Having been backward compatibility testing my Web 2.0 apps without JavaScript I have several times now forgotten to turn JavaScript back on before heading off to browse some other websites. It’s interesting to see which websites work and which don’t.
Facebook is the notable website I have spent the most time on and it’s a fairly mixed bag. Some of it works, some of it doesn’t. For instance you can poke someone back without JavaScript but you cannot accept or reject requests without it. Netvibes (rightfully so probably) didn’t work at all without JavaScript. WordPress seemed to work fine for the most part though I didn’t do anything other than start typing this post.
Which led me on to thinking, will we reach a point where you need JavaScript? Whether or not you agree with the increased use of JavaScript on the web (aka Web 2.0 really, and don’t get me wrong, I do agree with it, that is just my token comment to keep Mr. O’Shea happy :p), it is happening. The question is, how far will it go? How long will people keep writing code backward compatible with non-JavaScript? Indefinitely or have they already stopped doing it? Something to think about.
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This entry was posted on Thursday, January 17th, 2008 at 6:17 pm and is filed under Tech, Thoughts, Websites. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
January 17th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
I’m Developing an internal web application for a department within CSC and i am using javascript to make the interfaces sleeker as well as control popups etc.. and I have been told not to take into account users who have javascript turned off.
I asked why of course (as I question everything what better way is they to learn :p) and its becasue CSC have a list of software ‘accredited’ to work with internal apps, in which javascript exists, therefore it is not the companies fault if users have it turned off whilst using the site. IE7 was just added to this list therefore I have to make my site work with that now grrrr…..
just thought id add this for anyone intrested.