3 ms·
HTML/HTTP was an improvement over earlier concepts of bidirectional, centralized, reliable hypertext precisely because the links were one directional, hierarchy
by JulianMorrison 11y ago
HTML/HTTP was an improvement over earlier concepts of bidirectional, centralized, reliable hypertext precisely because the links were one directional, hierarchy-free and unstable, and could be put anywhere. The servers belonging to distinct entities weren't coupled. The pages belonging to one entity weren't coupled. It ripped out a lot of politics and baked-in design decisions and let loose creative anarchy.
- oskarth 11y agoGreat point. A good example of theory vs practice. I still think Xanadu et al are interesting, but it's instructive to try to understand what the real trade-offs are, the most obvious one being one of shipping speed.