HTML is a very simple markup language. Want boldface? wrap it with <b> and </b>. Want new line? do a break. <br>. So simple. Yet so many so-called programmers even had problem with that. There are other text markup languages, such as the ultra ugly RTF for Word Docs (save a Word file in RTF and you will know what I mean), and scientists favorite LaTex requires at least grad student status, definitely not for dummies. (Nowadays there are WYSIWYG Latex editing)
If the web language is as difficult as LaTex, there will be be no Web.
HTML does a very fine job of easily marking up text, soon people want more: web forms... soon little buttons that does things, and soon, videos!
There are things such as Flash and Flex and Silverlight to do much richer stuff.
HTML didn't need any changes for decades because we bypass its shortcoming with plugins.
The simplicity of HTML is actually its beauty!
Now HTML fights back. HTML5 can do videos and 2D drawing and even more types in < input > tag. See here for a good tutorial.
Ha! Browsers may or may not support it, and your browser may only support part of the specs.
We've seen that before: browser wars.
HTML5 is only relevant when big players IE, FF fully support it. I actually don't need HTML5 features. I didn't need those for decades (and you probably don't either)
3 comments:
Agreed, the power of HTML is its simplicity. For most purposes, HTML will do just fine.
However, for mathematical texts HTML is insufficient, that is why the academic world favours LaTeX.
LaTeX isn't hard to learn at all. The only 'difficult' part is the declaration at start of a LaTeX document. Just copy-paste it.
Why don't you try writing in LaTeX? I am willing to help if you encounter problems.
Thanks Rogier. I don't need to publish math so I don't need LaTex. Word 2007 would be my choice if I do.
I wish browsers support MathML natively.
Alas, even Firefox does not have everything HTML5 - such as new form objects.
IE 8 is horrible, and it doesn't have anything HTML 5.
No one can take seriously the goodies offered with HTML 5 before it is supported fully by the leading browsers. We just can't require WebKit engine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_layout_engines_%28HTML5%29
Post a Comment