Comments on: Javascript – the Web 2.0 developer’s Babelfish http://www.ashleyit.com/blogs/brentashley/2007/02/12/javascript-the-web-20-developers-babelfish/ dynamic typeof() guy Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:02:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Nick Fitzsimons http://www.ashleyit.com/blogs/brentashley/2007/02/12/javascript-the-web-20-developers-babelfish/comment-page-1/#comment-51686 Nick Fitzsimons Tue, 13 Feb 2007 13:31:01 +0000 http://www.ashleyit.com/blogs/brentashley/2007/02/12/javascript-the-web-20-developers-babelfish/#comment-51686 I feel that this is one of the fundamental problems with many of the JS libraries out there - they try to force JS into the mould of some other language. The result is that developers who use these libraries don't really get to grips with the true nature of JS, which can only hamper them in the long run. (Well, those who look under the hood of their chosen library will find out how to make JS fly, but that's very few of the people using these libraries.) Personally, I've been perfectly happy to use JS <em>as</em> JS for the last ten years, and I really don't see any benefit in pretending it's something else. It's like those people in the 80s who added support for infix notation to Forth: they didn't appreciate the power and flexibility provided by Forth's native use of Reverse Polish and ended up crippling themselves in their use of the language. I feel that this is one of the fundamental problems with many of the JS libraries out there – they try to force JS into the mould of some other language. The result is that developers who use these libraries don’t really get to grips with the true nature of JS, which can only hamper them in the long run. (Well, those who look under the hood of their chosen library will find out how to make JS fly, but that’s very few of the people using these libraries.)

Personally, I’ve been perfectly happy to use JS as JS for the last ten years, and I really don’t see any benefit in pretending it’s something else. It’s like those people in the 80s who added support for infix notation to Forth: they didn’t appreciate the power and flexibility provided by Forth’s native use of Reverse Polish and ended up crippling themselves in their use of the language.

]]> By: ntschutta.com » Blog Archive » How do you Like Your JavaScript? http://www.ashleyit.com/blogs/brentashley/2007/02/12/javascript-the-web-20-developers-babelfish/comment-page-1/#comment-51626 ntschutta.com » Blog Archive » How do you Like Your JavaScript? Tue, 13 Feb 2007 01:25:26 +0000 http://www.ashleyit.com/blogs/brentashley/2007/02/12/javascript-the-web-20-developers-babelfish/#comment-51626 [...] Old Ajax hand Brent Ashley has broken what I can only hope was a self imposed silence today with Javascript - the Web 2.0 developer’s Babelfish. I must say I agree with Brent’s “unformed” idea: some of today’s popular JavaScript libraries try to make JS “feel” more like a different language. I make this point when I talk about Ajax or when people quiz me about which library is perfect for them - if Ruby makes your skin crawl, chances are you won’t like Prototype and many of the Java guys I know adore GWT since it allows them to stay in their comfort zone. [...] [...] Old Ajax hand Brent Ashley has broken what I can only hope was a self imposed silence today with Javascript – the Web 2.0 developer’s Babelfish. I must say I agree with Brent’s “unformed” idea: some of today’s popular JavaScript libraries try to make JS “feel” more like a different language. I make this point when I talk about Ajax or when people quiz me about which library is perfect for them – if Ruby makes your skin crawl, chances are you won’t like Prototype and many of the Java guys I know adore GWT since it allows them to stay in their comfort zone. [...]

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