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December 6, 2005
Javascript on?
One thing that's come up in several of our recent planning games (well the last two) is the question of whether the system should require JavaScript or not. There are two sides to this discussion
One is that a the vast majority of users have javascript, that it lets us do cool stuff and would speed up development.
The other is that those users without Javascript are often the ones who might find this system most useful. Those using old technology in the developing world, or users accessing the site through cybercafes etc. Does anyone know if a Chinese cybercafe is likely to have Javascript enabled for instance?
We'll need to let the Javascript thing slip anyway for the Google Maps interface, but we've been trying to work toward a site that works without it. The concern I have is that we might be incurring extra work for little benefit.
Thoughts?
Posted by Martin Lloyd at December 6, 2005 6:45 PM
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Comments
I don't think you'll have any problems with cybercafes; from what I've heard most of them just install and update without changing any browser settings.
What you might want to take into account is how well your app works on slow internet connections and/or text-based browsers. You'll be amazed at the bad connections some people in developing countries have to put up with, especially people traveling in those countries.
Posted by: Thijs van der Vossen at December 7, 2005 2:37 PM
Use JavaScript for optional things that help people get things done, but make sure everything (or at least everything important) is still *useable* without JavaScript.
Posted by: JanC at December 7, 2005 11:08 PM
Most importantly: Make this (whatever decision is made) an explicitly stated policy, and stick to it.
Otherwise developer A will refrain from using javascript at all, while developer B will use it for crucial functionality without fallback
Posted by: Nis Jorgensen at December 8, 2005 10:49 AM
On http://david.goodlad.ca/articles/2005/11/10/beautiful-javascript-powered-pages, David Goodlad describes a very nice way to add JavaScript while making sure everything still just work without.
Posted by: Thijs van der Vossen at December 12, 2005 9:47 AM