The Best Web Design Tips Blog



FREE HTML File Optimizer


Recently I wrote a blog on File optimization and how important it is to make this a necessary step in your web design. Although I provided links to a few optimizers, none of them seemed to do what I really wanted them to do.

I set out on a goal to create a web-based file optimizer for myself. I know greedy right. After pondering the idea I thought, this could be a legitimate service to the public. So I took it upon myself to create a HTML file optimizer. I am starting small and working to optimize HTML based files. As the optimizer may be able to handle other files I'm currently providing support for HTML based files.

When I started to plan out the HTML File Optimizer I did a few quick searches and saw what other services where offering to the public. I saw many optimizers that you had to copy and paste the code in the text box, and it was free to use. I thought okay, thats cool, but I'm lazy and don't feel like copy, pasting code. So I started to browse some more, and found software based optimizers that included extra features like changing strong tags to bold tags. I wondered, do people really download these? I just can imagine the viruses, and installing only to input your code and the program telling you that you need to purchase the full version to get the optimized code. To me this seemed ridiculous to download software, and have to pay for it.

After I finished my searching I quickly started to design my own HTML File Optimizer. I didn't want my optimizer to be like everything else out on the web so I started by designing a form to upload the file, and then optimize it through server-side scripting. I would allow downloads to the file for 'x' amount of time, and let the user choose which optimization features they wanted.

Finally I want to say, there is one possible negative thing about HTML File Optimization. When eliminating 'white space' from files to reduce the size, your code becomes all jumbled into one line. Most web designers tab out there tags to make it easier to read, update, and edit files. This is why I strongly suggest to make this a last step of your web design process. Also it never hurts to keep a backup of the tabbed code. You can always come back and optimize your file for FREE!


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