-which other operating systems have yet to adopt, but they will because its stupid for a gui to distinquish between content on the hard drive and content on the internet.
You may not like it, but developers who work for large IT shops have the need to create integrated applications across several platforms running a variety of systems.
IE 5 introduced true, open persistence via an XML datastore which makes integration into enterprise applications like ERP ridiculously simple. It also allows a developer to define their own events. Furthermore, IE makes it trivial to tie in anything that happens in its client with any middle tier or other application which the vast majority of businesses support via a mature and widespread (albeit proprietary) component scheme. In short, IE has made its browser into a fully functional programming platform. IE allows them to do this, Netscape hasn't, despite many promises to do so.
Developers use IE because it is better to use an "politically incorrect" tool that allows one to use a unifying technology, i.e. the web, than it is to build a nest of old school, single purpose, unmaintainable intractable kludges, or to sit on one's hands and say, "sorry, we can't do that yet, but maybe next version" [because we wish to impose our personal biases upon the corporation which pays for your work.*]
In short, shareholders are not forcing Developers to work with IE. I know that I have never seen a VP, let alone a shareholder, who ever specified how a given solution was supposed to be implemented. Developers use IE because it works out better for what they need.
*Unless your a "consultant" with no customers, so such considerations don't concern you.
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-which other operating systems have yet to adopt, but they will because its stupid for a gui to distinquish between content on the hard drive and content on the internet.
IE 5 introduced true, open persistence via an XML datastore which makes integration into enterprise applications like ERP ridiculously simple. It also allows a developer to define their own events. Furthermore, IE makes it trivial to tie in anything that happens in its client with any middle tier or other application which the vast majority of businesses support via a mature and widespread (albeit proprietary) component scheme. In short, IE has made its browser into a fully functional programming platform. IE allows them to do this, Netscape hasn't, despite many promises to do so.
Developers use IE because it is better to use an "politically incorrect" tool that allows one to use a unifying technology, i.e. the web, than it is to build a nest of old school, single purpose, unmaintainable intractable kludges, or to sit on one's hands and say, "sorry, we can't do that yet, but maybe next version" [because we wish to impose our personal biases upon the corporation which pays for your work.*]
In short, shareholders are not forcing Developers to work with IE. I know that I have never seen a VP, let alone a shareholder, who ever specified how a given solution was supposed to be implemented. Developers use IE because it works out better for what they need.
*Unless your a "consultant" with no customers, so such considerations don't concern you.