[mdlug] "non-free javascript"

[Ron / BCLUG]

LAP wrote on 2025-01-08 02:25:

> I would suppose that he is referring to the GNU LibreJS project:
> 
> https://www.gnu.org/software/librejs/index.html

Ah, good point, I'll read that.


> I am vigorously opposed to the use of javascript

I just do not understand this position.

If it weren't for JS, our Jitsi/Zoom/Nextcloud/BigBlueButton meetings
would have us Linux users scrambling to get some app running in Wine, etc.

We'd be second class citizens on the internet.

With good JS support, this is a thing of the past, thank goodness.


Also, how else would someone write applications for wide distribution?

Developers generally don't want to have to worry about packaging for
Windows, Debian, RHEL, Arch, Android, iOS, and more.

With JS, we can write once, push out updates immediately to everyone,
and everyone gets the same experience.


It's great, IMHO.


> but I also realize that advocating any alternative would be an
> extremely uphill battle.
Yeah, JS is not perfect, the alternatives are impossible to implement 
widely at this stage, we're "stuck" with it.

On the other hand, C is an atrocious language, full of foot-guns, and I 
don't hear people saying they're "extremely opposed to" C language.

Weird, that.



Thanks for weighing in!