javascript and compatibility

[TechBoyJK]

5 years ago, I was very hesitant to integrate any client side java scripting do to problems that could arise.. browser incompatibilities, etc..

but today, is there any real reason not to use javascript if considering

1. it is programmed and tested to be efficient and correct.
2. it will be beneficial from a business standpoint
3. it will make the site's navigation and experience more user friendly

Please discuss.

 

[Markbnj]

Well, if there is, every non-trivial site on the net should be broken. You're not wrong to be concerned about compatibility, and you do need to pay attention to certain things when supporting multiple browsers, but javascript is everywhere, and there's no reason not to dive in and use it to enhance your site.

 

[troytime]

don't make the navigation javascript based

but other than that, javascript is good 🙂

 

[Markbnj]

Originally posted by: troytime
don't make the navigation javascript based

but other than that, javascript is good 🙂

I couldn't agree with that more. The NYT has java-script navigation and it regularly pisses me off.

 

[aceO07]

NYT js navigation? Can you explain? I actually didn't notice anything about nytimes and js. I have noscript turned on most of the time. 🙂

edit: I absolutely hate websites that stop access just due to me blocking js. The entire page will load and display properly, but after it completes loading it will reload and say I need js. 😛

 

[Crusty]

Originally posted by: Markbnj

Originally posted by: troytime
don't make the navigation javascript based

but other than that, javascript is good 🙂

I couldn't agree with that more. The NYT has java-script navigation and it regularly pisses me off.

I was visiting my parents for the weekend, and had the pleasure of browsing microsofts technet site with Silverlight installed... what a PITA. It was slowish, even on a 3.2ghz core 2, and once you were a few levels deep in the menu structure if your pointer so much as goes a pixel off the edge of the menu the whole thing resets.

 

[brikis98]

every major website uses javascript. most of the google apps everyone uses - gmail, calendar, docs, etc - are almost exclusively javascript. yes, there are compatibility issues and various other quirks to consider, but most of these are well known and can be worked around. moreover, you can use one of the many frameworks out there that make working with JS much easier, such as mootools, prototype/scriptaculous, and gwt.

 

[Markbnj]

Originally posted by: aceO07
NYT js navigation? Can you explain? I actually didn't notice anything about nytimes and js. I have noscript turned on most of the time. 🙂

edit: I absolutely hate websites that stop access just due to me blocking js. The entire page will load and display properly, but after it completes loading it will reload and say I need js. 😛

Hmm, maybe they shut it off if you have script turned off? What I see is that when I click a link, and then hit the back button, they clear the history so that I can't use "forward" to get back where I was. There are some other side effects that seem to indicate they are processing URLs and button events to move you from page to page.