3 ms·

Ask HN: What else can JavaScript be used for?

1 points by webguyian 12y ago

Coming from the web development field, I'm interested in what other areas JavaScript is being used in. I know there have been applications in art, education, games, and robotics. I started compiling a list of different uses for JavaScript. [0] What am I missing? [0] https://github.com/webguyian/javascript-uses

blowski 12y ago
I don't really understand the question. It's a programming language and it can be used to do things that programming languages can do. So to say it can 'do' education seems to be a strange comment. It can be used to write programs that help with education, and you can use it as a language to teach programming - but both of those things are true of Python, PHP, Lisp, Java, etc.
- mtmail 12y ago
  Have to agree. It might be better to assume it can be used everywhere and then come up with a list of limitations (which are sometimes overcome by other software e.g. nodejs for file-system access).
- webguyian 12y ago
  I understand that most, if not all, of the things I listed can be applied to programming languages in general. I am interested in learning what other fields I can apply my knowledge of JavaScript in. Of course, I could build a website or an app for any field, but to me the medium is different if I were using JS for game development vs. for programming a NodeBot. Maybe it is more a question of the limitations of the language...
  - blowski 12y ago
    The language is a tool, not an objective. My suggestion would be to take a project you've already built in JavaScript and rewrite it in Io (another prototype-based language), because it will teach you to separate the problem from the solution. Beyond that, find a problem, fall in love with it, become obsessed by it, and look for ways to solve it.
    - webguyian 12y ago
      Beyond that, find a problem, fall in love with it, become obsessed by it, and look for ways to solve it. Great advice. I'll get on that. Thank you.

3 ms·

Ask HN: What else can JavaScript be used for?

1 points by webguyian 12y ago

blowski 12y ago
I don't really understand the question. It's a programming language and it can be used to do things that programming languages can do. So to say it can 'do' education seems to be a strange comment. It can be used to write programs that help with education, and you can use it as a language to teach programming - but both of those things are true of Python, PHP, Lisp, Java, etc.
- mtmail 12y ago
  Have to agree. It might be better to assume it can be used everywhere and then come up with a list of limitations (which are sometimes overcome by other software e.g. nodejs for file-system access).
- webguyian 12y ago
  I understand that most, if not all, of the things I listed can be applied to programming languages in general. I am interested in learning what other fields I can apply my knowledge of JavaScript in. Of course, I could build a website or an app for any field, but to me the medium is different if I were using JS for game development vs. for programming a NodeBot. Maybe it is more a question of the limitations of the language...
  - blowski 12y ago
    The language is a tool, not an objective. My suggestion would be to take a project you've already built in JavaScript and rewrite it in Io (another prototype-based language), because it will teach you to separate the problem from the solution. Beyond that, find a problem, fall in love with it, become obsessed by it, and look for ways to solve it.
    - webguyian 12y ago
      Beyond that, find a problem, fall in love with it, become obsessed by it, and look for ways to solve it. Great advice. I'll get on that. Thank you.