Builder.com on Browser StandardsTuesday October 5th, 1999Dan Shafer of Builder.com has a new article on standards compliance. Dan writes, "there have been some key defections from the ranks of Mozilla's leadership and a noticeable slowing of development efforts". From what I have seen, none of the "defections" have been of "key" employees, nor has the development slowed one iota. But Dan gets back into my good graces, however, by stating "I sometimes use the new, unreleased Netscape browser-to-be for hours at a time." Thanks to Kendal Van Dyke for the news. Want it! Of course, we're looking at 12-15 for beta now, aren't we? Snore.... ...what disappointed me was the failure to point out that Microsoft's new dedication to standards has ironically come only after Mozilla/Gecko set a new standard. So of course I had to point that out in the message forum that followed. ...what disappointed me was the failure to point out that Microsoft's new dedication to standards has ironically come only after Mozilla/Gecko set a new standard. So of course I had to point that out in the message forum that followed. C'mon folks. This is the tech industry. I'm not a Netscape employee, but from what I can tell "defections" there are much less common than other large companies. And while at one time you would have been crazy to think of quitting a job after only 5 years, now people think about quitting after only a couple. Long live the 401k. At this point it would take a mass exodus to stop Mozilla from coming out. Non-programmers who aren't familiar with alpha software often equate usability improvements with development speed. In actual fact, the last bit of work provides the most usability. Mozilla/gecko did not set a new standard... the standards were already out a long time ago.... hm. this textarea doesn't seem to be working very well...... Why must the media pile crap on Mozilla? Is it the 'fashionable' thing now? Or is this another 'John Laws' story? The article did not pile crap on Mozilla. Dan Shafer is the sort of person who wants Mozilla to succeeed. He just has a few misconceptions. Obviously there's been at least one key defection - Jamie Zawinski. This was a while back, but the statement in the article says there have been defections since AOL took over, and JWZ did indeed leave after this happened. I think what was implied was that none of the said "defections" (I prefer "resignations", its less inflamatory) have set the project schedule back. Sigh, In reading the ultra-defensive and rather fanatical views from this board, I can make one quick claim. Mozilla has become the new Macintosh, OS/2, and Amiga. Instead of accepting criticism and looking at their own flaws, they are quick to denounce anybody who dares to print anything negative about Mozilla. This tells me that the browser is doomed if this attitude doesn't change. |