LC Comments, 1.2.4, editorial

""""It is common for programmers working with the Web to write code 
that generates and parses these messages directly. It is less common, 
but not unusual, for end users to have direct exposure to these 
messages. This leads to the well-known "view source" effect, whereby 
users gain expertise in the workings of the systems by direct exposure 
to the underlying protocols."""

"View source" presumably gives you direct exposure to the underlying 
syntax of the messages, not to the protocols. For example, I can view 
the source of the *sequencing*. I can sniff the protocol to get 
exposure to the activity of the protocol, but that's a different, and 
more difficult, thing. However, it is useful, as those who've used 
telnet to debug HTTP interactions, for example, know.

Cheers,
Bijan Parsia.

Received on Friday, 5 March 2004 14:07:37 UTC