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I think we need two primary things to solve this "problem". 1) we need more browsers I know this probably sounds counter-intuitive, but I think I have a good

I think we need two primary things to solve this "problem". 1) we need more browsers I know this probably sounds counter-intuitive, but I think I have a good explanation for it. 2) we need to allow developers to "choose" browser of choice that renders their page / app / whatever in the (what I would call "meta-browser"). The architecture of browsers is incorrect in that instead of having a few browsers, all of which developers must support, we need one (or a few) "shell applications", which "host" browsers. Browsers can then begin to become specialized and diversify in directions they want to (instead of forcing everyone to stay up to date with everything). Today I agree, it's a circus, trying to keep up with things, and figuring out how to mash stuff together in order to ensure cross-browser compatibility. So, how do we get things to a point where a developer gets to "choose" the browser for the user? Probably one of the simplest would be to pass HTTP headers which tell the "shell application" which browser to render the web app / site / whatever in. There is not enough room in one HN comment to explain the nuances that I think can be solved relatively easily (ie. security, user confusion, etc). I did write a blog post that explains more or less what I am talking about here: https://medium.com/@datashovel/why-isn-t-there-a-meta-browser-204997473c61 https://medium.com/@datashovel/why-isn-t-there-a-meta-browse...

datashovel 11y ago
With all that said, I really do hope the OP was saying all he had to say in jest. It seems ridiculous that one person should have any expectation they (no matter how well known they are to the community) can stand up in a crowd of 7 billion people and say "hold on, let's stop and think about what we're doing". This assumes all 7 billion (or even most of them) are not thinking before doing, or can't possibly be certain about what they're doing without express written consent of OP. Just because one person can't possibly keep up with all that is happening in the world doesn't mean everyone should feel obligated to stop to allow them to catch up. OP also seems to imply it'll be near impossible to reverse out of what is going into the web, no matter how good or bad those decisions are. I think it's a bad assumption. Things will continue to move forward. Whether that means one company or two decide to take two steps back is another question, but in general the web will (and should) continue moving forward. It's a great idea to have "web as platform", and not "web as html and links". Please web, don't change direction of your thinking. You're on the right track. We just need some relatively minor architectural changes to make it go more smoothly for more people out here doing what we're doing.

datashovel 11y ago

With all that said, I really do hope the OP was saying all he had to say in jest. It seems ridiculous that one person should have any expectation they (no matter how well known they are to the community) can stand up in a crowd of 7 billion people and say "hold on, let's stop and think about what we're doing". This assumes all 7 billion (or even most of them) are not thinking before doing, or can't possibly be certain about what they're doing without express written consent of OP. Just because one person can't possibly keep up with all that is happening in the world doesn't mean everyone should feel obligated to stop to allow them to catch up. OP also seems to imply it'll be near impossible to reverse out of what is going into the web, no matter how good or bad those decisions are. I think it's a bad assumption. Things will continue to move forward. Whether that means one company or two decide to take two steps back is another question, but in general the web will (and should) continue moving forward. It's a great idea to have "web as platform", and not "web as html and links". Please web, don't change direction of your thinking. You're on the right track. We just need some relatively minor architectural changes to make it go more smoothly for more people out here doing what we're doing.