Having programmed in many languages, but most recently Node.js for the last two years, I don't think "callback hell" is as big a problem as the OP makes it out

Having programmed in many languages, but most recently Node.js for the last two years, I don't think "callback hell" is as big a problem as the OP makes it out to be. Debugging huge, complicated, and even poorly written Node applications doesn't feel much different to me than debugging huge, complicated, or poorly written Java applications. Sometimes it's a pain, that's unavoidable. You can prevent it to an extent by writing clean, tested code. I don't see a strong resemblance between goto and callbacks. The resemblance is just as strong between goto and any function, or class