13615
Reporter: mdoering
Assignee: hoefft
Type: Task
Summary: Ensure browser compatability of entire site
Priority: Major
Resolution: Duplicate
Status: Closed
Created: 2013-08-20 13:49:24.146
Updated: 2017-10-06 15:31:20.565
Resolved: 2017-10-06 15:31:20.551
Description: This is a general issue to discuss various browser support of the whole site, mostly related to CSS and Javascript.
Based on http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp our initial thoughts are that we need to support the following:
* Chrome 25+
* FireFox 20+
* Internet Explorer 8+
* Safari 6+
* iOS iPad]]>
Author: cvizitiu@gbif.org
Created: 2013-08-21 12:47:17.417
Updated: 2013-08-21 12:47:17.417
Maybe we should consider a policy where not only we do not support older browsers but actively discourage them in the sense that we mention those older browsers as being unsupported on purpose. My take on the problem is that ANY old and especially out of support browser is a potential security threat e.g. old IE8 running on XP: it'll carry all sort of malware! Do you want a web client like that to *login* to GBIF? Eventually post messages?
I'm particularly worried about IE8, the whole issue revolves around this simple question: are we going to support unsupported OSes or not? XP for example will run out of support from Microsoft in 2014 and then it'll be feeding frenzy for all malware targeting IE8, we've seen this before!
On top of that, there's a simple practical matter: one must have a dedicated workstation with IE8 in order to run the tests... hard to get one those days, modern hardware will no longer runs XP; OK, we go the virtualization way, fine; still, what to do in 2014 when updates will no longer be available for that OS? That has "malware threat" embossed all over it.
So instead of names/numbers for browser version(s) I'd for one vote for "latest stable and officially supported by vendor". You want to stay under the rock with an unpatched XP with IE8 max? Fine, but at least get a decent browser especially since they're free.
Author: trobertson@gbif.org
Comment: The chair of the GB is at an organization (CSIRO) where IE8 use is the policy. I don't think we'll get away with not at least functioning (can be limited) on IE8.
Created: 2013-08-21 14:56:07.621
Updated: 2013-08-21 14:56:07.621
Author: cvizitiu@gbif.org
Comment: Mandated IE8 as a policy?! Just what we needed... well, lemme know how they'll manage in 2014 cos' IE8 will only work up to Vista. ;-)
Created: 2013-08-21 15:03:04.011
Updated: 2013-08-21 15:03:04.011
Author: mdoering@gbif.org
Comment: No IE8 and safari5 support for woff web fonts which we use apparently: http://caniuse.com/woff
Created: 2013-08-21 15:07:21.663
Updated: 2013-08-21 15:07:21.663
Author: mdoering@gbif.org
Created: 2013-09-04 15:28:19.231
Updated: 2013-09-04 15:43:04.298
we might want to pay to use browserstack which can run selenium tests across various browser/OS/device settings on virtual hosts:
http://www.browserstack.com/automate
I've done an occurrence search home test and generated screenshots for 25 settings, attached as a zip. Problem is the warning cookie here, but even that tells you already lots of problematic devices
see http://www.browserstack.com/screenshots/489a987aee11c0d945242bb24d2ebcc743042842