cfImageCropper Updated
Posted By : todd sharp Posted At : September 4, 2007 10:40 PM Posted In: Ajax, cfImageCropper, JavaScript, ColdFusion
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I've finally put together some proper documentation for my cfImageCropper custom tag. You can get the latest release here which includes the documentation and a few minor code tweaks. If you're not familiar with the tag see this post
I'm also cooking up some other very cool client side image stuff in the labs, so stay tuned.
the latter.
Why you may ask? Well I prefer to see the Internet the way lesser abled people see the Internet - part of my daily chore to make the webexperience a little bit better for everyone. And browsing without Javascript ON also makes the Internet a lot "cleaner" ;-) No ads, no irritating pop-ups (a bit like this comment-box ;-) ! ), just crisp, clean info. And it quickly shows me which websites cater to all, and which websites don't. Creating accessible and usable content is important I believe, and by browsing with Javascript OFF in Firefox I see a lot of not-very-nicely-degraded website. That's how I discovered the little bug in your CF-code. Usually I turn it on immediately when I figure out something I want to see or test or use isn't there without Javascript.
So yes, long story short, I browse with Javascript OFF ;-)
I will say that the entire movement of the web right now does seem awfully dependant on JavaScript so at the very least we should give a "turn on javascript silly user" message - but I do agree with Aaron that the whole intertube is close to a big ball of worthless without it...
CFImageCropper is brilliant. Looking forward to future releases. Brightness/contrast with realtime ajax preview would be a cool addition. :-)
I think I outlined quite clearly what the reasons specifically were for me to surf the "InterTube" with Javascript turned off. Luckily I use a browser that lets me do almost everything that I want (FireFox), so the wonderful, ad-filled, pop-up ridden, non-accessible or- useable website of my choice can be mine to enjoy with just the flick of my mouse-pen ;-)
It's a little like developing a website for me. First I create all the basics, the HTML, nicely and webstandardly ordered. Then I go crazy with the CSS doing stuff only the best browsers can figure out. And then I turn my attention to IE and Opera (also Safari for Windows of late) to see which tweaks I need to finish off the design. If I then need something fancy-schmanzy, like the icing on the very good-looking and functionally totally working website, THEN I add some Javascript or Flash - but always unobtrusive.
That's just my take on the need for Javascript in today's websites. I acknowledge that it's being used a lot (look at AJAX, BackBase, siFr, and other Javascript libraries), but very often I don't see the added value of the Javascript implementations. Hey, it looks cool and can do amazing stuff, but I believe it's main purpose is to enhance the user-experience, not BE it. Meaning you have to have it to be able to get the content and/or all of the necessary functionality.
OK, I'm gonna stop now, otherwise this'll turn out to be a novel soon ;-)