MattPat - Slashdot User

Comment Re:Why bother? (Score 1) 531

by MattPat on Tuesday December 01, 2009 @02:18PM (#30286076) Attached to: Trying To Bust JavaScript Out of the Browser

Oh dear, oh dear. Where to begin.

Yeah, javascript isn't too bad. Looking at the syntax for html/xhtml makes me want to vomit though. No sane programmer today would design a markup language that remotely resembles it.

You are, of course, correct. That's why no one uses XML-based dialects anywhere, ever.

Random example: (input type="checkbox" checked="checked" /) Why in the fuck would you have a string?

The fact that all attributes in XML (and thereby, XHTML) are quoted removes ambiguity, and avoids any issues with attribute values that have spaces.

Another example could be things having names, IDs, classes seems amazingly redundant.

IDs and classes serve totally different semantic purposes, and names aren't even a part of the standard anymore except when it comes to form elements. Any redundancy that exists is necessary to allow flexibility and semantic correctness.

Then there is anything to do with tables.

Tell me when working with tables is ever fun.

And formatting has tons of stupid quirks.

Well then it's a good thing that Good Web Developers(TM) don't use XHTML for formatting.

Only way it dodges being the worst language ever is the fact that it isn't really a language.

Well no, it's a language, just not a programming language; XHTML is a dialect of XML, a mark-up language, and a very good one at that. Name me one other mark-up language that's as flexible, powerful, and with as much potential to be extended.

Comment Re:Task based learning (Score 1) 452

by MattPat on Saturday October 11, 2008 @04:30PM (#25341451) Attached to: How Should I Teach a Basic Programming Course?

Considering I'm almost 40, I program computers for a living and have to use it all the time, I am thinking you are a some kind of web developer.

Actually, it's really just that calculus use kicks in at age 34.

Open WAP = Probable Cause? 466

Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday April 23, 2007 @11:09AM from the summon-sam-waterston dept.

RockoTDF writes "A court in texas has ruled that an open WAP is not a sufficient defense against child pornography charges, a ruling which could carry over to p2p users. In addition, it appears that an open WAP could be seen as probable cause by law enforcement."

Consumers Unlikely To Pay $500 for iPhone 412

Posted by Zonk on Friday February 23, 2007 @04:06PM from the that-is-a-mighty-pricey-phone dept.

narramissic writes "A survey by online market research firm Compete Inc. finds that of the 26% of those who said they're likely to buy an iPhone, only 1% said they'd pay $500 for it, while 42% said they'd likely buy the phone for $200 to $299. Sixty percent of likely iPhone buyers would be willing to make the switch to AT&T wireless to get it."

Microsoft Testing "Pay-As-You-Go" Software 202

Posted by Zonk on Friday February 23, 2007 @03:24PM from the not-unless-i-can-hit-level-70-in-office-newb dept.

seriouslywtf writes "Microsoft has quietly rolled out a pay-as-you-go software system in a few countries (South Africa, Mexico, and Romania) to test out how the public reacts to software rentals. Part of the current service includes a ~$15 fee per month to use Office 2003. If the service goes over well, Microsoft is considering extending the program to include other software or other countries. From the article: 'Are we moving towards a rental model for software? Despite the success of programs like Software Assurance, and the FlexGo program, it doesn't seem as if the traditional model of software sales is ever going to go away. Consumers still like the option of buying complete software packages. However, for places where the price of software keeps obtaining legitimate versions out of most people's reach, a rental program may be a useful alternative.'"

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