On Sat, Nov 22, 2008 at 7:32 PM, Brianna Laugher brianna.laugher@gmail.com wrote:
Isn't it OK if we have a Java/Flash option for those who can use it, and current Special:Upload for those who can't?
Yes, if you remove "/Flash" (we don't use Flash, it has no real open-source implementations). That would be fine, if someone what's to put in the work to do that.
An HTTP-based solution that still uses ordinary POSTing seems like a better idea to me than trying to not use a web form at all for people with Java. That would be forward-compatible with new and useful features that browsers might add for uploads, like progress indicators that are better than ours. :)
Of course, a browser-side solution is more limited than a Java one. The browser can't safely assume that it can resubmit interrupted POSTs, for instance, and there would be no way for it to allow resuming partial uploads. Using Java would allow that kind of thing, perhaps usefully.
I think it's difficult to say that Java/Flash options are "clunky and ugly", considering all photo and video sharing sites offer this option. As someone on a slo.o.o.o.ow uploading speed feedback is a godsend.
It's "clunky and ugly" implementationally -- the browser is what should be providing upload progress info, just like it provides download progress info. Since no browser seems to be in a hurry to improve in this respect, we might want to work around it, but it would still be a workaround, which shouldn't be necessary to begin with.