4 ms·
> I think the number of API's we add to the platform will always keep increasing. The problem isn't the the number of APIs per se (though I agree that it's uns
by dmitriid 5y ago
> I think the number of API's we add to the platform will always keep increasing.
The problem isn't the the number of APIs per se (though I agree that it's unsustainable [1][2]).
It's how they get forced onto the web by Chrome.
- Implementing Chrome's internal API and pushing them to stable, and pretending they are a web standard? Check (Example: Web HID, original "spec" couldn't be understood by Mozilla engineers, updated "spec" was published two months after Chrome enabled it by default and published an article on web.dev)
- Ignoring Mozilla and Safari concerns on an API, enabling in stable because Google's own projects want them, and refusing to bring it back under flag? Check (Constructible Stylesheets, in the end Safari refused to implement them, period)
- Gaslighting other browser vendors through any means possible to an audience of thousands? Check (Alex Russel and the likes of him)
And that's off the top of me head, too late here where I am going through dozens and dozens of such instances I saved to document in a blog post one day.
> It's sad that it's got the point where the teams don't trust each other and it's clear that the perception is wider. I'm still hoping to change that around.
I will quote John Nightingale [3]
--- start quote ---
The question is not whether individual sidewalk labs people have pure motives. I know some of them, just like I know plenty on the Chrome team. They’re great people. But focus on the behaviour of the organism as a whole. At the macro level, google/alphabet is very intentional.
--- end quote ---
All this is very intentional behaviour that has been going on for years. No wonder Safari team is pissed.
[1] https://www.quirksmode.org/blog/archives/2015/07/stop_pushing_th.html https://www.quirksmode.org/blog/archives/2015/07/stop_pushin...
[2] https://drewdevault.com/2020/03/18/Reckless-limitless-scope.html https://drewdevault.com/2020/03/18/Reckless-limitless-scope....
[3] https://twitter.com/johnath/status/1116871251023278080 https://twitter.com/johnath/status/1116871251023278080
- jefftk 5y agoMinor aside: Alex is currently a PM on Edge https://twitter.com/slightlylate https://twitter.com/slightlylate (I also don't know what you're referring to with the "Gaslighting" comment)
- dmitriid 5y agoYup. The moment he went to Microsoft his tune changed and now Google is a bad guy, too: https://infrequently.org/2021/07/hobsons-browser/ https://infrequently.org/2021/07/hobsons-browser/ His twitter (often) and website (infrequently) is full of claiming Safari is bad, Safari is holding the web back, Safari is the evil browser etc. While of course ignoring all the issues in Chrome (until going to MS). And he's not alone.
- jefftk 5y agoFWIW I work at Google (speaking only for myself) and think https://infrequently.org/2021/07/hobsons-browser/ https://infrequently.org/2021/07/hobsons-browser/ was a good post. It points out problems with Google's approach that I am happy to see more discussion of, and in most cases I agree with him.
- kinlan 5y agoAppreciate you adding this extra information in (also hey! on Twitter). I don't have much to add, I understand it and I don't disagree with the frustration you have, because it's also not the first time I've heard it from many developers. I'll keep working with the team to improve it, but it certainly takes time.