Google I/O 2011: Learning to Love JavaScript




Alex Russell

JavaScript remains one of the most popular and important programming languages in history. Web Developer and Chrome Engineer Alex Russell exposes the timeless strengths of the JavaScript language and why it is a vital part of the open web platform. Come hear what’s next for the JavaScript standard and how to get the most out of the new features coming soon in V8 and Chrome.

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30 responses to “Google I/O 2011: Learning to Love JavaScript”

  1. You'll learn more from 20 minutes of this video than reading a tutorial for a couple of hours. You understand the language's core better – but not sure that you will learn to LOVE it.
    Feels like many arguments for the awesomeness of js boils down to ways to compensate for missing concepts.
    For instance at 25:30 there's a great explanation of being able to add properties at run time. But it just boils down to "you can build concepts which are not necessarily given to you in javascript". So that's not a reason to love JS, it just makes you feel like it's a shame those concepts are missing from the start

  2. I'm glad you've changed opinion from no hw control to poor hw control. It has been used apart from the web for quite some time now (google js uses outside of web pages). Js can be used to do anything as it's a Turing complete language, but it isn't the best suited language for close to the metal programming. It is very well suited for gui apps, and a lot of the recent drive in js has been towards this future (the spa movement).

  3. Even though Node.js provides Javascript hardware access how many actually use it to program microprocessors or write GUI applications? Js is great for the web though for anything other than that it is immature.

  4. You're mistaking java and javascript somehow even though they have nothing in common. Also while js took it's syntax from c, the design of js is heavily based off of scheme and small talk. So js would exist without c, but it would look a lot different.

  5. Javascript can access hardware but is generally browser limited by design. Nodejs has hardware access as it's run outside of the browser sandbox. The is no programming language war, use the correct language for the job.

  6. This is a really great talk. I didn't understand the significance of a lot of what he was saying the first time I watched it. However, coming back after about 6 months during which time I worked with javascript (intermediate stuff), this guy makes ties in the concepts of javascript pretty well.

  7. Javascript is good only for the front-end part of the web and the way it is now it won't go anywhere apart from the web. The use is so high because idiots like you can learn it easily and think that you have some clue about programming.. But after you learn languages like C, C++, Java, Python or other paradigms as those supported by Lisp, you will understand how tiny Javascript is and then realize how stupid you are.

  8. Viruses isn't caused by JavaScript, but by the combination of the huge popularity of the web, ignorance of users and crappy browser implementations.. Actually C++ can do a LOT more damage and faster than JavaScript..

  9. Sure, C++ is more powerful for computationally heavy and specific tasks, but how often do you actually need that kind of power as a developer..? The most common use cases like graphics is already built into the layout engine of the browser ready for JavaScript to utilize.. Pretty much whatever would be too slow to do in JavaScript can now be delegated to the browser or the server..

  10. Considering the huge growth and performance improvements in web technologies over the past 5-10 years, a lot suggest that JavaScript will be the future of app development..

    The power of the web greatly outweighs the computational power of a single computer, and harnessing that power is increasingly easier with JavaScript than with C++..

    Take a look at chromeexperiments[dot]com to see examples of how far the power of the web can take you..

  11. ok .. i dont understand … how to speak with u in Words … One thing we can do .. lets Meet hear @ youtube after 10 years and decide .. result … Thanks for All reaply and its was nice to talk with you Brother ….

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