The implementation of a WYSIWYG editor has very little to do with HTML, CSS standards between the different browsers at all. The HTML tags used in WYSIWYG can be very standard and works across all browsers. The main issue would be that the script written for it may be incompatible for certain browsers, such as Safari, since JavaScripting methods may differ. This is solely a client side issue and doesn't really touch much on the backend; except that perhaps there needs to be a process of converting HTML tags, included in the message post, to their BBCode equivalents before storing into DB. As it's more of a JavaScript issue, I don't really consider it disruptive to any WC3 developments maybe except for the issue of DOM. Don't think it requires any of phpBB's core to be changed.
Anyway, what I wanna say are:
- Cross-browser issues have always been there for any web site/application that are built and they have always been addressed according to the browsers stated in the accessibility guidelines for which they are supported.
- If things do not work for a certain browser, they can always fallback gracefully to what works. If a browser doesn't support the WYSIWYG editor, then they must fallback to the standard editor and nothing is broken. So far, WYSIWYG is possible for most browsers.
- WYSIWYG really enhances usability especially for people using forums for the first time, as long as their browsers can support the scripts. Since it allows you to build an interface that closely resembles document publishing s/w, such as MS Word, people know how to use it by just looking at it. Compared to the current editor interface, there is some learning curve for those that are less Internet-savvy. WYSIWYG does provide extra control to someone who can't understand BBCodes, by providing simple ways to format their messages in a Rich Text editing fashion.
- If it can be done relatively without too much effort from the core work, it should be added since it'd be quite value-added for most users for phpBB. If there are people who can't use it because of browser issues, I don't see why to stop it from being implemented unless the numbers are great. Besides, users can't appreciate browser consistencies since they use only 1 browser most of the time. If a user appreciates the addition of WYSIWYG, it's an increase in appreciation for users who can use it and at the same time, for those that can't, it stays there (doesn't decrease since they can use what they've previously been using). Appreciation comes from the way they are able to use an application / site, not how well it's designed technically since they'd never know (unless technical issues cause things to break). From a BBS admin standpoint, the objective is to encourage people to use the forum and making it easier to use is a good way.
- Ultimately, WYSIWYG is not a very important feature and if it is too hard to develop or integrate with phpBB, it's better to leave out for now. The current BBCode system works fine since the tags do encapsulate the text that a user wants to format when they click the corresponding button, it helps to avoid alot of confusion compared to olders ones that don't encapsulate. So even if it isn't implemented, no harm's done.
- End of the day, it's for phpBB team to decide all the factors so there's really very little we can do. OR perhaps they think that this would be better released as a mod, just like a calendar.
Lastly, 2 thumbs up for a WYSIWYG. But if the phpBB team thinks it's not necessary or too much work for them, I also think it's reasonable. Just my thoughts.
