Still carry on with XHTML/CSS for the next few years?

With XHTML not being developed further after the end of this year i think, but at the same time a slow (very slow) progression to HTML5, from what im reading elsewhere it seems HTML5 will be no rush, even though people are experimenting with it now, does this mean that for the next few years at least people carry on putting together sites with XHTML/CSS, and possibly experimenting a little with CSS3?

Im trying to understand that when they say they will no longer develop XHTML, this doesn't mean that web developers suddenly drop it themselves?

 

XHTML2 is effectively dead since it was never supported by any major browser. XHTML1.0 and 1.1, nothing has changed and it's still OK to use them as long as you like but it would be wise to convert over to (X)HTML5 as it progresses.

Not that using XHTML mattered to anyone anyway since no one here served XHTML as XHTML and Internet Explorer never has supported it.

 

For myself, just beginning to get into the whole design and development process (doing a ton of reading too) seen as ive got no bad habits to try and rid myself of would you recommend its best to start with (X)HTML5 or is it still too early and maybe only experienced folk should be dealing with (X)HTML5?

Regarding your point about Not that using XHTML mattered to anyone anyway...

I think i remember you mentioning something about this not long ago in a thread here and how people were misunderstanding this.

 

You can keep on using XHTML 1.0 served as text/html (which accounts for probably 99% of all implementations) -- the backward compatibility built into User-Agents (especially Graphical Browsers) will insure your web pages will be viable even when (if) HTML 5 becomes a full blown recommendation. You can incorporate HTML 5 structures, elements and attributes as they become stable and suitable when you perform web page re-writes and maintenance.

Of course, you should recognize that XHTML 1.0 served as text/html (the default serving mode for most Server software) is just HTML anyway with well-formedness syntax constraints imposed (which you should be employing anyway for all pages you write). Presently, web pages should be written using HTML 4.01 (strict) Markup that is going to be around for years to come.

James

 

Thanks James for a great explanation, id like to ask is XHTML 1.0 served as text/html and HTML 4.01 (strict) Markup the same or am i misunderstanding?

Just bookmarked one of your links and shall have a proper read through it tomorrow too.

drhowarddrfine, also thanking you too.

 

Jeremy has a lot of good information on his site.

 

Thanks drhowarddrfine, reading the first part of that Misunderstanding markup i already feel less embarrassed at not understanding immediately as it appears its easy to get a bit confused with this.