878K views · Feb 12, 2021 · 2:59:19 · 5 HN recommenders · 11 mentions · discussed 2021–2023
A roughly three-hour Lex Fridman podcast conversation with Brendan Eich, creator of JavaScript and co-founder of Mozilla and Brave. It covers JavaScript's rushed creation at Netscape, the browser wars, Firefox and Mozilla, and Brave's privacy approach.
Why Hacker News points people here: Linked as a source for first-hand JavaScript and Netscape history, with commenters pointing to specific segments like the Java versus JavaScript decision.
“a real gem of an interview, in my opinion”HN comment, 2021
“a real gem of an interview, in my opinion”
Timecoded segment on browser wars, privacy protections, ads and search
Lex Fridman interviewed Brendan Eich earlier this year (a real gem of an interview, in my opinion). I found all of it interesting, but here's a timecode link where they begin to discuss the current era of "browser wars", technical aspects and history of privacy protections, ads, search, and how that's all related. this video
“Lots of great little tidbits of history in the conversation”
Eich conversation full of tidbits about JavaScript history
Lex Fridman just did a great podcast episode with Brendan Eich, credited with creating JavaScript. Lots of great little tidbits of history in the conversation - this video
“Recommended "literature”
Listed among recommended viewing about JavaScript and its creator
Recommended "literature": 1. 10 Things I Regret About Node.js - Ryan Dahl - JSConf EU ( link ) 2. Brendan Eich: JavaScript, Firefox, Mozilla, and Brave | Lex Fridman Podcast #160 ( this video )
“There was this wonderful podcast featuring Eich a few days ago”
Podcast with Brendan Eich on JavaScript, Firefox, Mozilla and Brave
There was this wonderful podcast featuring Eich a few days ago: "Brendan Eich: JavaScript, Firefox, Mozilla, and Brave" this video
“If this is exciting for you then you'll love this podcast with Brendan Eich.”
Podcast with the creator of JavaScript and co-founder of Mozilla and Brave
If this is exciting for you then you'll love this podcast with Brendan Eich. Brendan Eich is the creator of JavaScript and co-founder of Mozilla and Brave. this video
“Hyatt anecdote at”
Eich recounts a Hyatt anecdote about JavaScript's origins
Hyatt anecdote at this video . The point is not about Silicon Valley, commercialization of the Web (although as Dorothy Denning observed, the pre-Web Academic Internet was a more secure world only because not many attackers yet), or academic pressure. WiB applies to biology. I have friends at a synth-bio startup, one tweeted humorously the other month about how bad a hack evolution is!
“deep link to B.E. explanation”
Eich explains why Netscape deliberately had two languages, JavaScript and Java
>If only the conversations between Sun and Netscape had gone a little differently back in the day, and we'd had a single language/system in the browser Brendan Eich said there were discussions with Sun (e.g. Bill Joy) and Marc Andreessen and all agreed[1] there should deliberately be 2 languages instead of 1 in the Netscape browser: (1) an "easier/simpler" scripting type of language LiveScript aka Javascript (2) a "professional" compiled type of language like Java for more complex applications So, it wasn't an accident, or case of NIH Not Invented Here, or corporate bickering. What they didn't foresee in 1994 is that the non-professional Javascript would end up adding more (pro) features that it enabled it to eliminate the need for Java Applets. [1] deep link to B.E. explanation: this video
“I'm using Brave browser (based on chromium) since recently (after watching”
Commenter switched to Brave after watching the interview
similarly to your experience, I'm using Brave browser (based on chromium) since recently (after watching this video ), mostly attracted by the built-in adblocker
“History is detailed at”
Detailed history of how JavaScript was created
Ten day Mocha had strict ==, so better in that regard. History is detailed at this video . Rather than assuming a too-simple version, check out the details for how things went down. Do-overs not possible, by better new forms over time helped. Honest q: Do you actually use modern JS at all?
“There is an espisode the Lex Fridman podcast with Brendan Eich where he talks a little about that specific time.”
Eich discusses the Sun-Netscape era and the battle for the web
It was the battle for "the web" and the sun+netscape partnership was an actual menace to microsoft's activex and vbscript things. There is an espisode the Lex Fridman podcast with Brendan Eich where he talks a little about that specific time.[1] The "panic" was right imo (only in that specific area) i mean, there is almost 0 microsoft on the web today. [1]: this video
“JS had ten days till a demo to prove to factions in Netscape”
Eich's account of JS's ten-day creation and Self's influence
Scope in early JS was handled through a parent slot. Self was a big influence but I had no time to honor it properly. JS had ten days till a demo to prove to factions in Netscape and to most of Sun (Bill Joy was ally) that it had a role to play. See this video (earlier if you have time).
