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> I'm of the mindset that code written 20 years ago should run today. I'm of the mindset that it should be possible to rub code written 20 years ago, but not a
by untog 7y ago
> I'm of the mindset that code written 20 years ago should run today.
I'm of the mindset that it should be possible to rub code written 20 years ago, but not always the same way you run code written more recently. Emulation, virtual machines etc all allow access to old work without hobbling future development with backwards compatibility concerns (see: Windows).
In this case, there are plenty of free and open source options for FTP clients. No one is going to have the world closed off to them as a result of this.
- BucketSort 7y agoBrb, forgot to rub my code today.
- PascLeRasc 7y agoA large number of academic labs share data by hosting it over FTP. You can harp on about better methods or whatever but these people do not care and don't have time/energy to start caring.
- untog 7y agoThey can also just not upgrade their browser, then. If they don't have the time/energy they're probably still on IE anyway.
- purple_ducks 7y ago> They can also just not upgrade their browser, then This is a very silly response. New versions are released with security fixes, not just new features.
- Faark 7y agoThey wouldn't be using FTP is they care about security. I don't get why there is so much resistance. It's an old, outdated technology that has to be replaced eventually. Yes, change is always painful. But this isn't like with RSS were the tech provided clear benefits we would loose.
- purple_ducks 7y ago> They wouldn't be using FTP is they care about security. ???? Using FTP doesn't put your computer at increased risk of being hacked. Not updating your browser _DOES_ put your computer at increased risk of being hacked.
- untog 7y agoFTP is not a secure protocol. That's why SFTP was made, even though it isn't really anything like FTP. In any case, integrating FTP in your browser absolutely increases your chances of an exploit, though. When was the last time the FTP code was tested? Or worked on at all? I suspect it will have been a very long time.
- Wowfunhappy 7y ago> They can also just not upgrade their browser, then. Even aside from everything else, Chrome auto-updates and it’s very difficult to disable.
- Karunamon 7y agoCan’t Chrome just hand the ftp:// link over to a dedicated client?
- tim58 7y agoSure Chrome can. However this reduces accessibility. What if someone has never heard of FTP? Learning about it and installing an FTP client is a large barrier compared to starting a download. Reducing accessibility is a breaking change IMO.
- Karunamon 7y agoThe same argument could be used for not showing PDF files in the browser. IMO, browsers need to concern themselves with HTTP. Anything else gets handed off to an application that's designed for it.