Introduction to JavaScript Fall 2010 Class 1

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Introduction to this Class

JavaScript History

The JavaScript (originally called LiveScript) language started as an internal project at Netscape to add dynamic features to their Navigator web browser. Netscape changed the name of the language to JavaScript before releasing it to the public in 1995, partially to tap into the hype that surrounded the Java language at the time. Though the name JavaScript implies that it has some relation to the Java language, JavaScript is actually a very different language.

After its introduction, JavaScript quickly became popular enough that Microsoft decided to create their own browser scripting language. In 1995, Microsoft added the JScript language to their own Internet Explorer browser. While JScript was extremely similar to JavaScript, there were enough differences to create developer headaches for years to come. Many of those difference still exist today.

Unfortunately, JavaScript was not immediately used to improve user interaction on the web. Instead, JavaScript became synonymous with annoying and distracting websites. People using JavaScript for good were far outnumbered by people using JavaScript for evil.

However, behind the scenes, people were still using JavaScript as its creators intended. In 2004, Google introduced GMail, a web based email service that relied heavily on JavaScript to create an application that behaved much like desktop email clients. Similarly, in 2005 Google introduced Google Maps, a JavaScript based mapping application that showcased some of the best features of JavaScript. Both applications sparked renewed interest in what JavaScript could offer.

Today, Netscape Navigator is dead and Internet Explorer is slowly losing market share to open source browsers like Mozilla Firefox, Webkit (Safari) and Chrome. These new browsers are focusing on making JavaScript a faster, more fully featured language. The future is very bright for JavaScript and I hope this class demonstrates some of the best uses of the language.

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Assignment 1

This class is a programming class, and the class assignments will be mostly programming oriented. However, I realize that not everyone is coming into this class with the same programming skill level. Please answer the questions below, so that I can get a better idea of how much each person in the class know about JavaScript.

  • What programming languages have you learned at Columbia (or any school)?
  • What programming languages have you learned on your own?
  • How comfortable would you say you are with programming?
  • How much experience do you have with the following:
    • JavaScript
    • HTML
    • CSS
  • Are there any topics that you'd like to see covered in this class?
  • Do you have any other questions or concerns about this class?

Please answer the questions to the best of your ability. Everyone who turns this assignment in will get an automatic A on it, so be sure to turn it in!

Please email the completed questions to mephraim@colum.edu by Friday, September 10th at 12:00pm.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions.


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