[WEB4LIB] RE: Opera loading a javascript menu

[Thomas Dowling]

> Java and JavaScript are two distinct languages.  Java is a
> compliled and interpreted, `write once, run anywhere' language
> developed by Sun Microsystems.  JavaScript is a scripting
> language developed by Netscape to provide annoying pop-up windows,
> browsers incompatiblities  and frequent browser crashes to
> web pages.  It is also used for a few other purposes.  They have
> nothing to do with each other.  You don't need the Java plugin for
> JavaScript in the browser.  Whoever named JavaScript was evil (it
> came after Java).
>

Marketing droids at Netscape.  Its internal name was LiveScript before
they decided to piggyback on the initial rush of publicity over Java,
which of course was originally called Oak, until Sun realized they ran
afoul of someone else's trademark.

Opera properly advertises its compliance with ECMAScript; ECMA-262 is the
open standard version of JavaScript 1.3.  I understand that current
Netscape and IE implementations, uh, "expand and improve" upon--aka
"deviate from"--the standard.

Thomas Dowling
OhioLINK - Ohio Library and Information Network
tdowling at ohiolink.edu