Ask HN: Why isn't JavaScript long-lasting?

4 points

5 years ago

Why is it apparently perceived as a "dayfly development language"? JS has an ISO standard like C and SQL. Yet, only C, SQL, Lisp and the SDL API are recommended[1] for the long run (>= 20 years).

So why can't I expect a JavaScript program with HTML5, CSS3 and Vue.js to last me for at least 20 years much like C89 and SDL? What's the issue here? I don't get it, since JS, HTML and CSS are standardized (like Lisp, C and SQL).

Relevant discussion keywords: Web Assembly

Reference:

1. I cannot find the URL anymore, but this blog had Jonathan's article linked: https://jonathanwhiting.com/writing/blog/games_in_c/

Anyhow, the gist was: use C and SDL to make your programs future proof.

2. There was also a website article suggesting that you should stay away from JavaScript if you want to have long-lasting websites. Instead, it suggested that you should stick with HTML and CSS.

I cannot also find the link to this anymore, but it was linked on HN.

3. https://www.johndcook.com/blog/2017/08/19/programming-language-life-expectancy/

4. http://www.bricklin.com/200yearsoftware.htm

5. https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/333487/developing-web-applications-for-long-lifespan-20-years

6. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22042186

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