Remote Bookmark : Scope
July 23rd, 2007
0: Possible Inspirations
I recently read Dreaming In Code. I had seen the book sitting on the shelf, and realized something that the book actually states: programmers don’t know the history of their profession.
Partway through reading it, I wanted to write “The Book of Mistakes”. Then, realizing it had already been written, I turned to something the book actually did mention: Most good programs start with a programmer scratching an itch.
So here is mine.
1: Y4
I use to many computers. I have a laptop at work that runs OS X and WinXP. I have a Desktop at the apartment that runs Linux and Windows. I sometimes go back home, and the Only Have Windows (*sigh*).
And I never had my bookmarks. Ever. What I wanted to refer to was always on the computer I was not using. Always. So, I’ll fix that.
2: Requirements
- It must be cross browser, at bare minimum IE6, IE7, and FF2
- It must handle multiple languages and encodings by default
- It must me fully administratable in the browser you are currently using (see above)
- It must have explicit sorting mechanisms available - like the folders used in integrated bookmarking systems
- It should have implicit sorting mechanisms available - based on how often the bbokmars are used, among other factors
- Bookmarks should not be deleted. Hide-able, yes, but not truly deleted.
- Usage should not give any more info than an integrated bookmarking system (referrers)
- Blah blah blah security blah
3: Implementation Plans
Ideally, everything would be integrated with the browser, and simply replace/suppliment the current offerings - however, since one can’t hope to support all browsers flawlessly, I’ll start with a web interface.
This is also a good use of bookmarklets - JavaScript that operates independent of the page.
Also, I’d like to do it so someone with the usual cheap setup - Mysql, php - can run it form their own server.
“Languages and Encodings” is a big, but solvable issue. I already have some code for that.
Frames are another big issue. I will have to see how browsers even handle all the cases.
4: Conclusion
Hope I get a few helpful posts out of this.
And my bookmarks.
-Sud.
Posted in Remote Bookmark |
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:12 pm
I’m glad Dreaming in Code inspired you in some way. Interestingly, Mitch Kapor, whose Chandler project was the subject of my book, has another project called Foxmarks that solves at least some of what you’re after here. It’s a cross-browser bookmark tool for Firefox users. So that doesn’t solve your IE problem but it’s a start.