Don't vBulletin and Invision Power Board care about valid HTML/css any more?

Indeed, while I currently use vBulletin 3.8 on my website, I'm kinda worried about upgrading to version 4 or switching to IPB 3, because none of them seem valid HTML or CSS wise, unlike version 3 of vBulletin and version 2 of Invision Power Board. It's a pain, because I like the idea of them not using tables any more, but they've got so many validation issues that trying to fix this would drive me insane and take forever (because I already try to fix the coding of any mods I install and what not).

On a similar note, can't they consider encoding the & signs? Seriously, it's not hard to replace every instance of & with &, yet no one at these software development companies seems to bother...

 

I suspect the encoding are bugs. As far as the validation, no I don't think they are that bothered CSS wise anyway I am not sure full CSS validation is mega important anyway. phpBB, vB and IPB's CSS do not validate because they are using browser specific extensions for FF rounded corners.

What bugs me more is the desire in vB4 to make the site look different depending on the browser you are using. IMO thats amateurish.

 

Or is it just a case of it looks different in IE6, which is to be expected as it is ancient and noone should be using it anymore.

 

huh? Where on earth did I mention IE6?

Regardless, your opinions of peoples usage of IE6 doesn't change the fact that more people use it than Chrome and/or Safari.

My point is that you would think if a free forum like phpBB could make a style consistent across all pertinent browsers, a price hiked vB could pull it off. Sadly they haven't (yet).

 

You didn't. Apologies it was more of a question, if thats the case, it's just more sloppyness and is quite comical.

 

Let's look at the fundamental problem here. It's not even about whether it's paid (commercial) or free anymore. It's down to the individuals the team as a collective. IB know that customers will settle for anything so they get away with what the customers allow them to get away with and accept mediocrity whilst phpbb has you highlighted seem to be motivated, willing to make the end user happier.

It's not even about free vs commercial to the point you expect to get more when you pay. Or at least, that's what we are seeing nowadays.

 

I think nobody takes care of it.
Just check Google or www.microsoft.com with the validor
ms have 400 errors

 

Everything that I create XHTML-wise gets validated, either as Strict or as Transitional. I'll have it no other way.

CSS can't validate because of the browser specific crap for rounded corners.

If something doesn't validate, that I have control over, it will be forced into validation.

It's not hard to validate against XHTML 1.0 Transitional, even with a project as large as vBulletin or IPB.