🚀 go-pugleaf

On Thu, 29 Apr 1999 08:18:34 -0700, Richard Wilkman
<rwilkman@inprise.com> wrote:

>Actually, it's better to install plugins with IE.  They have NS beat
>five ways from Sunday on this front.  Netscapes plug in 'install' is
>pathetic!

Are there any browsers out there that have good plug-in managment?  I
haven't used IE 4 much (or 5).  I agree that Netscape's installation
technology stinks (and who knows when [if? mozilla...] that situation
will be fixed).  In the end, my guess is that MS and Netscape will
avoid trying to perfect Java/plug-in/ActiveX issues and focus on that
latest HTML junk.  I think there IS a place for Java applets,
plug-ins, and ActiveX controls.  Sadly, the major players make it so
difficult (for users and developers) to manage these beasts that there
will be a step backwards to HTML "user interfaces" for web
"applications".

One feature that I think is a requirement for good plug-in support is
the ability to easily UNinstall plug-ins without leaving a trace.  I
especially hate complex plug-ins that require an install program
(don't get me started on InstallShield!).  The browser should act as
an installation manager (a good one).  The plug-in would provide a
file with its installation requirements (no executable installation
"code").  The browser would download and install according to the
requirements (with configurable constraints imposed by the user). Then
comes the magic part.  When users want to configure or remove a
plug-in, they can go to the list of installed components and do it.
AFAIK, this hasn't been done in any browser.  Since I am dreaming up a
perfect world here, plug-ins wouldn't break other plug-ins when they
are installed.  Actually all of this also applies to Java code as well
(certain installation problems are much simpler in the context of
Java).  Sort of like DSJ.

With better component support in browsers, it would be possible to
make more interactive/helpful user interfaces and manipulate data
without a round trip to the server for more HTML.

Chris Hill
Chris244@aol.com