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Avoid the Pitfalls of the JavaScript Trap on Gmail

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Re: Avoid the Pitfalls of the JavaScript Trap on Gmail

#2

Post by _b8r0 »

From the article:

"Further, we've recently seen companies such as Research In Motion (makers of the Blackberry) advising customers to entirely disable JavaScript in the WebKit browser on its devices because of a security problem that was discovered. While free software JavaScript can have security problems too, this example illustrates that we have a real need to be able to see what the code we're running on our computers is actually doing, and change it."

I think the author doesn't understand how client side javascript works. If on the other hand they're referring to server side Javascript, that has nothing to do with the web browser over say, PHP. You don't necessarily get the source to a PHP-based web app when you use it. Why so much Javascript hate?

Re: Avoid the Pitfalls of the JavaScript Trap on Gmail

#3

Post by romey »

_b8r0 wrote: post #2

From the article: "Further, we've recently seen companies such as Research In Motion (makers of the Blackberry) advising customers to entirely disable JavaScript in the WebKit browser on its devices because of a security problem that was discovered. While free software JavaScript can have security problems too, this example illustrates that we have a real need to be able to see what the code we're running on our comp…

I think the rub here is not that they want to be able to see the script files, it's that they want the javascript behind GMail and other big apps to be released under a Free Software License.

Re: Avoid the Pitfalls of the JavaScript Trap on Gmail

#4

Post by DanI-S »

romey wrote: post #3
_b8r0 wrote: post #2

From the article: "Further, we've recently seen companies such as Research In Motion (makers of the Blackberry) advising customers to entirely disable JavaScript in the WebKit browser on its devices because of a security problem that was discovered. While free software JavaScript can have security problems too, this example illustrates that we have a real need to be able to see what the code we're running on our comp…

I think the rub here is not that they want to be able to see the script files, it's that they want the javascript behind GMail and other big apps to be released under a Free Software License.

I can understand the point, but is it really necessary to express it in a way that evokes the works of L Ron Hubbard?

You may not be aware of the dangers of JavaScript — a problem we've deemed The JavaScript Trap — proprietary software running on your computer, inside your web browser.

Danger! Your very soul is at risk!

This page is even worse: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/javascript-trap.html

Silently loading and running nonfree programs is one among several issues raised by "web applications". The term "web application" was designed to disregard the fundamental distinction between software delivered to users and software running on the server.

Beware, dear reader. They may be starting with this fundamental distinction... but your children will be next!

Re: Avoid the Pitfalls of the JavaScript Trap on Gmail

#5

Post by [deleted] »

DanI-S wrote: post #4
romey wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the rub here is not that they want to be able to see the script files, it's that they want the javascript behind GMail and other big apps to be released under a Free Software License.

I can understand the point, but is it really necessary to express it in a way that evokes the works of L Ron Hubbard? You may not be aware of the dangers of JavaScript — a problem we've deemed The JavaScript Trap — proprietary software running on your computer, inside your web browser. Danger! Your very soul is at risk! This page is even worse: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/javascript-trap.html Silently loading and r…

[deleted]

Re: Avoid the Pitfalls of the JavaScript Trap on Gmail

#6

Post by romey »

DanI-S wrote: post #4
romey wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the rub here is not that they want to be able to see the script files, it's that they want the javascript behind GMail and other big apps to be released under a Free Software License.

I can understand the point, but is it really necessary to express it in a way that evokes the works of L Ron Hubbard? You may not be aware of the dangers of JavaScript — a problem we've deemed The JavaScript Trap — proprietary software running on your computer, inside your web browser. Danger! Your very soul is at risk! This page is even worse: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/javascript-trap.html Silently loading and r…

I agree, it is rather unsettling how they frame their argument--there really isn't an argument at all as to why these things should be released under such a license, besides a vague allusion to security concerns. I love open source stuff, but the Free Software Foundation always seemed to me like that annoying vegan friend who never leaves you alone about the evils of animal products

the tagline in the link reads like a scary movie trailer: >You may be running nonfree programs on your computer every day without realizing it--through your web browser.

Re: Avoid the Pitfalls of the JavaScript Trap on Gmail

#10

Post by esmevane »

DanI-S wrote: post #4
romey wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the rub here is not that they want to be able to see the script files, it's that they want the javascript behind GMail and other big apps to be released under a Free Software License.

I can understand the point, but is it really necessary to express it in a way that evokes the works of L Ron Hubbard? You may not be aware of the dangers of JavaScript — a problem we've deemed The JavaScript Trap — proprietary software running on your computer, inside your web browser. Danger! Your very soul is at risk! This page is even worse: http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/javascript-trap.html Silently loading and r…

I'm extremely relieved to see so many posts mirroring my exact impression from this article. Here we have a splendid reference as to the power of words to illicit an emotion, with no real effort to craft an argument of any substance.
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