THE deliberate incompatibility with web standards -- an incompatibility which Microsoft has encouraged over the years [PDF] -- still takes its toll.
The bad news: More than 2,000 highly-trafficked Web sites are still not compatible with Internet Explorer 8 and require IE’s Compatibility View support to display properly. The good news: That is down from about 3,100 sites a year ago.
First, I’d like to thanks those who commented on that post, or sent me notes, offering additional analysis. I think we nailed this one. Within a few days of my report Microsoft updated their Javascript on the browserchoice.eu website, fixing the error. But more on that in a minute.
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In the end I don’t think it is reasonable to expect every programmer to be memorize the Fisher-Yates algorithm. These things belong in our standard libraries. But what I would expect every programmer to know is:
1. That the problem here is one that requires a “random shuffle”. If you don’t know what it is called, then it will be difficult to lookup the known approaches. So this is partially a vocabulary problem. We, as programmers, have a shared vocabulary which we use to describe data structures and algorithms; binary searches, priorities heaps, tries, and dozens of other concepts. I don’t blame anyone for not memorizing algorithms, but I would expect a programmer to know what types of algorithms apply to their work. 2. How to research which algorithm to use in a specific context, including where to find reliable information, and how to evaluate the classic trade-offs of time and space. 3. That where randomized outputs are needed, that this should be statistically tested. I would not expect the average programmer to know how to do a chi-square test, or even to know what one is. But I would expect a mature programmer to know either find this out or seek help.
Some Browsers In Microsoft Ballot Are Mere IE Shells Says Expert
After a complaint was filed with the European Commission by Opera Software company, Microsoft was forced to present its European users of Internet Explorer web browser with a ballot box that allows them a chance to replace IE with Firefox, Opera, Safari or any other browser on the list.
Comments
Robotron 2084
2010-03-10 04:18:37
This is one case where I wish Microsoft had just told the EU to go screw themselves and stop wasting everyone's time for an issue that even when it was relevant 15 years ago still isn't that important in the overall scheme of things.
your_friend
2010-03-10 05:45:50
Your behavior, Robotron is something you may regret later.
Robotron 2084
2010-03-11 04:18:47
Needs Sunlight
2010-03-09 14:03:54
Dr. Roy Schestowitz
2010-03-09 15:26:25
Needs Sunlight
2010-03-09 15:54:35
The browser choice is the problem. Not a single one of the choices on the "ballot" allow Windows without MSIE. Here are the choices for the punters:
MSIE alone MSIE + Firefox MSIE + Opera MSIE + Chromium and so on.
Notice that not a single option on the "ballot" doesn't include MSIE?
The original remedy was for M$ to remove MSIE from Windows and have it separate. The case was about illegal tying or bundling. As it stands, M$ is allowed to continue the illegal, anti-competitive behavior.
Dr. Roy Schestowitz
2010-03-09 16:09:45
dyfet
2010-03-09 12:50:47
your_friend
2010-03-09 15:29:57
I had been surprised by the apparent number of browser choices in the ballot screen shots. So half the "choices" are really IE shells.
Another problem is that there's minimal information on the page. It would be nice to know, for example, that more than one browser could be installed or that some browsers have a right click open in another browser option.
In the end, there's no real choices with Windows and that's what the problem with non free software will always be. Non free software always keeps users in the dark, helpless and divided.
dyfet
2010-03-09 15:43:21