Is JavaScript getting worse?

> This means that typeof can now throw

    >>> def f():
    ...     type(x)
    ...     x = 10
    ...
    >>> f()
    Traceback (most recent call last):
      File "", line 1, in 
      File "", line 2, in f
    UnboundLocalError: local variable 'x' referenced before assignment

    irb(main):010:0> def f()
    irb(main):011:1>     x.class
    irb(main):012:1>     x = 10
    irb(main):013:1> end
    => nil
    irb(main):014:0> f()
    NameError: undefined local variable or method `x' for main:Object
    	from (irb):11:in `f'
    	from (irb):14:in `evaluate'
    	from org/jruby/RubyKernel.java:1101:in `eval'
    	from org/jruby/RubyKernel.java:1501:in `loop'
    	from org/jruby/RubyKernel.java:1264:in `catch'
    	from org/jruby/RubyKernel.java:1264:in `catch'
    	from C:/jruby-1.7.12/bin/jirb_swing:53:in `(root)'

    public class Test {
    	public void f() {
    		boolean isInt = x instanceof Integer;
    		Integer x = 10;
    	}
    }
    >javac Test.java
    Test.java:3: error: cannot find symbol
                    boolean isInt = x instanceof Integer;
                                    ^
      symbol:   variable x
      location: class Test
    1 error

Oh no, it's now in line with just about every other lexically scoped language.

It means it inherits the 'this' of the enclosing function.

Without fat arrow: function outer() { function inner() { this === inner.this; } }

With fat arrow: function outer() { var inner = => this === outer.this; }

What you have to keep in mind is that JavaScript is not "a properly scoped language". Pretending that it is will cause you to miss key aspects of how the tool works. This helps no one, including you. Please, for as crappy as the language might feel, approach the language on its own terms.

ES6 is fantastic and usable today using the excellent 6to5 [0]. I disagree with all of the author's points, I think these are great features.

[0] https://github.com/6to5/6to5