Software Engineering Stack Exchange
Software Engineering Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [browser]

an application for retrieving information on the web.

95 questions
103
votes
14 answers

Why are most browsers developed in C++

It seems like most of common web browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Safari) are developed using C++. Whys is that so?
Nipuna
  • 1,306
  • 2
  • 13
  • 17
61
votes
8 answers

Client-side coding: How to prevent malicious use?

Over the last few years, the trend for client-side (browser) applications has really taken off. For my latest project, I have decided to try and move with the times and write a client-side application. Part of this application involves sending…
GWed
  • 3,085
  • 5
  • 26
  • 43
39
votes
5 answers

How easy is it to hack JavaScript (in a browser)?

My question has to do with JavaScript security. Imagine an authentication system where you're using a JavaScript framework like Backbone or AngularJS, and you need secure endpoints. That's not a problem, as the server always has the last word and…
Jesus Rodriguez
  • 551
  • 1
  • 6
  • 8
37
votes
10 answers

Why aren't there other client-side scripting languages for websites?

Why is there just support for JavaScript and some VBScript in browsers today? I know JavaScript is good and all, but wouldn't having the option of using another programming language help promote different development styles?
Eric Packwood
  • 713
  • 1
  • 5
  • 8
32
votes
9 answers

Pure Java web browser, is it practical?

I know that a Java web browser is possible, but is it practical? I've seen the Lobo project and must admit I am impressed, but from what I've gathered it seems that development stopped in 2009. Would a browser coded in pure Java (no WebKit java…
Mysteriousness
  • 453
  • 1
  • 4
  • 3
17
votes
7 answers

Would Python be too slow for client-side use in Browsers?

I've heard the statement that Python would be too slow to be of any use in browsers. I reckon Javascript is only superior in this aspect because of companies like Google who need it fast (and made it fast) because they need it to survive, but I…
Profpatsch
  • 969
  • 8
  • 13
15
votes
9 answers

Will I ever be able to code client-side browser code in a language of my choice?

I'll be brutally honest: I hate writing client side code in JavaScript. I'm not a fan of this language, to say the least. It seems silly to me that browsers support a programming language, rather than an intermediate virtual machine (like CIL or…
Roman Starkov
  • 4,469
  • 3
  • 31
  • 38
14
votes
7 answers

What makes it hard to monetize browser extensions?

With the monetization of mobile apps being so popular, I'm surprised that extension developers are still mostly relying on donations as their primary form of compensation for their software. While this is, of course, not a problem, I find myself…
Cody Sand
  • 324
  • 3
  • 8
13
votes
5 answers

Best practices for web application Authentication/Security (Any Platform)

I got a question today from my manager asking me my thoughts on what is considered an acceptable design for authentication of a web form application, especially in regards to the nature of many popular browsers to "Remember Password" for your…
maple_shaft
  • 26,401
  • 11
  • 57
  • 131
13
votes
1 answer

How important is the Acid3 Test anymore and what should replace it?

For a long while the default guide to latest standards support for browsers was the Acid 3 Test. I've just run this on Windows 7 (x64) for Chrome 15.0, Firefox 7.0, Safari 5.1 and IE 9.0 and they all score 100. Some of the animations could be…
Dave Anderson
  • 319
  • 3
  • 7
12
votes
1 answer

How does font rendering actually work?

I realize that I know essentially nothing about the way fonts get rendered in my computer. From what I can observe, font rendering is generally made in a consistent way throughout the system. For instance, the subpixel font hinting settings that I…
Andrea
  • 5,355
  • 4
  • 31
  • 36
10
votes
3 answers

How to open a desktop application through browser without a Java applet?

We run a cloud-based medical software, and a very important part of the program is bridging to an imaging software straight from our website, passing information through command line arguments. We pass a patient's name and ID through a Java applet,…
RegretfulWasher
  • 119
  • 1
  • 1
  • 5
10
votes
1 answer

When opening pdf's in browser, why is "inspect element" available and "view source" not?

When opening pdf's in Chrome and Firefox, the "view source" button is greyed out. "Inspect elemet," however, reveals HTML. Are the browsers simply downloading the file and generating html to display it?
wils484
  • 121
  • 1
  • 1
  • 5
8
votes
4 answers

Testing minor browser version compatibility

I develop a web application and we test it on several browsers, including Firefox and Internet Explorer. During our development we tested the application on Firefox 3.5.2 and our testing team tested the same on 3.5.6 and found the UI looks good.…
Gopi
  • 3,113
  • 1
  • 24
  • 30
8
votes
3 answers

How can a website get the phone number of the device used to call it?

I'm not registered with Facebook and I've never logged in to Facebook inside the browser I use, Today I enter the site facebook.com and see my actual phone number on the sign in page with this message: Facebook requests and receives your phone…
Kody
  • 115
  • 1
  • 3
1
2 3 4 5 6 7