I for one am really happy the JS era is here. Finally! Also don't listen to the haters. Ya'll know most of us make web apps so stop fronting. Though, I guess now I can make a battlebot too! JS is shaping up to be a great language and environment as more and more people get on board.
JavaScript right on the hardware
181–190 of 320 posts
Re: JavaScript right on the hardware
#182Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't have much problem with programming an embedded device in a high-level language, but why JS specifically? Why not Lua, which just as fast, and is better than javascript in many respects?
Someone said once "If it CAN be developed in Javascript, eventually it WILL be developed in javascript"
That's "Atwood's Law"
The name of it is a hint as to who said it.
Re: JavaScript right on the hardware
#183Earlier quoted context omitted.
You know when people talk about negativity in Hacker News comments? This is what they mean.
Not sure what you mean by that. I meant exactly what I said: I feel sorry for anyone whose linguistic toolbox is so limited that Javascript is their best option for writing low-level code for manipulating electronic devices. It is hard to imagine a more profound mismatch between the tool and the problem it is supposed to solve.
They're not going to be manipulating low-level devices directly. They're going to be communicating via device drivers from JS. I'll bet $100 the device drivers will all be written in C.
The thing people need to learn about Arduino is that it's not important that it's a microcontroller. It's important that it lets you drive and read electrical signals from a PC environment. This lets people do that. Sure, it's like visiting a gated resort in Jamaica on vacation instead of being on your own, but many people like to feel safe and get things done without having to learn too many new skills.
Re: JavaScript right on the hardware
#184Earlier quoted context omitted.
Totes. Seems like a lot of that energy would be better spent making an equivalent device that runs . Want it to run coffeescript? go make a product designed around coffeescript. Want it to run Lua? Go make a product designed around Lua. etc. The market has room for diversity. Just because it's not the diversity you prefer, doesn't make it any less valid.
But why a dedicated device? Why not just a JS -> ARM/AVR/whatever compiler? Then you can run it on microcontrollers that you can actually build up from. One of the best things about arduino is that it's based upon the ATMega platform. Once you've got the hang of the arduino language, you can progress to embedded C (on the same device), then onto assembly if you really want. Once you've got to that level you've got a…
Any sort of compiler for JavaScript could only support a subset of the language, unless you shipped an interpreter alongside the compiled code. This subset might be unfamiliar enough to the point that moving to a new language wouldn't be that much harder for some programmers.
I also see nothing on the site to suggest that C/C++ (at least) couldn't be supported, although I have no clue how much work you would have to do yourself (likely too much).
Re: JavaScript right on the hardware
#185I for one am really happy the JS era is here. Finally! Also don't listen to the haters. Ya'll know most of us make web apps so stop fronting. Though, I guess now I can make a battlebot too! JS is shaping up to be a great language and environment as more and more people get on board.
Actually, on second thought, if anyone wants to join me in starting a HN battlebot league, hit me up!
Re: JavaScript right on the hardware
#186Earlier quoted context omitted.
You know when people talk about negativity in Hacker News comments? This is what they mean.
Not sure what you mean by that. I meant exactly what I said: I feel sorry for anyone whose linguistic toolbox is so limited that Javascript is their best option for writing low-level code for manipulating electronic devices. It is hard to imagine a more profound mismatch between the tool and the problem it is supposed to solve.
I feel sorry you lack basic understanding of linguistics. Any major programming platform today is too complex for a single individual to understand completely. One can spend his time learning several languages (and the platform they run on) or concentrate on a single language. I'd say it's obvious the second choice leads to higher productivity.
You don't see professional musicians trying to play 10 different instruments on world level. Or olympic athletes competing in 10 disciplines. Or lawyer practising 10 domains. But some programmers like to pretend they have 10 languages in their "linguistic toolbox".
Re: JavaScript right on the hardware
#187Re: JavaScript right on the hardware
#188Earlier quoted context omitted.
You can use objects in JS if you want to - but fair enough, different tastes and preferences.
I didn't say you couldn't, I just skimmed over them. The prototype stuff is funky to me, I'd rather just have a straightforward syntax with objects.
It takes less than an hour to learn and get used to it if you know the standard Java-style OOP already. It's worth it and it'll give you a whole new opinion on what OOP means.
I made this a while ago, see if you can figure out how it works: http://jsfiddle.net/AXTdj/
Re: JavaScript right on the hardware
#189Earlier quoted context omitted.
Nitpicking: while JVM implementations can run, they're not particularly tailored for dynamically typed languages.
Clojure would like a word with you.
Just because you can build a dynamic language on a vm doesn't mean it was designed and optimized for it.
Re: JavaScript right on the hardware
#190Earlier quoted context omitted.
Of all the great languages out there... we had to choose Javascript. It's a shame, would love to see more Smalltalk posts.
If Smalltalk ran on every.single.browser.ever, you would.
This is an argument for writing JS against browsers, not stuffing it into every domain possible.