Antiweb Questionnaire Candidate - Stephen Mack (Zeigen)
What hardware do you use in HTML production?
Typically: ISP-provided Sun system running Unix and NCSA HTTPD.
Also, generic Pentium 90 running Windows 95.
What speed connection do you generally work via?What do you use to write HTML?
Mostly: vi.
Occasionally WordPerfect 6.0 for DOS with custom HTML editor keyboard.
Why?
Most HTML editors I've tried are too clunky. I work on-line and
my online habits are vi-based.
What graphics programs do you use?
Not many. PowerPoint, Presentations for Windows, WinGif, LView,
and the ArtScan package that came with my scanner. And sometimes
Paintbrush (the freebie Windows one).
Why?
I'm not graphics-oriented; these are the tools I know. WinGif
offers the easiest way to create interlaced gifs and rescale.
The others have drawing tools that are okay. ArtScan has some
nice filters.
What audio programs do you use?
Hmm. Nothing at work (no sound card yet); at home, I've used
the sound recorder that comes with Windows 3.1 and the one that
came with my MediaVision Pro.
Why?
Sound is a tertiary concern of mine. Text first, then graphics,
sound will come later.
What digital video programs to use use?
None except media player and Windows 95 pre-installed stuff.
Why?What tools are you thinking of using?
I'll learn PhotoShop and PageMaker eventually.
Why?
It's a graphics age; I've got to catch up eventually.
What conversion tools do you rely on heavily?
I use some custom scripts to convert text to html-text.
I mostly use WinGif to convert from Tiff or other formats
to Gif.
I've also used sox to convert sounds before.
Why?
WinGif is idiot-proof (generally) and I have unique needs for
text conversion, so I like to custom-build.
What platforms do you design for?
As universally as possible.
Why?
To keep my audience universal. Lynx offers me the best way to prove
that. I make my pages for Lynx first, and then do any dress-up
as a second thought.
What screen width do you design for?
80 columns of text; I tend towards 640 x 480 for graphics.
Why?
Lowest common denominator.
What level of bandwidth do you usually aim to cater to?
2400s would have no problems with most of my pages; I try to keep them short
and relevant.
Why?
I used to be there myself and know there's still an audience out there.
Even at 28.8, people don't want to wait too long.
What resources have been most useful to you in regards to:
HTML
Lynx, as a browser; HTMLCHEK (Henry Churchyard's excellent html-
error-checker and utility package). Also, various on-line
HTML quick-reference guides.
Why?
Lynx is flexible and fast; Htmlchek is invaluable. There are
too many opportunities for small errors to escape your attention
unless you use some lint or debugger.
Graphics
For me, no graphics tools are indispensible.
Audio
Video
Cgi-bin Scripting
I've used Perl a little; also csh. I'm also dipping into Java,
which will probably replace CGI altogether.
Design
HTMLCHEK. My naked eye. Netscape, to check the final results.