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> Stuff on the web should just work on all browsers. How did we get to this point, seriously? This isn't any different from the compatibility issues across des
by sidlls 10y ago
> Stuff on the web should just work on all browsers. How did we get to this point, seriously?
This isn't any different from the compatibility issues across desktop operating systems. You wouldn't expect a mac desktop app binary to "just work" when double-clicked on a Windows OS.
I know, the web supposedly has a standard that should make this argument null, but the fact is browsers are basically being used as though they're little mini-operating systems by both consumers and developers. This kind of fragmentation has historically been just something that happens as each "operating environment"'s maintainers implement their own flavor of whatever, standards be damned.
And even with a completely coherent, well-formed standard, browsers will have (sometimes subtly) different behaviors between operating system implementations that will make 100% standards compliance forever be relegated to "nice to have" status.
- notyourwork 10y ago> This isn't any different from the compatibility issues across desktop operating systems. You wouldn't expect a mac desktop app binary to "just work" when double-clicked on a Windows OS. It actually is a completely different issue. The web is a standard, browsers implement that standard. It isn't perfect but its not the same intention as different OS architecture.
- sidlls 10y agoYes, hence my comment about the argument being made null by the existence of a standard--but that's only in theory. In practice, often because of OS-driven constraints (e.g. the desktop vs Android version of any given browser), different tradeoffs with respect to the quality, breadth, and depth of implementation differ. The point is this: the existence of a standard doesn't guarantee uniformity in implementations.
- notyourwork 10y agoBased on that premise, why do we even have a standard? Oh yea, because of the intention for interoperability.
- BuuQu9hu 10y agoA standard _allows_ for uniformity, the only barriers are technical. CDM providers are actively _preventing_ uniformity. There is a massive difference.