The Rise and Rise of JavaScript

CommanderFrank

CommanderFrank

Cat Can't Scratch It
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May 9, 2000
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TechWorld has searched the world over and has at last found the one person who sings the praises of JavaScript and predicts the platform will continue to evolve and become one of the dominate languages.

“I think JavaScript has been seen as a serious language for the last two or three years; I think now increasingly we’re seeing JavaScript as a platform,” said Sam Newman, ThoughtWorks’ Global Innovation Lead.
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It's a double-edged sword if anything; it needs to somehow address the negatives.
 
I hate javascript. Terrible language to program in. I wish browsers would adopt something new.
 
Ihaveworms said:
I hate javascript. Terrible language to program in. I wish browsers would adopt something new.
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Is there a credible replacement for Java around? I only use it when I have to. Javascript is sort of like having a prostate exam, I pretend it doesn't bother me, and wonder why the doctor has both hands on my shoulders while he does it.
 
Javascript is messy, but AJAX is quite useful. I heaven't read into HTML5, but I thought it was going to be able to replace some javascript?
 
motomonkey said:
Is there a credible replacement for Java around? I only use it when I have to. Javascript is sort of like having a prostate exam, I pretend it doesn't bother me, and wonder why the doctor has both hands on my shoulders while he does it.
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HTML5 was supposed to be a good replacement for it. I'm not a programmer or web developer, so I can't say how good it really is.

I just know I hate javascript, and use script blocking addons for Chrome too keep javascript vulnerabilities from compromising my system, but that has become ungainly with recent changes to YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu. I find I have to approve about 6-10 more script sources for every video I want to watch, and sometimes with Netflix I'll get 80% through a movie or TV show and another script source will show up and screw up the playback completely. I end up having to start the movie over, skip ahead to approximately where the new scripts show up, then try to approve them in script blocker before the movie screws up and stops playing, which is about a 3 second gap.

Lately, I've even gone so far as to use a Linux VM (Ubuntu 12.04 on VMWare Player) for my web browsing just to insulate my personal data, then use my main machine for Hulu and Netflix only. Then there are web sites that won't come up in Firefox on Linux, but will work in Chrome on Linux, and some that won't work on either. Video playback is absolutely horrible on a VM, too.

It's a pain in the behind. I wish web developers would quit using it so much. I especially wish web site owners would quite with the crappy intellitext adverts that pop up when I roll the mouse over them, thus blocking what I'm trying to read. That's 100% javascript.

At least it's not as bad as Flash. I've actually fully blocked all flash on my browsers except for a very few trusted sites because of the severe vulnerabilities in it.
 
Best thins is for browsers to run in a sandbox without having to use sandboxie or other sandbox software to do this.
 
dgingeri said:
HTML5 was supposed to be a good replacement for it. I'm not a programmer or web developer, so I can't say how good it really is.
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and then...

I just know I hate javascript
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My guess is you're uber paranoid about your privacy and just wish all these websites would stop using JS because it's hampering your experience with the web.

Hold on a second, let this sink in, it's not going anywhere. If anything, it's going to become more prevalent with the popularity of client-side frameworks like Backbone, Angular, and server side frameworks like Node.js gaining foothold.

Don't get me wrong, I hate Javascript, but for entirely legitimate reasons. It's a scripting language that was designed to enable DHTML rollovers and some validation. It's since turned into a language that is used to deliver enterprise apps, games, and dynamic content. It's a prototyping language, and can quickly chew up large amounts of RAM when someone who doesn't know what they're doing (90% of "web designers") start deploying their apps.

I wish it would die, and something else would take its place. Don't ask me what, I don't get paid that much.
 
pgwalsh said:
I heaven't read into HTML5, but I thought it was going to be able to replace some javascript?
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HTML5 added things like Canvas element which makes developing HTML games/applets a serious option, and can thus likely replace Java in more cases.

But JavaScript , is the defacto scripting language for making games/applets using the new HTML5 canvas element.

HTML5 strengthens the case for Javascript, and weakens the case for just about everything else for web apps.

I haven't bothered reading the linked article because it is obvious that the Javascript is only being bolstered as the language for Web development as we move forward.

Something might dethrone Javascript someday, but there is nothing on the horizon right now that looks like it might.
 
I love javascript, jQuery and AngularJS are just amazing and make working with JS so much easier.
 
motomonkey said:
Is there a credible replacement for Java around? I only use it when I have to. Javascript is sort of like having a prostate exam, I pretend it doesn't bother me, and wonder why the doctor has both hands on my shoulders while he does it.
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Yes there are several replacements for Java, You can look at .NET or PHP. But I thought this was a discussion on JavasScript, not Java.
 
dgingeri said:
HTML5 was supposed to be a good replacement for it. I'm not a programmer or web developer, so I can't say how good it really is.

I just know I hate javascript, and use script blocking addons for Chrome too keep javascript vulnerabilities from compromising my system, but that has become ungainly with recent changes to YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu. I find I have to approve about 6-10 more script sources for every video I want to watch, and sometimes with Netflix I'll get 80% through a movie or TV show and another script source will show up and screw up the playback completely. I end up having to start the movie over, skip ahead to approximately where the new scripts show up, then try to approve them in script blocker before the movie screws up and stops playing, which is about a 3 second gap.

Lately, I've even gone so far as to use a Linux VM (Ubuntu 12.04 on VMWare Player) for my web browsing just to insulate my personal data, then use my main machine for Hulu and Netflix only. Then there are web sites that won't come up in Firefox on Linux, but will work in Chrome on Linux, and some that won't work on either. Video playback is absolutely horrible on a VM, too.

It's a pain in the behind. I wish web developers would quit using it so much. I especially wish web site owners would quite with the crappy intellitext adverts that pop up when I roll the mouse over them, thus blocking what I'm trying to read. That's 100% javascript.

At least it's not as bad as Flash. I've actually fully blocked all flash on my browsers except for a very few trusted sites because of the severe vulnerabilities in it.
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No offense but that sounds like an awful web experience every time you go on the Internet. If the paranoia starts to effect the user experience it's time to lighten up and keep both installed, updated and use common sense while surfing.
 
The rise of jQuery is a godsend and makes it much easier and efficient to work with.
 
dgingeri said:
HTML5 was supposed to be a good replacement for it. I'm not a programmer or web developer, so I can't say how good it really is.

I just know I hate javascript, and use script blocking addons for Chrome too keep javascript vulnerabilities from compromising my system, but that has become ungainly with recent changes to YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu. I find I have to approve about 6-10 more script sources for every video I want to watch, and sometimes with Netflix I'll get 80% through a movie or TV show and another script source will show up and screw up the playback completely. I end up having to start the movie over, skip ahead to approximately where the new scripts show up, then try to approve them in script blocker before the movie screws up and stops playing, which is about a 3 second gap.

Lately, I've even gone so far as to use a Linux VM (Ubuntu 12.04 on VMWare Player) for my web browsing just to insulate my personal data, then use my main machine for Hulu and Netflix only. Then there are web sites that won't come up in Firefox on Linux, but will work in Chrome on Linux, and some that won't work on either. Video playback is absolutely horrible on a VM, too.

It's a pain in the behind. I wish web developers would quit using it so much. I especially wish web site owners would quite with the crappy intellitext adverts that pop up when I roll the mouse over them, thus blocking what I'm trying to read. That's 100% javascript.

At least it's not as bad as Flash. I've actually fully blocked all flash on my browsers except for a very few trusted sites because of the severe vulnerabilities in it.
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wow, how are you even on this site then? There is a bunch of JS here.
 
evilsofa said:
Javascript is not Java. Javascript is not a part of Java. Java was developed by Sun and is now developed by Oracle; Javascript was developed by Netscape and is now developed by Mozilla. Netscape decided it would be fun to sow endless confusion by renaming Livescript to Javascript.

Java vs Javascript by HTMLGoodies
How is Javascript different from java, by Oracle
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This. I think a lot of people here are confusing the two, I dont really remember javascript having a lot of vulnerabilities lol
 
I LOVE javascript, even before things like jquery and such.

even with all the flaws and quirks I've always enjoyed programming with it.
 
dyzophoria said:
This. I think a lot of people here are confusing the two, I dont really remember javascript having a lot of vulnerabilities lol
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I agree people are getting the two confused, but there are vulnerabilities though.

Normally more of it being set to do things on your side that it should be doing. of course sandboxing and stuff like that helps make it safer, but there are still bad scripts out there that do bad things.
 
Just do what security expert Steve Gibbon preaches.. "Disable JavaScript." This is from 2009 but read Steve's thoughts from "Security Now" episode 221 called The Oxymoron of "JavaScript Security"

JavaScript was never meant for today's high-demand Internet environment
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My Chrome browser showing that javascript is being blocked on that page..

javascript.png


As for Java.. Java Primary Cause of 91 Percent of Attacks: Cisco

The Cisco 2014 Annual Security Report found that Java represented 91 percent of all Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) in 2013. What that means is that the final payload in observed attacks was a Java exploit
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mysticdrew said:
I love javascript, jQuery and AngularJS are just amazing and make working with JS so much easier.
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Same here, I love jquery. It amazes me how many people don't understand the difference between Java and JavaScript, or just flat out don't understand what JavaScript is. If you dont know the difference, please refrain from making any comments about anything java related, because you sound stupid. Without js, the web as we know it would essentially cease to exist. Its everywhere. Its the language of the web.
 
jQuery and frameworks like Angular/Knockout make it more bearable, TypeScript looks promising (i really liked C#)
 
dgingeri said:
HTML5 was supposed to be a good replacement for it. I'm not a programmer or web developer, so I can't say how good it really is.
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I remember a friend who insisted, swearsies, that HTML5 would replace Flash, Java, and everything else within a couple of years.

That was in 2008.
 
Stiletto said:
I remember a friend who insisted, swearsies, that HTML5 would replace Flash, Java, and everything else within a couple of years.

That was in 2008.
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It is basically true.

Pick YouTube, for example. HTML5 videos were not available in 2008. Today, all mobile devices are served HTML5 videos. On desktop, I get the HTML5 player -almost- all the time.

Java widgets have been replaced in the browser also. Not that these were ever all that popular. It's all JavaScript and HTML5.

On the server side JavaScript is becoming HUGE. Has it replaced Java? No. But Node, no doubt, took a huge web app marketshare ever since it was released in 2008-09.
 
Scripting is annoying, but necessary in some instances. As far as Java, they should have named it Molasses
 
Like Microsoft, it's got pro's and cons of being a popular platform, widely used, widely abused.
 
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