Comment by Retr0id
11 hours ago
Not at all to defend Meta but "a feature that allows software developers to test applications" is a dubious definition of localhost. I also can't come up with a better one.
11 hours ago
Not at all to defend Meta but "a feature that allows software developers to test applications" is a dubious definition of localhost. I also can't come up with a better one.
Here is the explicit definition of localhost.
The term "localhost" refers to the default entry in all modern operating system host files. By default modern operating systems provide a hosts file that provides domain name resolution without reliance upon the Domain Name System (DNS) protocol. By default these host files typically ship with one entry, a domain named "localhost" that points to IPv4 loopback interface 127.0.0.1.
It's not a definition, but it is an accurate statement.
It's a true statement but I'm not sure it gives a good impression of what localhost actually is.
If the biggest issue you found in the article is the localhost gloss, Meta probably got off easy.
“A loopback network interface” or “A interface that refers to the same host”.
“A network interface which allows processes on the same internet host to communicate without the need for a network connection”
There's a lot of layperson-unfriendly words in there! Iterating on that:
"A feature that allows multiple programs on the same device to communicate without the need for an internet connection"
Some concepts just can't (or shouldn't) be broken down to the level of lay person friendly though. There are just some technical concepts that have a complexity floor that if you drop below you are no longer explaining the actual concept but a fantasy.
For a judge trying to rule on a technical case, a poor layperson analogy and lead to a confidently wrong legal conclusion that has serious negative consequences. Thats why court appointed neutral experts are important.
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a pty fits that definition though
It is like having a pool room at home instead of playing at the bar. Facebook want to snoop around your pool room.