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As I understand it was called JavaScript because it was not compiled, infact its interpreted i.e a script. And it was used to enrich the HTML interactions speci
by bilekas 2y ago
As I understand it was called JavaScript because it was not compiled, infact its interpreted i.e a script. And it was used to enrich the HTML interactions specifically which would mean no compile in the browser which back in the day were terrible. So Netscape and Sun came together to bring us Javascript.. It was also rushed because there was some competition with Microsoft I guess with VBScript or some derivation of that. So while JS is certainly 'quirky` I would hate to see what Microsofts version might look like today.
- hnbad 2y agoThe reason JavaScript exists is that it was targeting hobbyists and non-programmers for whom Java would have been too much of a barrier to entry. That's why it's called that and why it was referred to as a "companion language" to Java at the time. Remember, Java applets were supposed to be how you build Rich Internet Applications. I recommend reading the "prehistory" chapters of this book: https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/3386327 https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/3386327