187598 - In the glossary isn't written, that Java could be on/off

Status: VERIFIED WONTFIX

(Documentation Graveyard :: Help Viewer, defect)

Description

[Markus Grob jun.]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i686; de-AT; rv:1.1) Gecko/20020826
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i686; de-AT; rv:1.1) Gecko/20020826

Please write in the glossary under Java. Thats possible to enable/disable Java
if its installad. It's a sort of security, if no patch exists for a leck and the
user don't knows, that he can disable java. 

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1.
2.
3.

Comment 1

[Daniel Wang]

-> d11n:user

Comment 2

[R.J. Keller]

--> me

Comment 3

[James "Kovu" Russell]

I don't think this is necessary. A glossary defines terms. Thus, our glossary
should define what Java is and no more. If you want this definition, it should
be in the release notes. I argue this bug should be invalid.

Comment 4

[R.J. Keller]

hmm. good point. Not sure whether or not we should have this. Maybe having a
link to the Java preferences page would be more appropriate?

Comment 5

[Daniel Wang]

The glossary is too technical (e.g. what is programming language?)

> Java. A programming language developed by Sun Microsystems.
> A single Java program can run on many different kinds of
> computers, thus avoiding the need for programmers to create a
> separate version of each program for each kind of computer.
> Your browser can automatically download and run Java programs
> (also called applets).

  Java. A set of technologies developed by Sun Microsystems
  used for running software securely within the browser
  as "applets" or as stand-alone programs.

Comment 6

[Daniel Wang]

Attachment: simplify Java def.

Comment 7

[Christopher Aillon (sabbatical, not receiving bugmail)]

Comment on attachment 133616 [details] [diff] [review]
simplify Java def.

I agree that the glossary should not reference possible pref settings.

>-<p><b id="Java">Java.</b>&nbsp;A programming language developed by Sun
>-  Microsystems. A single Java program can run on many different kinds of computers,
>-  thus avoiding the need for programmers to create a separate version of each
>-  program for each kind of computer. Your browser can automatically download and
>-  run Java programs (also called applets).</p>
>+<p><b id="Java">Java.</b>
>+  A set of technologies developed by Sun Microsystems used for running

Sun calls Java a "technology" not a "set of technologies".
http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/getStarted/intro/definition.html

>+  software securely within the browser as "applets" or as stand-alone

Please please please please don't imply that Java or its software is secure
just because the browser runs it.  Please :)

>+  programs.</p>

This is browser help, not Java help.  The bit about standalone programs is well
intentioned, but probably out of place.

Something short and sweet which bz and I can up with may be "A Sun Microsystems
program technology.  Your browser can automatically download and run Java
programs (also called applets)." (which is basically the original text, minus
the second sentence)



> The glossary is too technical (e.g. what is programming language?)

Glossaries are supposed to be more technical than vague since they need to
define things.	But they should tell as little as possible while still making
the definition comprehensible by the vast majority of its audience. 
Programming language is arguably useful here since it qualifies the type of
technology that Java is.  "Sun Microsystems" is arguably not because it does
not really help the user understand what Java is.  More people would probably
understand the basic concept of "programming language" than care who Sun
Microsystems is.  E.g. my sister knows a programming language is "something
programmers probably use to talk to a computer when they program" (which is all
she needs to know since she is not a programmer), but has no idea who Sun is
nor does she really care.    That said, I can see leaving Sun in the definition
for political and academic, among other reasons.


Anyway, sorry to make this look like a rant, it's really not.  I just want to
make sure that if you are going to make a change, things like these get thought
about...

Comment 8

[Daniel Wang]

if not secure, how about "designed to be secure"?

A Sun Microsystem technology designed for running software
securely. Your browser can download and run Java programs (also called applets).

Christ, do you have time for QA? I don't have time to cover so many docs. 

Comment 9

[R.J. Keller]

Daniel: status?

If you're busy, tell me and I'll post a new patch. Just don't want to waste my
time if you plan on updating your old patch.

Comment 10

[Daniel Wang]

I don't think anyone has objection to my def in comment 8 ;-)

Comment 11

[Daniel Wang]

Attachment: patch

let's streamline the review process ;-)

Comment 12

[R.J. Keller]

Comment on attachment 136202 [details] [diff] [review]
patch

r=[e-mail]

Usually I would complain about the absence of  , but it actually seems to
work better without it there :).

Comment 13

[R.J. Keller]

drivers, can we get 1.6b approval? There doesn't seem to be a flag to set 1.6b
approval on my patch.

Comment 14

[Brendan Eich [:brendan]]

Comment on attachment 136202 [details] [diff] [review]
patch

I don't approve of this change.  Caillon's objection stands.  Replace the
"running software securely" with something else that talks about cross-platform
software and that *does not* say "securely".

/be

Comment 15

[Daniel Wang]

I think we are running in a full circle. Since we have settled that we should
not talk about Java preference (original bug intent) and that we should add back
things the patch took out. change summary to original and -> wontfix.

Sorry about the bugspams.

Comment 16

[Stefan [:stefanh]]

v