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HTML5 App For Panasonic TVs Rejected - JQuery Is a "Hack"

An anonymous reader writes "I have been working on an HTML5 app for Panasonic VIERA TVs, specifically a client for the Plex Media Server. After paying $129 for the developer program, version 1.0 was submitted for inclusion in their VIERA Connect marketplace several weeks ago. After a few requested tweaks, they inquired about how the client communicated with the Plex Server. As many/most web developers do, I used jQuery and its $.ajax call (which is just a wrapper for XMLHttpRequest()). They insisted this was not standard Javascript, and after several communications with them, they replied back with "A workaround like this is considered a hack.". I'm stunned that anyone familiar with HTML would consider jQuery a hack. I've been patient in attempting to explain how jQuery works, but I am getting nowhere. Any thoughts on how I can better explain jQuery to an app reviewer? Yes, I know I can write my app without any Javascript library, but I am really hoping avoid that."

18 of 573 comments (clear)

  1. Psh, jQuery. by ibneko · · Score: 5, Informative
    1. Re:Psh, jQuery. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      The point was that if you are only using one or two of these function consider writing your own equivalent function instead of including the entire jQuery library.

    2. Re:Psh, jQuery. by JWSmythe · · Score: 4, Informative

      There are too many programmers who don't think that way. They'd rather include huge libraries, than write a few lines of code.

      It is their (Panasonic's) platform. If they don't want jQuery, don't use jQuery. That seems simple enough.

      I've had headaches where I had to put on some dev's code, that required a massive number of libraries. They didn't mind, because their dev machine had them all. They usually can't even say what libraries are really required, it's a game of "lets figure out why their app doesn't work."

      I'm logged into one server in particular. One app, 39 different libraries had to be added in addition to the standard libraries included on the system. Some of those would be redundant, except they "wrote" their code with snippets from various places online that seem to do what they want. If you go back and ask what some of them do, they can't even really explain them.

      --
      Serious? Seriousness is well above my pay grade.
  2. Boycott by chebucto · · Score: 4, Informative

    On February 5, 2014, Slashdot announced through a javascript popup that they are starting to "move in to" the new Slashdot Beta design.

    Slashdot Beta is a trend-following attempt to give Slashdot a fresh look, an approach that has led to less space for text and an abandonment of the traditional Slashdot look. Much worse than that, Slashdot Beta fundamentally breaks the classic Slashdot discussion and moderation system.

    If you haven't seen Slashdot Beta already, open this in a new tab. After seeing that, click here to return to classic Slashdot.

    I propose that we boycott stories and only discuss the abomination that is Slashdot Beta until Dice abandons the project.

    Moderators - only spend mod points on comments that discuss Beta
    Commentors - only discuss Beta

    Keep this up for a few days and we may finally get the PHBs attention.

    --
    The English word fart is one of the oldest words in the English vocabulary.
  3. Re:Beta is terrible! by chihowa · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's like they realize that it's some sort of punishment, too. First, they inflicted it on the ACs, now they're redirecting logged in users. I payed them cold hard cash (which I'm regretting now) and as a subscriber they haven't started redirecting me, yet. When they do, I'm out.

    --
    If you want a vision of the future, imagine a youtube comments section scrolling - forever.
  4. Re:Um.. Please Explain by BenJeremy · · Score: 4, Informative

    What is being hacked? What exploit is required to make jQuery.js operate? How does it modify the javascript language to work?

    jQuery.js is just a library of script routines designed to make a javascript programmer's life easier, like every other library out there, whether it's for C++, ActionScript, C# or assembler. It's not a binary... it is a collection of javascript functions.

    Calling it a hack seems a bit ignorant of what hacks are. I've written hacks... patched XBox XDK libraries so I could get my Media X Menu to access extra hard drives in the system... interrupt routines loaded from DATA statements on my old C=64 that allowed me to display more sprites on screen than the hardware was supposed to display, or to do cool things with the borders. I've written multi-tasking kernels with assembler interspersed with the C code so I could directly access or manipulate hardware in embedded systems. Those are hacks.

    At worst, you might call jQuery.js a kluge... but even then, jQuery.js works pretty well and doesn't require you to jump through hoops when making small changes (which kluges tend to do). ...so it's a library. A handy collection of useful routines developers can leverage so they do not have to write all that code again. Nothing more.

  5. I kind of agree by DrPBacon · · Score: 4, Informative

    JQuery is a hack. A useful one, but still a hack. You should be accountable for all your production code, and there's really nothing jQuery does that you can't do yourself with only a little more effort. http://youmightnotneedjquery.c... #incaseyoumissedit

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    Spent All My Mod Points
  6. Bad timing, hope this helps. by sootman · · Score: 5, Informative

    You had the unfortunate luck of having your story picked up during the middle of the slashdot beta shitfest, so most of the comments here will be about that. My condolences. (Also: the new beta sucks.)

    Explain that jquery is not a hack or a workaround. It is a framework that is itself written in -- ta da! -- 100% valid javascript. Tell them it is nothing more than a collection of well-written, consistent, standards-based, heavily-reviewed and -tested code, and all it does is contain some pre-written libraries to make it easier to do common tasks.

    It is sponsored by many large companies, including Wordpress, BlackBerry, Intel, Mozilla, and Adobe, to pick just the most recognizable names from that page.

    According to this, it is used by Google, Facebook, AOL, ESPN, and whitehouse.gov. This 20-month old page also has a big list: WordPress.com, Pinterest, Reddit, MSN.com, WordPress.org, Amazon, Yandex, Microsoft.com, GO.com, Ask.com, ESPN, Craigslist, About.com, Go Daddy, Stack Overflow, Huffington Post, Instagram, Slideshare, Fox News, The Guardian, Etsy, LiveJournal, and Weather.com

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  7. Fuck Beta: I've been here for 13 years by mclearn · · Score: 5, Informative

    If I am forced out of Classic, I will leave and never look back.

    Fuck beta.

    1. Re:Fuck Beta: I've been here for 13 years by Requiem18th · · Score: 4, Informative
      --
      But... the future refused to change.
  8. Spent all mod points on Beta protest by duckgod · · Score: 4, Informative

    I would have modded you flamebait since you are using a reference that contradicts your statement in the first line on the site.- "jQuery and its cousins are great, and by all means use them if it makes it easier to develop your application."http://youmightnotneedjquery.c... #incaseyoumissedit

  9. Re:Beta is terrible! by Requiem18th · · Score: 4, Informative

    quoting myself

    Yes, slashdot beta sucks, but "classic" sucks too. The previous site code was better and THAT sucked too (no unicode support whasoever remember?)

    However now that Slashdot is owned by DICE i think it's unlikely that it wil do something so uncapitalist as not targeting the unwashed masses. It's lowest common denominator or shutdown!

    I think th ebest course of action is to move somewhere else. Reddit is the most promising one. Subscribe to the following subreddits:

    http://www.reddit.com/r/censor...
    http://www.reddit.com/r/biotec...
    http://www.reddit.com/r/govern...
    http://www.reddit.com/r/securi...
    http://www.reddit.com/r/scienc...
    http://www.reddit.com/r/space
    http://www.reddit.com/r/law
    http://www.reddit.com/r/techno...
    http://www.reddit.com/r/openso...
    http://www.reddit.com/r/politi...
    http://www.reddit.com/r/privac...
    http://www.reddit.com/r/pcgami...
    http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming
    http://www.reddit.com/r/games

    To get all of slashdot covered.

    You can also get independent RSS feeds from each subreddit. sweet!

    --
    But... the future refused to change.
  10. Re:Um, WTF? by TheRealMindChild · · Score: 4, Informative

    What is the native language of a browser?

    --

    "When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
  11. Re:Where to go after Slashdot? by OzPeter · · Score: 4, Informative

    Reddit isn't going to work.
    I like Hackaday..

    But really, where is the best alternative? Can't use Slashdot much longer with this Beta.

    Go to Ars .. and read the stories 3 days before here. Or go to Mac Rumors if you are a fanboy :P

    --
    I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
  12. BETA discussion by mugnyte · · Score: 4, Informative
  13. I HAVE THE ACTUAL ANSWER TO THE GUY by gl4ss · · Score: 5, Informative

    use the non-minified version.

    when you submit stuff that gets vetted by some moderation into online javascript appstores-within-apps-or-devices then it is STANDARD PRACTICE to submit non-minified code for readability.

    the theory is that they can see that you're not going to do anything to hack the tv, spotify or whatever. this is standard on all that I've submitted apps into.

    and no, they don't actually read the code and see what it does.

    so use the non-minified version.

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    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  14. Re:Quite possibly indeed! But still... FUCK BETA! by idontgno · · Score: 4, Informative

    Also, fuck beta.

    And now I have a new signature. Thanks!

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  15. Re:Quite possibly indeed! But still... FUCK BETA! by meustrus · · Score: 4, Informative

    I tried to post a comment on beta the other day. I wanted to be a coward, but there was no check box. So in trying to find a convenient way without logging out, I ended up back on the front page without the comment I already wrote, and the back button on the browser was even disabled. How the hell did that happen? Fuck beta.

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    I sometimes ask revealing, often ignorant-seeming questions. Maybe they're harder to answer than you think.