Java and Perl (was Re: [plug] Time & Task Management Tool)

[John Summerfield]

> 
> > You'd be surprised at the html overhead. I regularly get some web pages 
> > that reduce 90% by removing html and redundant (constant) text.
> 
> More likely to be the result of a lame HTML editor, IMHO.

The html's lame, but nothing to do with an editor.

Add a disclaimer, a note about the currency of the information (it's 
updated daily), a sentence giving the effective date of the information,a 
a link to an ad. The actual information content (including the date) is 
about 50 bytes, while the text with html stripped (by lynx) is 1k. With 
html it's 4k.

A java applet would only need all that text once (and could get it 
compressed).

> 
> > Comes the day, though, when one must step forward. Do you cater for lynx's 
> > lack of tables,
> 
> Lynx users tend to compensate for the lack of tables support. Lynx
> presents the table with data side by side which you can guess at the
> formatting. Its frames understanding is a lot better than it used to be
> too. It'll quite happily give you links to each individual frame.

I use lynx from time to time, and on some tables its performance is 
appalling.

> 
> > or do you recommend users use netscape, IE, webexplorer, 
> > hotjava etc instead?
> 
> Why should anyone dare to expect anyone else to change their browser just
> to look at their website? I mean, really.. what arrogance! In any case,
> most people would respond to such a request in the same way I do.. ditch
> the site. Most sites making use of Javascript for critical information
> just aren't worth it anyway.


I did not say and do not say Java should be used for everything. The 
question was, "What's java good for." A proper response to that is what 
Java does well in comparison with other software.


> 
> > THen it's not perl any more: it's perl and an army. Java has it built in, 
> > perl doesn't.
> 
> Javascript is one programming language running on a client. Perl is
> duct-tape which glues the server's apps and such together and which has a
> fair whack of processing on its own. It doesn't *rely* on other programs,
> but, it can make use of them to speed up development...

Java can do many of the same tasks that Perl can do. Like Perl, Java can 
help with server applications. Many things that are after-market additions 
to Perl are built into Perl. Database access is one. Somethings that are 
after-market additions for Perl: smtp, ftp, http are either built into 
Perl or there are equivalent addons.

There are undoubtedly some things better done in Perl, but that's not the 
question that was asked.

Do not confuse Javascript and Java. They are not the same. I do not 
recommend Javascript for anything.




-- 
Cheers
John Summerfield
http://os2.ami.com.au/os2/ for OS/2 support.
Configuration, networking, combined IBM ftpsites index.