> So, write javascript to trigger a java applet that changes the dom is a reasonable alternative to writing javascript to change the dom? Depends on what you m

> So, write javascript to trigger a java applet that changes the dom is a reasonable alternative to writing javascript to change the dom? Depends on what you mean. These days people often have Applets disabled. But if you have an Applet with the access to do so, you can manipulate the DOM as much from it as you could from JavaScript. > Yes, it literally does. When presented with one option, you have no choice. There are lots of options, its just one is better than the others. >> And there you have it. JavaScript wins by virtue of being a better deployment platform in the browser space > Are you serious? Absolutely. People made a go of it with Applets. Once they realized they could get the job done with JavaScript, they dropped Applets like a hot potato, to the point where Applets are being dumped. Most other in browser programming environments are platforms in their own right that talk to browser platform. JavaScript's platform is the browser, and that turns out to make a big difference. > Just that javascript sucks and we're stuck with it against our will. Depends on you who define as "us". You're going to want to get familiar with "worse is better": http://www.jwz.org/doc/worse-is-better.html http://www.jwz.org/doc/worse-is-better.html