4 ms·

> For example, I don't consider it important to be able to compile Rust to JavaScript, because I don't think JavaScript is a good thing. what do you mean, exac

by abiox 9y ago

> For example, I don't consider it important to be able to compile Rust to JavaScript, because I don't think JavaScript is a good thing. what do you mean, exactly? people are interested in compilation to javascript principally because js is the language of the browser; if it was just another scripting language (like perl, ruby, lua, etc) there wouldn't have been such a transpiler explosion.

madez 9y ago
JavaScript and WebAssembly are used like DRM on steroids. I explained myself here a bit more: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15982323 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15982323 Edit: Those who downvoted, do you disagree, or was there another reason?
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- krapp 9y ago
  I didn't downvote you, but I do disagree. Javascript can be turned off, or modified at will in the browser, and its source is available and viewable. Most Javascript is FOSS licensed, and can be forked, edited and redistributed. Minified libraries usually have plaintext sources accompanying them, meaning they can be studied and validated. WebAssembly, meanwhile is barely being used at all, much less in any way that can be considered 'like DRM on steroids.' I understand a lot of people here don't like Javascript, and dislike WebAssembly even less for being a binary format, yet as languages and their environments go, Javascript makes itself far more amenable to user freedom than others, and WebAssembly still barely even exists.
- Impossible 9y ago
  This isn't an inherent property of Javascript or the web though, and it happens with other languages. Javascript is better than many languages in that although it is often minified, anyone using a browser can view source and look at js code, which isn't the case for non-open source code in languages that compile to binary executables. Mobile platforms and eapecially game consoles have significantly more DRM backed into the platform than the web, and don't use javascript as a primary language for most applications.

by abiox 9y ago

madez 9y ago

JavaScript and WebAssembly are used like DRM on steroids. I explained myself here a bit more: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15982323 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15982323 Edit: Those who downvoted, do you disagree, or was there another reason?

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
krapp 9y ago
I didn't downvote you, but I do disagree. Javascript can be turned off, or modified at will in the browser, and its source is available and viewable. Most Javascript is FOSS licensed, and can be forked, edited and redistributed. Minified libraries usually have plaintext sources accompanying them, meaning they can be studied and validated. WebAssembly, meanwhile is barely being used at all, much less in any way that can be considered 'like DRM on steroids.' I understand a lot of people here don't like Javascript, and dislike WebAssembly even less for being a binary format, yet as languages and their environments go, Javascript makes itself far more amenable to user freedom than others, and WebAssembly still barely even exists.
Impossible 9y ago
This isn't an inherent property of Javascript or the web though, and it happens with other languages. Javascript is better than many languages in that although it is often minified, anyone using a browser can view source and look at js code, which isn't the case for non-open source code in languages that compile to binary executables. Mobile platforms and eapecially game consoles have significantly more DRM backed into the platform than the web, and don't use javascript as a primary language for most applications.