They do more than just strip out the whitespace. JavaScript minifiers will also rename function scoped variables into shorter versions (i.e. a, b, c, etc). The Google Closure Compiler will even do some code rewriting optimizations:

The Closure Compiler compiles JavaScript into compact, high-performance code. The compiler removes dead code and rewrites and minimizes what's left so that it downloads and runs quickly. It also also checks syntax, variable references, and types, and warns about common JavaScript pitfalls. These checks and optimizations help you write apps that are less buggy and easier to maintain. You can use the compiler with Closure Inspector, a Firebug extension that makes debugging the obfuscated code almost as easy as debugging the human-readable source.

As someone has already said, all JavaScript libraries are usually distributed with the original unminified source, so not being able to debug it is your fault alone.

I don't know about these kinds of tactics. If you make a big deal about this, then you'll likely end up burning bridges. You need these people as a reference later in life. Since most new graduates are having a hell of a time finding work right now, you can't afford to be dicking around. You might win in the short term, but you'll lose in the end.

When you're converting PowerPoint to HTML, it's not exactly trivial to generate semantic code.

IE9 will support addEventListener.

Exactly. Reasons like those explained the GP and the subsequent replies are the reason we end up with bloated code with hundreds or even thousands of unused methods/functions/classes/etc.

"What is this function used for?"

"Oh, because I know that the next feature we add here will need this."

This is not a valid excuse. Anybody who has spent a month working in the industry will know that product managers change their minds on a minute-by-minute basis. Don't waste my time by putting in code that I will end up reading, deciphering, and eventually find is not even used.

I really hope you're being sarcastic.

Actually no, Firefox lost marketshare last month. So technically it's not as popular as it was before. Pedantic, I know.

Bulk purchases? It's a percentage. You could make a hundred $1 purchases or one $100 purchase and at 3% you'll still end up paying $3.

That's quite a leap. The browser having multi-process capabilities has nothing to do with Flash being able to render multiple movies in the same process. This might get Adobe to start thinking in those terms though; which would be nice.

HFCS isn't everywhere. It's just in all the crappy food that you have in your pantry.

Did you think about what you were posting before you posted it?

Hey Farva.. what's the name of that restaurant you like with all the crazy stuff on the walls?

Exactly. I'm a professional UI developer and I used to contribute to open source software quite a bit back in the day. I don't contribute much these days mostly because of lack of free time to do so, but this was a major point of contention for me.

The biggest problem is that the programmers have trouble accepting advice for changes to the product they've poured their blood, sweat, and tears into. I've found for the most part that many open source projects are over complicated. One of the best ways to improve the usability of a product is to simplify it. You need to remove or conceal the features that are rarely used. Unfortunately, those features tend to be the hardest to implement, so the person who implemented it wants to make sure people know about it. It's not unexpected that they wouldn't be happy if you suggest that it be removed.

But not too much since you have the 6GB data plan? Are you saying you actually get anywhere near 6GB in a month? I've had my 3GS for almost a year now and I'm only now coming up on 1GB (for the whole year).

Oh that wins on so many levels. Bravo.

Backup, servers, and bandwidth are *cheap* compared to manpower. I take it you don't work in the software industry. It's almost always much cheaper to throw more hardware at a problem than it is to redesign an application to increase performance.

Time is money after all.