#set TITLE = "hints"
#include top

.SH Hints for developers
.LP
A good basic layout that I use a lot is to set the background to a light color,
then put all content in a centered table with white cells.

#include space2
.LP
Have all pages \fC#include\fR a common header at the top, and a common
footer at the bottom.  A common header is very useful in maintaining a uniform
appearance across all pages, and 
for doing things that need to be done for every page, such as
\fC#set\fRting variables that will be available globally, \fC#write\fRing
usage log info, and so on.

#include space2
.LP
Use \fC#include\fR to share template code chunks between pages, where feasible.

#include space2
.LP
Use \fC#include\fR to encapsulate external references, such as external URLs,
for easier maintenance.

#include space2
.LP
The most flexible and compact way to store dates is to convert to julian values
for storage, as done in the \fCpeople3\fR demo.  Another option is to use a date
notation that sorts out naturally, such as \fCyyyy/mm/dd\fR.

#include space2
.LP
Where possible, avoid having a mixture of active and passive HTML documents.
This helps with overall page uniformity and makes for easier maintenance
with regard to style changes.


#include bottom
