Dawn of the Geeks

After running the server side javascript check for awhile I found out that approximately 48% of my visitors have Javascript disabled. IcarusIndie.com relies on Javascript in order for Google Adsense ads to display. I didn’t expect everyone to have javascript enabled. I didn’t expect nearly this many to not have it enabled.

Server-Side Javascript Check was written February 3rd of 2005 and is a theory on how to detect javascript on the server side. You can’t trust the client and so I devised a way that I wouldn’t have to. The wiki entry is actually a little incomplete but it turns out it works like a charm when properly implemented. It’s currently in use for Indie-Mobile. If you go there and javascript is enabled then a little banner will show up on the right side indicating as such. That’s just an indicator for the user. If it doesn’t show up then the server has figured out that JS isn’t enabled and you won’t be able to download any ringtones.

I’m going to test it out for a week or so before implementing this block in other sections. The way this site operates is that visitors get loads of free stuff and in exchange they view ads. If users fail to uphold their end of the bargain then I feel no obligation to uphold my end. It costs money to run a web-site. I’d rather advertisers cover costs than have to charge visitors directly.