March 05, 2003

Microsoft Still Struggling with Uncool URLs

It really must be something they serve in the soda on the Microsoft campus!!

Now Don Box has been hit by an outbreak of the "uncool URL" disease!

I just got word that the URLs have been adjusted one (hopefully) last time.
[ Don Box's Spoutlet - URL Update ]
So, let me get on my soapbox again and repeat my earlier question:
What's wrong with permanent URLs, guys?

And for good measure, let me repeat the definition of a "Cool URL" according to the W3C Style guide:

What makes a cool URI?
A cool URI is one which does not change.
What sorts of URI change?
URIs don't change: people change them.

There are no reasons at all in theory for people to change URIs ..., but millions of reasons in practice. [ Read more ... ]

[ W3C - Cool URIs don't change ]

"JUST SAY NO!"
Entry categories: Microsoft
Posted by Jorgen Thelin at March 5, 2003 01:39 PM - [PermaLink] | TrackBack
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Another Uncool URL
Excerpt: Tim Bray has discovered another outbreak of the "Uncool URL" disease: You notice I haven't included a pointer to it because these morons have set [the BBC's Reporters' Log] up so it gets a new URL every day! [ Tim Bray - Hey BBC, Get a Clue! ] Is this ...
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Tracked: March 22, 2003 02:02 AM
Upgraded to Movable Type 3.2
Excerpt: This week I upgraded to the new Movable Type version 3.2 and the new anti-spam features are simply phenominal. Now all tracebacks are moderated as well as comments, plus there is spam filtering built in for both tracebacks and comments. The updated so...
Weblog: TheArchitect.co.uk - Jorgen Thelin's weblog
Tracked: August 26, 2005 10:40 PM
Comments
I've tried hard to keep any published URLs persistent and to use HTTP redirects and social engineering to gently move people over to the new code base. Remember, I'm not running CNN.COM. I'm building an app as much as I'm producing content. DB Posted by: Don Box on March 5, 2003 02:33 PM
Ouch! I just noticed that my redirect code only works if you use permalinks. When you use the "local" links from the TOC, you got broken. I'll see if I can fix it later today. DB Posted by: Don Box on March 5, 2003 02:37 PM
To be fair to Don, I do achnowledge that (not withstanding the implementation bugs referred to above) he did at least make an effort to be a "cool URL dude" by having real permalinks and placing redirects on all the old URLs to help transition people. - JT Posted by: Jorgen Thelin on March 5, 2003 07:11 PM
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