Browsers - part 1

Of course, the main line of development has remained associated with browsers.Although the Internet was just beginning to be filled with all new technologies have already had problems of compatibility. Under different platforms to work with different browsers so that differed even fonts. As a result, the author could create a nice neat page which the customer spreads.

With the Java web-page can be filled with not only plain text, but dynamic elements - such as simple cinematics rotating globe or Duke, waving a hand (although it is good at solving problems such animated GIF, and in more complex cases - Macromedia Flash); interactive elements such as a rotating model of the chemical molecule, running lines, containing, for example, stock indices or weather forecast.

But in fact, Java - is more than decoration HTML. As a full-fledged programming language, it can be used to create complex user interface. In the first version of Java Development Kit (development tool for Java) was an example of an applet, which is simple spreadsheets. Soon came a text editor to change the style and color. Of course there were games applets, educational, physical and other modeling systems. For example, a customer who made the order at the store or send parcels by post, was able to watch the delivery via the Internet.

Unlike conventional programs, applets have "inherited" an important feature of HTML-pages. After reading the news pages today, the content, the client does not save it on your computer, and the next day read the updated content. Similarly, downloading an applet and worked with him, you can remove it, but next time get a newer version. Thus, programs come and go with the client's machine without any effort, does not require any special knowledge or action, and it automatically supports the latest versions.

On the other hand, the user is no longer tied to your main workplace, in any Internet-cafe, you can open the desired web-page and start with the usual programs. And all this without any fear of becoming infected. Developers are very interested in their software the day after the release may see users around the world, no matter what computer, operating system and browser they use. While the browser on the client side must support Java, as mentioned, users are asked to HotJava, available on any platform. The most popular at the time the browser Netscape Navigator, version 2.0 also supports Java. But today, as we know, the most popular browser - Microsoft Internet Explorer.

The company Microsoft, having achieved stunning success in software for personal computers, was (and generally still is) the main competitor in this area for Sun, IBM, Netscape and others. If in the early nineties, the main efforts were directed to the Microsoft Windows operating system and Office applications (MS Office), then in the middle of the decade it became obvious that it's time to get serious Internet. In early 1995, Bill Gates issued a "declaration of war plans" Netscape to take a similar monopoly in the WWW, as well as in operating systems for personal computers. And as soon Netscape has signed a licensing agreement with Sun, Microsoft found itself in a difficult situation.

Internet Explorer 2.0 is not enthusiastic about and no one believed that he could make even a little competition to an appreciable Netscape Navigator. This means that a new version of IE 3.0 should be able to do everything that he could have just released NN 2.0. Therefore, December 7, 1995 Microsoft announced its intention to license Java, and in March 1996 licensing agreement was signed. The largest company producing the software had to support her, perhaps the most dangerous competitor.