Web Technologies in a Nutshell - JavaScript
JavaScript -- only superficially related to Java and was called LiveScript -- is Netscape's (somewhat supported by Microsoft) fully interpreted Client side extension of HTML. This is a good Client Window integration /customization technology where flexibility more important than performance
i.e. use JavaScript for Rapid Prototyping of Complex User Interfaces
- First examples use JavaScript together with frames ( HTML extension) for interactive multi-window technologies
- JavaScript is roughly equivalent to "Abstract Windowing Toolkit/ Layout Manager" in Java but applied to Browser Frames and not Java windows
- JavaScript cannot build complex filters or simulations as slow
- But JavaScript with dynamic HTML is powerful client technology which is often easier and faster than Java -- it is faster as invokes optimized browser functions
- both Internet Explorer 4 and Netscape have excellent JavaScript support
Server side version of JavaScript called LiveWire runs on Netscape Servers -- unsuccessful
Expect client side use of JavaScript to grow in importance