[fauigerzigerk]

What's so unusual about the current web platform is that none of the technologies involved were actually created for the task they are being used for right now.

HTML wasn't meant to build interactive application UIs. CSS wasn't meant to do layouting (or if it was it was done so badly that the intention is unrecognisable). HTTP wasn't meant to carry fine grained API calls. JavaScript wasn't meant to do large scale application development.

It's a long list of wrong tools for the job that are being cobbled together to supposedly form the right tool for the job. It's working to some degree but it's messy.

That's not to say that creating a technology for a specific purpose guarantees that it will work well. EJB, SOAP, WS-*, there are many examples of failed purpose built technologies.

But having an entire platform built exclusively from components that are unfit for purpose isn't something that happens very often.

[waivek]

This is a really interesting reply. I have lots of questions regarding your comment:

1) What was CSS meant to do if not layouting?

2) What should we have used instead of HTML for building interactive application UI's?

3) What advantage does using the right language for the right job confer?

I'm a beginner so please excuse any ignorance on my part.