But before that, they used a VDT - as in like a VT100, 3270 or 5250 terminal. Everything is full circle - the web browser is just being treated as an intelligent terminal now.
I agree conceptually, but this points out some fun things.
So in other words, we tried that and failed in many ways in a much simpler domain. Now we are trying it again with a much bigger, more complicated scope and set of technical issues. Just like in the VTxxx days, people say something is compatible, and yet it is not 100%. Just like in those days, we deal with the craziness around all that as developers.
I've been working on some stuff dealing with old formats, including VT100. Diving into the source of some very big and well-known projects along with many lesser known things, it's amazing how wrong many implementations are when you check the standards. Related, I've seen the craziest implementations of telnet servers, ANSI SGR codes, and more. Translation: I have 0 faith in humanity to implement standards to the standards. I have less faith in the standards people to create sane standards.
So in other words, we tried that and failed in many ways in a much simpler domain. Now we are trying it again with a much bigger, more complicated scope and set of technical issues. Just like in the VTxxx days, people say something is compatible, and yet it is not 100%. Just like in those days, we deal with the craziness around all that as developers.
I've been working on some stuff dealing with old formats, including VT100. Diving into the source of some very big and well-known projects along with many lesser known things, it's amazing how wrong many implementations are when you check the standards. Related, I've seen the craziest implementations of telnet servers, ANSI SGR codes, and more. Translation: I have 0 faith in humanity to implement standards to the standards. I have less faith in the standards people to create sane standards.