Python in the Mozilla world

[Steve Howell]

--- "Eric S. Johansson" <esj at harvee.org> wrote:
> 
> this is good to know except I am somewhat cautious
> about the end result given 
> that it's from Microsoft (explained below)
> 

Believe me, I agree!  I work mostly in the Unix world
now, but I've done enough serious development in the
Windows world to be fearful of what MS can do to any
simple idea.


> Simple idea, complex partial 
> solution, simpler solution.  only experience will
> tell you when you have gotten 
> the most simplicity out of the solution possible. 

Agreed, this is a very common phenomenon in
engineering, science, etc.

> [...]
> This is yet another good reason why folks should
> really push for a simple 
> browser environment to replace JavaScript.  I really
> don't think it's horribly 
> hard but on the other hand, I don't understand the
> full environment (starting 
> with a simple idea... :-)

Ajax and Javascript are far from perfect, but I do
think they carry some baggage from things that are
really are outside of the scope of their basically
well-founded purposes.  For example, even if you
replaced Javascript with Python, you wouldn't
necessarily solve these problems:

   1) Browser environments, like all GUI environments,
are inherently difficult environments for things like
debugging, unit testing, etc.  (From what I
understand, there are some half decent debuggers for
Javascript, but they are not batteries included with
all browsers.)

   2) Browsers will always differ on subtle, but
important, details of how they render things, how they
expose a DOM, etc.  In some cases this will be due to
benevolent factors (one browser goes to a simpler
model, but you still have to support the old models),
and in other cases there will be the Microsoft
conspiracy to make everything more difficult. ;)

   3) There will always be web designers who are
focused on flaming logos, skinnability, etc., vs.
actual usability.

Also, remember that Ajax and Javascript are still
young technologies.

> Thanks for the post.  It's triggered some nice ideas
> in my head.
> 

You're welcome, and likewise!


       
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