Why We Love JavaScript

Before we share with you why we love JavaScript, it is probably best to give a brief history of how it came about.

Once upon a time in the mid-1990s, Mocha was invented. We are not referring to a blend of a cappuccino or hot chocolate. But Mocha, back then, was a coding language that was developed by Brandan Eich – which in years to come would be what we now call JavaScript.

There is often some confusion about the difference between JavaScript and Java, although both languages have nothing in common. Java is an OOP programming language, whereas JavaScript is an OOP programming script. JavaScript is written completely in text and need only be interpreted, making it much more dynamic. Java, on the one hand, must be compiled into an executable form.

There are many other comparisons one would be able to make about both languages. However, our focus today is to highlight and let you know why we love JavaScript.

Variability

JavaScript, over the last decade, has been one of the top ten most popular languages. For the longest of times, it was purely a client-side web application – making it a necessary component of front-end website development.

One of the sole purposes of learning to write code is to build or do things. JavaScript is at the forefront of the programming realm – with the language being used in almost 95% of all websites on the internet. Apart from just being a browser-based language, the list of features, and uses that the scripting language can be utilized for, is quite diverse.

JavaScript code is also object-orientated, meaning front-end developers can create objects that can be manipulated. Its unique characteristics give developers leverage to build a variety of app types with distinctive attributes. These include:

• Client-Side web applications
• Server-Side web applications
• Mobile applications
• Desktop applications

Libraries and Frameworks

JavaScript frameworks and libraries are useful, and it is a good idea to experiment and see which ones work best for you as an individual. By the same token, the versatility of these frameworks favors back-end and front-end development.

The libraries and frameworks of the language have made web and app development easier with wide-ranging features and functionalities. JavaScript is estimated to have around 83 languages, with each created to serve some purpose.

As a self-taught developer and someone who is studying for a Software Development Engineering degree, I can honestly say that my choice in determining which library and framework to use, is determined by what most companies are looking for in the job market.

JavaScript has also become widely used in building solutions that perform high-volume transactions. As a betting software company, it is one of our core functions to build applications with sustained high-volume workloads, performing various transaction sizes and other input/output intensive environments using Node.JS (a package ecosystem of open source libraries in the world).

Power

We have mentioned its popularity and how easy it is to use by individuals within the development community. We have also made references about why we love JavaScript through the number of libraries and frameworks it has.

JavaScript is the backbone of modern web applications, but much like the human spine, it is quite flexible and liberal in what it allows. 25 years later, the language is still pretty much relevant as it was at its inception.

Because it is a high-level language, it takes care of a lot of nitty-gritty programming – you do not need to worry about memory management.

The extension of user interactivity to the internet has allowed developers to build the most engaging user experience. The web and/or mobile app space has gone beyond being responsive.

In the past few years, we’ve seen the introduction of a lot of new technologies in JavaScript. These are exciting times in the JavaScript world. Due to its flexibility, we have seen how the language has evolved over the years.

This doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface, but we hope it gives you an insight as to why we love this scripting language so much.