Does web browsers lack irc support because they fear it can kill the Web? reddit / irc ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2013-05-30 11:15 I do not know why most "modern" web browsers bundle many features except IRC. Imagine if we have a fork instead of addon for irc support (icecat would be great), then irc would be less developer-centric or geek-centric. EDIT: *Do web browsers lack irc support because they fear *that it can kill the Web? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2013-05-30 11:41 [deleted] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- farded · 2013-05-30 11:43 Firefox is slow enough without trying to be an irc app at the same time. ever since leaving AOL in the 90s, I've been hesitant to use apps that try to do more than one thing. I don't see how it would kill the Web in any way though. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2013-05-30 12:08 hmm it doesn't kill the Web, [but still makes many enemies like stars](https://sslimgs.xkcd.com/comics/speculation.png). If irc doesn't exist, then there are more demand on forums, chatrooms or social network, idk, on the Web. > Firefox is slow enough without trying to be an irc app at the same time. ever since leaving AOL in the 90s, I've been hesitant to use apps that try to do more than one thing. ikr but do you think those who see features as advantages would care? Should it be the right thing to do, depends on our goal. I do like the transmigration to KISS software though. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- farded · 2013-05-30 12:29 >do you think those who see features as advantages would care? I'm sure there's plenty of people who would like the feature, but I don't think it's enough for the makers of the more popular browsers to worry about adding the capability. I could definitely see it as an addon (if it isn't already). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FiXato · 2013-05-30 20:59 If anything, IRC needs less of these kinds of 'easy' access... Mibbit already brings way too many idiots to IRC. People joining IRC networks while not knowing, nor caring what IRC is, and joining random channels and thinking it all belongs to the same website whose applet they used, are damn annoying... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2013-05-30 21:01 I agree completely. services like mibbit lower the bar to entry, and route clueless users who have no idea they're even on a network with a larger scope (as opposed to say, a java based, localized embeded chat in a page) and increase support burden on networks. When you actually have to understand an IRC client well enough to get connected, which is not an unreasonable "you must be this skilled to ride" test, irc clients aren't rocket science, you cultivate a much better Signal to Noise Ratio. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2013-05-30 21:03 I can't imagine why anyone would want to IRC on a regular basis through anything but a dedicated IRC client, personally. Tacked-on IRC Support always seems to be second-rate, and a symptom that a program is more concerned with offering everything plus the kitchen sink, than it is about doing any one task and doing it justice. Just look at multi-messagers and their lackluster IRC Support. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2013-05-30 21:05 if you dumb IRC down far enough that it can somehow threaten another communication service aimed at mass consumption, then it will no longer resemble IRC, and you will have a hard time convincing me that it is worth using in that form. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2013-05-30 21:50 Think of web browser as an emacs for average people... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2013-05-30 22:16 A web browser should browse the web. It shouldn't be an IRC client. There are tons of IRC clients already. Sheesh. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2013-05-30 22:20 While i agree with you, I just don't think that IRC is the layer to "differentiate" people to begin with, it is wrong. Consider there is also politics going on on protocol itself, IRC is not only a good protocol for communication but also a protocol which is unlikely to mess up in the future, because it is simple. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2013-05-31 07:47 I've been IRCing for about half my lifetime now, and back when I started, the network I call home wasn't even on any of the default server lists. Just a nice quiet little hamlet really. Then, the network started getting more attention, and with the attention came more abuse. Today, its a victim of a combination of popularity and low bar to entry. I've spent more time in the help channel today, explaining that this room isn't related to their videogame, its just for IRC usage help... and then explaining what IRC is, than I have actually helping people with IRC usage questions. I can't help but think that there'd be a higher quality experience to be had, if people still had to know how to set up a client, to get onto a network. They might atleast be conscious of what IRC IS, then. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2013-05-31 07:48 while a very apt comparison, I'm no more fond of emacs and its multiple personality disorders.