed by Happily Hosted. The starting point for the Lycos directory database retrieval code, was code used by Link Centre. It was extensively reworked, to satisfy Lycos' specific needs, but our alliance with Link Centre provided a big strategic advantage. The coding expertise, web-design and web-standards skills were all provided in-house, by AstonishMe! Together, we dramatically improved the Lycos U.K. directory pages: made them easier to maintain; delivered them in a hybrid dynamic-static way, utilizing a unique caching system; made them WAI accessible; reduced page overhead by 60-75% for fast loading, made their delivery reliable and made them XHTML/CSS-valid. We did all this and STILL saved Lycos money!

We're betting that Lycos will come knocking again, requesting that we convert the remainder of their site, to XHTML/CSS-valid, WAI-compliant pages. ;)