The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 3 (of 5)

"Skinning" Frameworks?

Hi,

I'm about to begin a project where I'll need to provide a skinning (or themes, if you will) capability to several web sites. Some use plain-vanilla HTML, some use Flash only, some a mix.

The web sites are actually available only in kiosks installed in several large department stores, and the idea is to change their look-and-feel quickly for any sale or event. One possibility is to migrate them all to Flash (it's easier to animate)

I was wondering if there are any frameworks, methodologies, lessons, etc, about building skinnable applications, not in the same way a template engine would, but more in the way MS Media Player works (everything can be changed)

Dario Vasconcelos
Wednesday, January 28, 2004

Structural HTML + CSS.

http://www.csszengarden.com/
http://www.adactio.com/
etc etc

Check http://www.alistapart.com/ and http://www.meyerweb.com/eric/css/ for tips, tricks and insight.

Walter Rumsby
Wednesday, January 28, 2004

Wow. That csszengarden is **really** impressive. I didn't know such level of customization was possible using only CSS.

Sadly, I must use Flash because that's the way they want it.

Dario Vasconcelos
Wednesday, January 28, 2004

Bad luck!

Andrew Cherry
Wednesday, January 28, 2004

> I must use Flash because that's the way they want it.

Even though some of the sites are plain HTML? Are you working for Bizarro Requirements R Us?

Thursday, January 29, 2004

No, actually is not a bizarro requirement. The idea, probably, is to build the template engine on top of Flash, and then migrate all sites to it (remember, these are kiosk sites, they have 10 or 15 screens at the most). Having to build a template engine that works both for HTML sites and full-Flash built sites is not a possibility... their main interest now is being able to change the look-and-feel easily, because the basic functionality is already in place

Dario Vasconcelos
Friday, January 30, 2004