Inline code a mistake?

As I understand it, the main argument for embedding inline code is
convenience and performance.

Convenience:

I think that the important thing to remember is that a URL represents a web
"object", not a file. You can _encode_ a URL as multiple files (i.e. server
side includes). Or you can use one file to create many URL(i.e. inline CGI). 

Inline script code can be converted by the server into a _reference_ to
another URL (where the server stores the script file). That way the author
gets the convenience of "inline coding" and the Web maintains the separation
of code from document content (which results in simpler, smaller, cheaper,
faster, more stable client software).

Anyhow, I tend to think that editing problems should be solved in editing
software, not in the interchange language.

Performance:

On a high-bandwidth line, bringing down scripts and text separately might be
faster because it can be done concurrently. On a low-bandwidth line, HTTP
persistent connections should make the performance difference between inline
and out-of-line quite small.

 Paul Prescod

Received on Friday, 26 April 1996 15:59:05 UTC