Abstract
The evolution of the Web browser has been organic, with new features introduced on a pragmatic basis rather than following a clear rational design. This evolution has resulted in a cornucopia of overlapping features and redundant choices for developing Web applications. These choices include multiple architecture and rendering models, different communication primitives and protocols, and a variety of local storage mechanisms. In this position paper we examine the underlying reasons for this historic evolution. We argue that without a sound engineering approach and some fundamental rethinking there will be a growing risk that the Web may no longer be a viable, open software platform in the long run.
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See for example the controversial decisions to provide standard support for Digital Rights Management in clear conflict with the Open Web Principle [6].
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Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browser_wars in fact lists three separate browser wars (1995–2001, 2004–2018, 2018-present).
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Mikkonen, T., Pautasso, C., Systä, K., Taivalsaari, A. (2019). On the Web Platform Cornucopia. In: Bakaev, M., Frasincar, F., Ko, IY. (eds) Web Engineering. ICWE 2019. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 11496. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19274-7_25
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