So I hit my first snag in the implementation of Version 5.0. I marked up the main index template semantically, and like it. I’ll probably have to change it a bit for efficiency when I decide how to group my elements, but it looks good.

I decided to run my results through the validator and was very unhappy with the profusion of bleeding wounds in my code and content. It turns out that I have not been using typographically-correct punctuation and the like, and that several attributes I’ve been using in tags are verboten. Movable Type was a bit of a culprit, too, as it generates some funky URLs for various features.

I was glad to learn all this, but it turns out that some smart and helpful people have developed some tools that will help me make sure that my code validates. John Gruber’s SmartyPants is the first little buddy I’ll install. Through this tool, I was exposed to Brad Choate’s MT-Textile plugin, which many are telling me is a “must-have.” So my plan to avoid plugins is already shot. Therefore, it looks like I’ll be surfing the MT-plugin sites and looking for tools to aid me further in my redesign before proceeding. Please hang in there.

Thanks to Nate for the tips.