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So what exactly is the connection with JavaScript's deficiencies as a language and the existence and prevalence of micro-libraries like left-pad? There is the w

So what exactly is the connection with JavaScript's deficiencies as a language and the existence and prevalence of micro-libraries like left-pad? There is the whole issue of cross-browser compatibility, but how does something like left-pad even relate to that? I doubt there are many languages with core library support or language level support for that type of string padding functionality. I feel like the problem in this case has more to do with the way package publishing currently works than any features/warts in the language.

shmageggy 11y ago
It's because there are so many of these warts and gaps that a Javascript dev has two options: write their own left-pad (and array.includes, and range iterator like I did yesterday, and so on...) every 5 minutes, or use the one you can reasonably assume already works without bugs.
- mayank 11y ago
  You should check out lodash/underscore [1]. Not only is the codebase well reviewed, but there is a _.pad function in there (left and right!), and the maintainers are open to additions if core functionality is truly missing. You'll also get functional primitives that will actually make JS fun. [1] https://lodash.com/docs https://lodash.com/docs Edit: FWIW, lodash also has _.isInteger(), _.range(), and _.inRange().
  - shmageggy 11y ago
    Yup I looked there first, but there was no iterator-based range function. lodash/underscore were built for a pre-ES6 world, so they don't cover all the nice iterator/generator stuff that I like from python (yet? hopefully!)
    - aumerle 11y ago
      I suggest you look at using a python like language that transpiles into javascript. For example, https://github.com/kovidgoyal/rapydscript-ng https://github.com/kovidgoyal/rapydscript-ng which supports iterators/generators on both ES 5 and ES 6 runtimes. Using a python like language greatly eases my pain as a primarily python developer that has to code significant amounts of javascript.
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
- jlarocco 11y ago
  I don't think that explains it at all. If Javascript string manipulation sucks, there should be a single string manipulation library that fills in the gaps, not 50 different libraries to work around 50 different gaps. Ditto every other class of deficiency.
  - 8note 11y ago
    you could also have 1 library that depends on 50 different libraries, where you trust somebody to lock and update them responsibly
  - 8note 11y ago
    you could also have 1 library that depends on 50 different libraries, where you trust somebody to lock and update them responsibly
  - sotojuan 11y ago
    There's really only lodash now that individual functions can be imported without bringing the rest in.
- coldtea 11y ago
  And what's wrong with Lodash, which contains pad and all the above, and loads more besides? https://lodash.com/docs#pad https://lodash.com/docs#pad

shmageggy 11y ago

It's because there are so many of these warts and gaps that a Javascript dev has two options: write their own left-pad (and array.includes, and range iterator like I did yesterday, and so on...) every 5 minutes, or use the one you can reasonably assume already works without bugs.

mayank 11y ago
You should check out lodash/underscore [1]. Not only is the codebase well reviewed, but there is a _.pad function in there (left and right!), and the maintainers are open to additions if core functionality is truly missing. You'll also get functional primitives that will actually make JS fun. [1] https://lodash.com/docs https://lodash.com/docs Edit: FWIW, lodash also has _.isInteger(), _.range(), and _.inRange().
- shmageggy 11y ago
  Yup I looked there first, but there was no iterator-based range function. lodash/underscore were built for a pre-ES6 world, so they don't cover all the nice iterator/generator stuff that I like from python (yet? hopefully!)
  - aumerle 11y ago
    I suggest you look at using a python like language that transpiles into javascript. For example, https://github.com/kovidgoyal/rapydscript-ng https://github.com/kovidgoyal/rapydscript-ng which supports iterators/generators on both ES 5 and ES 6 runtimes. Using a python like language greatly eases my pain as a primarily python developer that has to code significant amounts of javascript.
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
jlarocco 11y ago
I don't think that explains it at all. If Javascript string manipulation sucks, there should be a single string manipulation library that fills in the gaps, not 50 different libraries to work around 50 different gaps. Ditto every other class of deficiency.
- 8note 11y ago
  you could also have 1 library that depends on 50 different libraries, where you trust somebody to lock and update them responsibly
- 8note 11y ago
  you could also have 1 library that depends on 50 different libraries, where you trust somebody to lock and update them responsibly
- sotojuan 11y ago
  There's really only lodash now that individual functions can be imported without bringing the rest in.
coldtea 11y ago
And what's wrong with Lodash, which contains pad and all the above, and loads more besides? https://lodash.com/docs#pad https://lodash.com/docs#pad