From: Harvey Newstrom (newstrom@newstaffinc.com)
Date: Sun Dec 26 1999 - 21:06:34 MST
Eugene Leitl <eugene.leitl@lrz.uni-muenchen.de> wrote on Sunday, December
26, 1999 10:19 pm,
> PostScript can support anything, because (as Forth and Lisp and some
> more modern but fatter languages (Python would come to mind)) it is an
> all-purpose metalanguage, tailored for defining problem-specific
> languages.
You are no longer discussing what is currently supported. Your argument has
degenerated to the claim that since postscript is a programming language, it
can do anything you program it to do. I agree with you at this level, but
think the claim could be made for almost any language.
> GAR. I'm in a bad mood, but you already knew that.
I get that way too when I consider the state of technology compared to where
it could be. I don't blame you for your frustration with poor technology
implementation.
> > I know what postscript is. I know what HTML is. You cannot currently
do
> > HTML type stuff in postscript. That is the answer as to why HTML was
>
> You have never used Adobe Acrobat, have you?
Yes, but the size of postscript rendered pages make it too slow for an
interactive webpage over a modem. I also am familiar with Display
Postscript, such as on AIX or NeXT systems, and am aware that it is a
wonderful display format language. In theory, I agree with your idea that
postscript would have been a great standard for the web. I just don't think
that it was an obvious choice and that there was no reasons for not using
it.
> Can't you see my point? We wouldn't have the current web debacle if we
> did it right from the start. And it could not have been done by the
> industry, because it is profitable to erode standards.
I agree with this, totally. But I am pessimistic enough to think that
postscript would have been eroded by Netscape and then Microsoft just as
HTML was. Modern businesses seem to go for short-term goals and destroy
long-term goals. I think this bad management would have happened no matter
what standard was chosen.
In summary, I think I agree with all your points. I just am more
pessimistic in my vision of what could have happened had things been
different.
-- Harvey Newstrom <http://harveynewstrom.com> Certified Consultant, Legal Hacker, Engineer, Research Scientist, Author.
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