On Sun, 29 Jun 1997, Jim Pick wrote: >We shouldn't be changing the way browsers work.
That is what I have been saying all the way... >Most browsers follow the HTTP/1.0 or 1.1 standard - including Netscape - >and I don't think it's smart to develop a "debian-specific" HTTP >protocol extension -- that's what you are suggesting, in essence. No I was just thinking the position taken by others to the bitter end. >I really only see two possible outcomes to this debate: > > 1) Store HTML files uncompressed and don't munge the links > - all web browsers will work, no web server required > - wasteful of disk space (particularily for large > documentation packages, like the Java JDK docs, > or info-style "books") - note that these types of > documents tend to be monolithic, so they could be > put into separate optional documentation packages > - the system administrator could use a compressed > filesystem like e2compr to conserve disk space That would definitely be best. > 2) Store HTML files compressed and munge the links with a tool > like fixhrefgz > - Lynx and Netscape work with no web server required (I think) > - other web browsers will work, if they use a web server > such as boa, or a web server and dwww > - currently, at least on my system, not a single documentation > package with .html.gz files has had the links fixed so that > it works when browsing directly from the filesystem (and I > maintain two of those packages, oops - even worse the jdk1.1 > docs have compressed and uncompressed files - arrrgh) > - it's extra work for the developers, and error prone too > - I think Lars was advocating this, and I was too This wont work as we already have said again and again. You are modifying the HTTP protocol with this and creating a new .html.gz extension in essence. And sometimes the web browser will get those files compressed and sometimes not. >Christoph seems to be advocating: > > 3) Store HTML files compressed, and don't munge the links > - Lynx (and others) might work without a web server if they > were modified > - Netscape wouldn't work without a web server > - other web browsers will work, if they use a web server > such as boa, or a web server and dwww I only advocated this as a compromise. I am for #1. And I would go further and abolish all compression everywhere. Compression should only be done if its transparent for all apps (e2compr or zlib?). I have seen so many broken packages because of manpage compression etc etc. The clean solution would be to stop this once and for all. --- +++ --- +++ --- +++ --- +++ --- +++ --- +++ --- +++ ---