Firefox Rant

[jaerdaph]

Okay, everywhere I go on the Internet lately, I am continually bombarded by Firefox users saying "I can't open the link in Firefox", "I can't see the page in Firefox", "The image doesn't show up in Firefox" etc. etc. etc.

Well, it seems to me the problem is with Firefox and not the thousands upon thousands of Web sites, companies, message boards, etc. where it doesn't work. I humbly suggest Firefox users speak to Mozilla about fixing the problems with their browsers rather than demand the rest of the world conform to their standards. I mean, do we really need another Microsoft?

Thank you for listening. This isn't directed at anyone in particular, and no hard feelings.

 

[Ashrum the Black]

Odd, I use firefox all the time and have only had an issue with one site.

:\

-Ashrum

 

[dpmcalister]

The problem is that too many website designers code for Internet Explorer (which isn't standard's compliant) rather than follow the w3 standards. Firefox follows the standards so doesn't render page correctly on sites that don't. It's not Firefox's fault, it's the fault of Microsoft (for mass distributing a non-compliant browser) and the website designers (for not coding to w3 standards)

 

[Henry]

It's yet another case of the 500 lb. Gorilla getting what it wants. Unless more non-internet savvy people use Firefox, Opera, et. al. Microsoft will be the standard, not the efforts of the W3 Consortium, which was initiated by the people who created the web in the first place...

 

[FreeXenon]

oh, and using proprietary (MS) code which, of course, only works in Internet Explorer. That really, really pisses me off.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

It's because web developers are stupid, lazy, uninterested in learning even the rudiments of the technology they are using, and are perfectly happing throwing code at the wall and keeping what sticks just because their stupid flash animation looks pretty.

Not that I'm having a bad day or anything....

 

[drothgery]

The problem is that too many website designers code for Internet Explorer (which isn't standard's compliant) rather than follow the w3 standards. Firefox follows the standards so doesn't render page correctly on sites that don't. It's not Firefox's fault, it's the fault of Microsoft (for mass distributing a non-compliant browser) and the website designers (for not coding to w3 standards)

When Netscape had 80% market share, developers coded to Netscape rather than to standards, Microsoft and standards advocates complained. No one listened. Microsoft changed IE4 so that it emulated most of the quirks of Netscape that were problematic, and otherwise built a much better and more standards-compliant browser... and got 80+% market share themselves.

Firefox actually does a pretty decent job of emulating IE's quirks, and MS hasn't released a major browser update in years (IE7's still in beta, though that's what I use anyway, but IE6 came out with WinXP). But it doesn't completely manage it.

Almost no web developers will "code to standards", because the standards are often vague or ambiguous in corner cases. We'll code to make things work in browsers that they care about. And if one has overwhelming market share (until very recently, non-IE browsers were completely insignificant), that's what we're going to target.

 

[jaerdaph]

I would have to say the vast majority of Web pages are made by non-Web designers (i.e. non-professionals). Also, the Web is for everyone to use, not just professionals or corporations. Forced standards restrict that freedom.

However, some very good points are being made here.

 

[FreeXenon]

Standards do not restrict freedom they just provide a standardized method of accomplishing your goals. It is amazing what you can do with a standards compliant site. Standards, if implemented corrected can help accessibility, usability, extensibility, and ease maintenance.

Take a look at CZZ Zen Garden.

I think you are correct with most sites are created by non-professionals. The scary part is that there are professionals that do not care about these things.

 

[Mercule]

I've had repeated issues with Firefox. Flash/Shockwave, for example, absolutely won't work, no matter how many times I try to install it -- and it isn't worth my yutzing with it when IE is perfectly functional. There are quite a few links that don't work or don't work right, too.

IMO, Firefox is just as buggy as IE, overall. But, it makes some people feel better to have some sort of Jyhad. Have fun, but accept that you're on a crusade. Deal with the consequences yourself -- it isn't the developer's fault, it's your choice.

That said, I much prefer the notion of full support for standards and really hate IE-specific code. As a developer, I use standards as much as I can, but IE is my target audience at work and at home.