Web programming tools

[Richard Gaskin]

Richard MacLemale wrote:

> I made a MetaCard app for my classroom teachers to make web pages that
> consisted of 4 text fields and a button.  When the user launched the app, it
> asked for a name and password.  Then all the teacher had to do was fill in
> the 4 fields with whatever text and links they wanted on their web page, and
> click the "submit" button.  The app would then use ftp to log into our
> school website, update their web page, and log off.  It was drop dead stupid
> simple to use.  And no one ended up using it.
> 
> I didn't understand why.  So the following year, I did the same thing only I
> used a web page interface with 4 text fields and used a cgi script
> (metacard) to generate the page.  So teachers would essentially put in their
> name and password, go to this web page, fill in the 4 fields, and click the
> "submit" button.  Instead of zero percent faculty use, I got more like 40%.
> It was the SAME DAMN THING only web based.

A painful anecdote, but an important one. Thank you for posting that.
 
> I concluded that many computer users do not want to "learn another program,"
> but if it's a WEB PAGE they're willing to use it.  As illogical as this
> sounds, I believe it is often true.

So they'll learn a Web app but not a simpler and more responsive desktop
app?  

Perhaps we could ask our profession: "What have we done to engender such a
lack of confidence from users?"

Are those users travelling with their work, as Sadhunathan's are?  If so,
the latency and usability tradeoffs with a Web-based implementation are
likely more than offset by the benefit of ubiquity.

I'd be interested in how they expressed their preference, what reasons they
gave for using one over another.  Offline is good if it's too OT to post
here.  Whether rational or not, their perceptions are critical to
understanding how to manage expectations as adroitly as we manage Internet
protocols.
 
BTW: Have I expressed my eternal gratitude for Dave Cragg and the others
who've worked on LibURL?  Having tried my hand at writing my own FTP library
some time ago I appreciate the work involved to keep it speedy while having
good error checking and callbacks.  Excellent job!

-- 
 Richard Gaskin 
 Fourth World Media Corporation
 Developer of WebMerge 2.2: Publish any database on any site
 ___________________________________________________________
 Ambassador at FourthWorld.com       http://www.FourthWorld.com
 Tel: 323-225-3717                       AIM: FourthWorldInc