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Contract Killer 3

It’s coming up on four years since I published my original Contract Killer over on 24ways. The reaction to it was astonishing and over the last four years the feedback I’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive. I feel very, very happy that so many people have found Contract Killer useful.

In 2010 I updated to, The Next Hit, with a new clause about browser support. Now it’s time for an update that addresses responsive design and mobile, plus a few more general improvements.

Here’s Contract Killer 3

What’s new?

Contract Killer 3’s clearer and more succinct. The biggest changes come, once again, in the browser testing section. This time I’ve separated desktop and mobile browser testing and I’m specific about which mobile browsers and devices I test. The list includes my current set up and I know that’s going to be different for everyone.

We deliver templates developed from HTML5 markup, CSS2.1 + 3 stylesheets for styling and unobtrusive Javascript for feature detection, poly-fills and behaviours.

Browser testing

Browser testing no longer means attempting to make a website look the same in browsers of different capabilities or on devices with different size screens. It does mean ensuring that a person’s experience of a design should be appropriate to the capabilities of a browser or device.

Desktop browser testing

We test our work in current versions of major desktop browsers including those made by Apple (Safari), Google (Chrome), Microsoft (Internet Explorer), Mozilla Firefox and Opera. We’ll also test to ensure Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 for Windows users get an appropriate, possibly different, experience. We’ll implement a single column design for Internet Explorer 7 and below for Windows and we won’t test in other older browsers unless you specify otherwise. If you need an enhanced design for an older browser, we can provide a separate estimate for that.

Mobile browser testing

Testing popular small-screen devices is essential in ensuring that a person’s experience of a design is appropriate to the capabilities of the device they’re using. We test our work in:

  • iOS: Safari, Google Chrome and Opera Mini
  • Android 4.1: Google Chrome, Firefox and Opera Mini
  • Android 3.2: Browser, Firefox and Opera Mini

We currently don’t test Blackberry OS or Blackberry QNX, Opera Mobile, Symbian or other mobile browsers. If you need us to test using these, we can provide a separate estimate for that.

I’m very surprised at how many people use Contract Killer right out of the box. I’m also fascinated by the changes that people do make, particularly around copyright assignment, payment terms and termination clauses. If you’ve added your own clauses or changed things substantially, I’d love to see your versions. I’ll be writing more about these areas in the coming weeks.

Contract Killer has a new safe house

Contract Killer has a new canonical home, a safe house, here on this site and I’ve linked all previous versions to it.

Because every Contract Killer needs a new identity once in a while, you can also find (a) Contract Killer on Github and Docracy too (if they’re your thing.)


Written by Andy Clarke who tagged this with business


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