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Date:      Sat, 21 Feb 1998 11:58:21 -0500 (EST)
From:      Robert Watson <robert@cyrus.watson.org>
To:        Jay Nelson <jdn@acp.qiv.com>
Cc:        Mark Mayo <mark@vmunix.com>, hackers@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: Javascript for project page?
Message-ID:  <Pine.BSF.3.96.980221114835.11519D-100000@trojanhorse.pr.watson.org>
In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.3.96.980221103302.469A-100000@acp.qiv.com>

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On Sat, 21 Feb 1998, Jay Nelson wrote:

> >Hi all. I've been coding up a prototype "FreeBSD Project Database"
> >page, and I'm seeking opinions on if I should use Javascript..
> >Javascript lets me do some handy error checking on the client side
> >before requests and such get sent into the database server, as well
> >as opening up some better design possibilities... I'm concerned however
> >that the use of Javascript will limit the number of people that can
> >use the site. 
> >
> >Opinions? Is *everybody* using Netscape now, or do a significant
> 
> I use lynx more than netscape. Besides, even in netscape, I don't
> accept cookies, java or javascript. Are there other ways of
> accomplishing the error checking without excluding people or adding to
> their load times?

I also use lynx quite frequently -- especially for accessing
www.freebsd.org pages (such as the handbook or searching mailing lists).
I think retaining full availability to lynx is extremely important.  I
also disable cookies and javascript in Netscape -- it bugs me greatly, for
example, that the United web-site requires me to use cookies to get
scheduling information.  When I first tried to get scheduling information
from their page, it gave me lots of "Page contains no data" type errors.
I emailed them to ask why -- their webmaster responded back a week or two
later (after my proposed flight, btw) indicating I have to turn cookies
on.  I sent an email back indicating it was against our policy to let
cookies through our firewall (whatever), could they provide a page
compatible with our policy?  They did not respond.

Needless to say, I now use USAir's web page, which is much easier to use
(no nasty frames and javascript/cookies crud), and do not buy my tickets
from United.  Being able to see all the possible schedules before I call
is really very helpful, especially if I need to have my flights coincide
with someone else's, but meet tham at one of the lay-over points.

Similarly, I would not use the project database if it required
cookies/javascript.  :)  United Airlines really bugged me, and no doubt it
shows.  :)  Ah well.


  Robert N Watson 

Carnegie Mellon University http://www.cmu.edu/
SafePort Network Services  http://www.safeport.com/
robert@fledge.watson.org   http://www.watson.org/~robert/


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