4 ms·

Agreed, but there are numerous alternatives that compile easily to assembly without ridiculous amounts of set up and prayer. We can program in C, C++, Python,

Agreed, but there are numerous alternatives that compile easily to assembly without ridiculous amounts of set up and prayer. We can program in C, C++, Python, Ruby, Java, any number other languages that will ultimately all be executed in the exact same fashion, barring some technical differences. This does not exist for Javascript. You can jump through hoops to compile other code to Javascript and hope that it works and works acceptably, that's it. Javascript isn't assembly, it's the only language and it's terrible.

jiggy2011 13y ago
Isn't this what asm.js attempts to provide? With mature tooling it should be possible to code in whichever language and compile or run on top of a VM which itself runs atop asm.js without having to worry about the underlying JS much at all (unless you want serious optimisation). It wouldn't surprise me if we eventually come full circle and discard the DOM entirely. Each web application is just a giant <canvas> with QT or something compiled to JS providing the UI elements.
- _pmf_ 13y ago
  > It wouldn't surprise me if we eventually come full circle and discard the DOM entirely. Each web application is just a giant <canvas> with QT or something compiled to JS providing the UI elements. The shocking thing is that we are almost at a point where a solution that sounds as stupid as that is actually less contrived and complex than the current mess.
  - jfb 13y ago
    The web is a lousy platform for featureful applications. There's no amount of polishing that's going to shine that turd.
  - jnowlan 13y ago
    From a non-expert, but avid observer, this looks like where things are going. I support Mozilla, but wonder if this is a Hail-Mary pass, with something like Dart and Web components being the 'engineered' approach. At this stage, if asm.js is to succeed, they need to show how us mortals can use it. I.e. it needs to part of a complete toolchain, or an ide. asm.js using qt (without hacks) would be amazing. How do I help (when I can hardly wrap my head around it)?

jiggy2011 13y ago

Isn't this what asm.js attempts to provide? With mature tooling it should be possible to code in whichever language and compile or run on top of a VM which itself runs atop asm.js without having to worry about the underlying JS much at all (unless you want serious optimisation). It wouldn't surprise me if we eventually come full circle and discard the DOM entirely. Each web application is just a giant <canvas> with QT or something compiled to JS providing the UI elements.

_pmf_ 13y ago
> It wouldn't surprise me if we eventually come full circle and discard the DOM entirely. Each web application is just a giant <canvas> with QT or something compiled to JS providing the UI elements. The shocking thing is that we are almost at a point where a solution that sounds as stupid as that is actually less contrived and complex than the current mess.
- jfb 13y ago
  The web is a lousy platform for featureful applications. There's no amount of polishing that's going to shine that turd.
- jnowlan 13y ago
  From a non-expert, but avid observer, this looks like where things are going. I support Mozilla, but wonder if this is a Hail-Mary pass, with something like Dart and Web components being the 'engineered' approach. At this stage, if asm.js is to succeed, they need to show how us mortals can use it. I.e. it needs to part of a complete toolchain, or an ide. asm.js using qt (without hacks) would be amazing. How do I help (when I can hardly wrap my head around it)?