EcmaScript, ECMAScript, or JavaScript ?

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  • dhtml

    EcmaScript, ECMAScript, or JavaScript ?

    I made a change to the FAQ of javascript to EcmaScript.

    I got some feedback that the newsgroup is CLJ and the language is
    commonly referred to as JavaScript. Therefore, the word in the FAQ
    should be JavaScript.

    So I'm asking: what should I use in the FAQ?

    Technically, 'JavaScript' is Mozilla's implementation of Ecma-262.

    So - JavaScript or ECMAScript.

    The second question is: where ECMAScript is used, should it be
    'ECMAScript' or 'EcmaScript'?

    Brendan always calls it "Ecma" and "Ecma TC3". Others do, too.

    Technically, 'ECMAScript' is more official, though it's a little easier
    to read and type camel case than all-caps.

    What do you want in the FAQ: JavaScript, EcmaScript, or ECMAScript?

    Garrett
  • RobG

    #2
    Re: EcmaScript, ECMAScript, or JavaScript ?

    On Oct 7, 12:04 pm, dhtml <dhtmlkitc...@g mail.comwrote:
    I made a change to the FAQ of javascript to EcmaScript.
    >
    I got some feedback that the newsgroup is CLJ and the language is
    commonly referred to as JavaScript.  Therefore, the word in the FAQ
    should be JavaScript.
    >
    So I'm asking: what should I use in the FAQ?
    >
    Technically, 'JavaScript' is Mozilla's implementation of Ecma-262.
    >
    So - JavaScript or ECMAScript.
    >
    The second question is: where ECMAScript is used, should it be
    'ECMAScript' or 'EcmaScript'?
    >
    Brendan always calls it "Ecma" and "Ecma TC3". Others do, too.
    >
    Technically, 'ECMAScript' is more official, though it's a little easier
    to read and type camel case than all-caps.
    >
    What do you want in the FAQ: JavaScript, EcmaScript, or ECMAScript?
    The term ECMAScript should be used whenever referring to the
    underlying language because that is an easily recognisable part of its
    official name. EcmaScript is a bit "skript-kiddy" to me, even if it's
    been adopted by its inventor.

    JavaScript (capitalised) should be used only when referring
    specifically to Netscape’s implementation of ECMAScript in their
    browser. The Mozilla web site states that SpiderMonkey “Mozilla's C
    implementation of JavaScript” and Rhino is their Java implementation.
    It’s worth noting that Sun owns the JavaScript trademark, though
    whether that is important or not is moot.

    It is my understanding that the term javascript (no capitalisation) is
    generally used to mean ECMAScript as implemented in a browser and
    includes all the other host environment stuff as well (e.g. W3C DOM
    and proprietary bits). If a comment refers to a specific
    implementation, it should mention it by name (JScript, SpiderMonkey,
    SquirrelFish and so on).

    It is important that the FAQ points out the difference between
    ECMAScript and its implementation in different environments.


    --
    Rob

    Comment

    • Lasse Reichstein Nielsen

      #3
      Re: EcmaScript, ECMAScript, or JavaScript ?

      dhtml <dhtmlkitchen@g mail.comwrites:
      What do you want in the FAQ: JavaScript, EcmaScript, or ECMAScript?
      Personally, I use "Javascript " about the collection of languages that
      are ECMAScript compatible (anything that triggers off the (unofficial)
      MIME type "text/javascript").
      This includes JavaScript(TM), JScript(TM) and other unnamed
      implementations (e.g., in Opera, Safari, Chrome, etc.).

      It's no more incorrect than any of the other :)
      /L
      --
      Lasse Reichstein Nielsen
      DHTML Death Colors: <URL:http://www.infimum.dk/HTML/rasterTriangleD OM.html>
      'Faith without judgement merely degrades the spirit divine.'

      Comment

      • Jorge

        #4
        Re: EcmaScript, ECMAScript, or JavaScript ?

        On Oct 7, 7:03 am, Lasse Reichstein Nielsen <lrn.unr...@gma il.com>
        wrote:
        dhtml <dhtmlkitc...@g mail.comwrites:
        What do you want in the FAQ: JavaScript, EcmaScript, or ECMAScript?
        >
        Personally, I use "Javascript " about the collection of languages that
        are ECMAScript compatible (anything that triggers off the (unofficial)
        MIME type "text/javascript").
        This includes JavaScript(TM), JScript(TM) and other unnamed
        implementations (e.g., in Opera, Safari, Chrome, etc.).
        Safari's JS interpreter is called, properly enough, JavaScriptCore.
        It's no more incorrect than any of the other :)
        You're not alone, most books are titled [something]+"JavaScript "+
        [something]: i.e. "JavaScript : The good parts", not "ECMAScript : The
        good parts" :-)

        --
        Jorge.

        Comment

        • Dr J R Stockton

          #5
          Re: EcmaScript, ECMAScript, or JavaScript ?

          On Oct 7, 8:19 am, Jorge <jo...@jorgecha morro.comwrote:
          On Oct 7, 7:03 am, Lasse Reichstein Nielsen <lrn.unr...@gma il.com>
          wrote:
          >
          dhtml <dhtmlkitc...@g mail.comwrites:
          What do you want in the FAQ: JavaScript, EcmaScript, or ECMAScript?
          >
          Personally, I use "Javascript " about the collection of languages that
          are ECMAScript compatible (anything that triggers off the (unofficial)
          MIME type "text/javascript").
          This includes JavaScript(TM), JScript(TM) and other unnamed
          implementations (e.g., in Opera, Safari, Chrome, etc.).
          >
          Safari's JS interpreter is called, properly enough, JavaScriptCore.
          >
          It's no more incorrect than any of the other :)
          >
          You're not alone, most books are titled [something]+"JavaScript "+
          [something]: i.e. "JavaScript : The good parts", not "ECMAScript : The
          good parts"  :-)
          One should be guided firstly by what ISO/IEC 16262 uses internally,
          secondarily by what ECMA 262 uses internally, thirdly by what
          Wikipedia uses (because inappropriate notation will have been changed
          there); but in the case of single-source products use what the source
          uses.

          That means ECMAScript, JavaScript, JScript.

          Since the language is so widely known as JavaScript, and the newsgroup
          is CLJ, the general name used in the FAQ should be JavaScript rather
          than ECMAScript. Remember that the FAQ is intended to be read by
          ordinary people.

          Remember also that one should, in principle, not code in full
          ECMAScript. Instead, one should code in that subset of ECMAScript
          which one believes to be properly supported in all target executing
          agents. That means, for example, not using toFixed if certain
          arguments are possible. Better, then, not to use ECMAScript except
          when referring to the standard.

          Intranet authors can code in a superset of that subset, adding the use
          of non-ECMA features supported on all relevant systems.

          One might argue for using JavaScript for what is compliant with the
          standards, and Javascript or javascript more generally. But it would
          be difficult to sustain that reliable, and readers would not remember
          the significance.

          --
          (c) John Stockton, near London, UK. Posting with Google.
          Mail: J.R.""""""""@ph ysics.org or (better) via Home Page at
          Web: <URL:http://www.merlyn.demo n.co.uk/>
          FAQish topics, acronyms, links, etc.; Date, Delphi, JavaScript, ....|

          Comment

          • Richard Cornford

            #6
            Re: EcmaScript, ECMAScript, or JavaScript ?

            On Oct 7, 3:04 am, dhtml wrote:
            I made a change to the FAQ of javascript to EcmaScript.
            And how is that supposed to help?
            I got some feedback that the newsgroup is CLJ and the
            language is commonly referred to as JavaScript. Therefore,
            the word in the FAQ should be JavaScript.
            Absolutely not. It is necessarily to be able to differentiate between
            the ECMAScript implementation that has a name with that trademark
            capitalisation and the general category of ECMAScript implementations .
            As the latter is called "javascript " (with or without capitalisation)
            but the former is named "JavaScript " (with the specific
            capitalisation) it makes most sense to differentiate between the two
            by employing alternative capitalisation. This has been discussed
            before (and at length) and the wording employed in the FAQ represented
            the consensus at the time.
            So I'm asking: what should I use in the FAQ?
            No.
            Technically, 'JavaScript' is Mozilla's implementation of
            Ecma-262.
            And a Trademark name, as is "JScript".
            So - JavaScript or ECMAScript.
            Neither.
            The second question is: where ECMAScript is used, should it be
            'ECMAScript' or 'EcmaScript'?
            ECMAScript.
            Brendan always calls it "Ecma" and "Ecma TC3". Others do, too.
            Always? URL (or any evidence substantiating that claim)?
            Technically, 'ECMAScript' is more official, though it's a
            little easier to read and type camel case than all-caps.
            Typing ease is hardly an excuse, but use "javascript " (capitalised if
            it appears at the beginning of a sentence) and it is likely that
            readers will sufficiently understand what is being referred to.
            What do you want in the FAQ: JavaScript, EcmaScript,
            or ECMAScript?
            Javascript.

            Richard.

            Comment

            • Conrad Lender

              #7
              Re: EcmaScript, ECMAScript, or JavaScript ?

              On 2008-10-07 18:35, Dr J R Stockton wrote:
              One should be guided firstly by what ISO/IEC 16262 uses internally,
              secondarily by what ECMA 262 uses internally,
              Is there any difference between the two? I've never bothered with the
              ISO specs, because I consider ECMA-262 to be normative, and because ISO
              usually charges quite a bit for a copy of their specs.
              thirdly by what Wikipedia uses (because inappropriate notation will
              have been changed there); but in the case of single-source products
              use what the source uses.
              Wikipedia? As useful as it can be at times, I would very much ignore
              what Wikipedia has to say about this topic. They're not an authority.
              Since the language is so widely known as JavaScript, and the newsgroup
              is CLJ, the general name used in the FAQ should be JavaScript rather
              than ECMAScript. Remember that the FAQ is intended to be read by
              ordinary people.
              ...
              Better, then, not to use ECMAScript except when referring to the
              standard.
              Agree about that. JavaScript is what it's generally know as, and the
              distinction between the language standard and the names of the various
              implementations is less important than letting people know what we're
              talking about. The FAQ should explain the definitions (it does so
              already, in part), and why "JavaScript " is used in the rest of the document.

              Also, the MIME type is usually stated as "text/javascript", not
              "text/ecmascript" or "text/name-of-implementation-script".


              - Conrad

              Comment

              • Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn

                #8
                Re: EcmaScript, ECMAScript, or JavaScript ?

                Conrad Lender wrote:
                On 2008-10-07 18:35, Dr J R Stockton wrote:
                >[...]
                >Better, then, not to use ECMAScript except when referring to the
                >standard.
                >
                Agree about that. JavaScript is what it's generally know as, and the
                distinction between the language standard and the names of the various
                implementations is less important than letting people know what we're
                talking about.
                Non sequitur. Those differences have become one important
                reason why we are discussing here in the first place.

                <http://PointedEars.de/es-matrix/(new revision still construction)


                PointedEars
                --
                Anyone who slaps a 'this page is best viewed with Browser X' label on
                a Web page appears to be yearning for the bad old days, before the Web,
                when you had very little chance of reading a document written on another
                computer, another word processor, or another network. -- Tim Berners-Lee

                Comment

                • Conrad Lender

                  #9
                  Re: EcmaScript, ECMAScript, or JavaScript ?

                  On 2008-10-07 19:25, Richard Cornford wrote:
                  >Technically, 'ECMAScript' is more official, though it's a
                  >little easier to read and type camel case than all-caps.
                  Typing ease is hardly an excuse, but use "javascript " (capitalised if
                  it appears at the beginning of a sentence) and it is likely that
                  readers will sufficiently understand what is being referred to.
                  >What do you want in the FAQ: JavaScript, EcmaScript,
                  >or ECMAScript?
                  Javascript.
                  With all due respect, but if "JavaScript " is a trademark, then
                  "Javascript " is protected as well (just like "ipod" is protected,
                  although the trademark is "iPod"). The trademarked spelling is camel
                  cased, but legally that does not give anybody the right to use the
                  "Javascript " spelling freely without infringing on the trademark. If
                  "Javascript " has become sufficiently widely used, and _not_ only in
                  connection with the trademarked implementation, then the trademark could
                  (if anybody cared enough) be voided, as it will no longer be unique
                  enough, and hence unenforcable.

                  Disclaimer: I've been working with patent attorneys for the last 5+
                  years, and while this definitely does not make me an expert in any way,
                  it did give me a pretty good general idea about the legal situation.

                  My point is that it would be unwise to make an important distinction
                  between JavaScript, Javascript, and javascript, just based on the
                  capitalization. That would be extremely confusing, especially for
                  newcomers. Writing it all-lowercase, as you suggested, would not help
                  the situation - all languages that I can think of are proper nouns and
                  written with capital initial letters; making "javascript " the only
                  exception would only cause more confusion.

                  Like it or not, JavaScript has become a pars pro toto expression; in
                  technical discussions we will keep the distinction between standard and
                  implementations , but in practical usage (and even in this group)
                  "JavaScript " is almost generally used as "all languages/implementations
                  derived from ECMAScript" (there are a few exceptions, such as
                  "ActionScript") .

                  One way to make the distinction clearer in the FAQ would be to use
                  JavaScript® and JScript® for trademarked names. At the very least the
                  FAQ could (should) mention which names are trademarked.


                  - Conrad

                  Comment

                  • John G Harris

                    #10
                    Re: EcmaScript, ECMAScript, or JavaScript ?

                    On Tue, 7 Oct 2008 at 09:35:04, in comp.lang.javas cript, Dr J R Stockton
                    wrote:

                    <snip>
                    >One should be guided firstly by what ISO/IEC 16262 uses internally,
                    >secondarily by what ECMA 262 uses internally, thirdly by what
                    >Wikipedia uses (because inappropriate notation will have been changed
                    >there); but in the case of single-source products use what the source
                    >uses.
                    >
                    >That means ECMAScript, JavaScript, JScript.
                    >
                    >Since the language is so widely known as JavaScript, and the newsgroup
                    >is CLJ, the general name used in the FAQ should be JavaScript rather
                    >than ECMAScript. Remember that the FAQ is intended to be read by
                    >ordinary people.
                    <snip>

                    "JavaScript " with a capital J and capital S was a registered trademark
                    owned by Netscape when it was an independent company. It's likely that
                    it's still a trademark owned by some legal entity.

                    The ECMAScript standard defines the core language, though it allows and
                    expects a conforming implementation to provide further objects,
                    functions, etc.

                    Using "JavaScript " may need permission and can't be used when talking
                    about IE, by definition. Using "ECMAScript " implies you're restricting
                    your remarks to the core language. I claim that "javascript " is the most
                    suitable spelling when talking generally, with a capital J used only
                    when it's the first word in a sentence.

                    John
                    --
                    John Harris

                    Comment

                    • Conrad Lender

                      #11
                      Re: EcmaScript, ECMAScript, or JavaScript ?

                      On 2008-10-07 21:15, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
                      Conrad Lender wrote:
                      >Agree about that. JavaScript is what it's generally know as, and the
                      >distinction between the language standard and the names of the various
                      >implementation s is less important than letting people know what we're
                      >talking about.
                      >
                      Non sequitur. Those differences have become one important
                      reason why we are discussing here in the first place.
                      I'm getting a little tired of your "non sequitur" remarks, and I'm
                      beginning to wonder if you even know what it means. We're having
                      discussions here, we're not engaged in formal logical disputes. But if
                      you want it formally:

                      premise A) Most people know this language group only as "JavaScript ".
                      premise B) Non-experts have no clear idea of what ECMAScript is.
                      premise C) The FAQ is intended for non-experts.

                      hypothesis: Letting non-experts know we're talking about what they call
                      JavaScript is more important than only talking about ECMAScript all the
                      time.

                      corollary 1: ... escpecially when _we_ _ourselves_ are so inconsistent
                      with our use of "JavaScript ".
                      corollary 2: ... escpecially when the FAQ deals mostly with problems
                      that are beyond the scope of ECMAScript.
                      corollary 3: Defining the terms in the FAQ is still a Good Thing.

                      When you say "non sequitur", you're supposed to state *why* the
                      hypothesis doesn't follow from the premises. If you fail to prove that,
                      your "non sequitur" is void (i.e. almost every time you use it). You're
                      free to argue against any of the premises, just don't claim "non
                      sequitur" then. I even invite you to tell me why you think that my
                      reasoning is faulty (as it may well be), I only object to your naming of
                      logical fallacies as a substitute for an argument.


                      - Conrad

                      PS:
                      I know I shouldn't rise to flamebait like that, but you're overdoing it.

                      Comment

                      • Dr J R Stockton

                        #12
                        Re: EcmaScript, ECMAScript, or JavaScript ?

                        On Oct 7, 8:11 pm, Conrad Lender <crlen...@yahoo .comwrote:
                        On 2008-10-07 18:35, Dr J R Stockton wrote:
                        >
                        One should be guided firstly by what ISO/IEC 16262 uses internally,
                        secondarily by what ECMA 262 uses internally,
                        >
                        Is there any difference between the two? I've never bothered with the
                        ISO specs, because I consider ECMA-262 to be normative, and because ISO
                        usually charges quite a bit for a copy of their specs.
                        For the casual reader, IMHO, ISO uses a nicer font. For the
                        programmer, ISO has has some at least of the ECMA bugs fixed. For the
                        present purpose, the "auxiliary" text differs between the two, and is
                        as much a source of guidance as the core text.
                        thirdly by what Wikipedia uses (because inappropriate notation will
                        have been changed there); but in the case of single-source products
                        use what the source uses.
                        >
                        Wikipedia? As useful as it can be at times, I would very much ignore
                        what Wikipedia has to say about this topic. They're not an authority.
                        Wikipedia technical articles are usually thoughtfully written and
                        edited, with discussion. In such matters, they are more likely to be
                        right than is any one person here, and approximately as likely to be
                        right as is a consensus here. Therefore they are worth considering,
                        as a respectable opinion. I would *NOT* have recommended Wikicodia.


                        Re another article in the thread - It might be well, or polite, to put
                        in the FAQ a trademark, registered, or similar character against the
                        first use of certain terms; but only if the marking, registration,
                        etc., is known to be substantially international in scope.


                        Off-topic warning : I've noticed a Web-Mailer which, at least in its
                        display, apparently treats characters < and maybe & as HTML does.
                        They should of course be sent to the browser as &lt; &gt; &amp;, as is
                        necessary in my Code Boxes.

                        Consider the effect of sending, in mail,
                        "Remember, <!-- starts HTML comment, which is closed by -->."
                        (I know that's a simplification) or "In an <H2header, ...".

                        --
                        (c) John Stockton, near London, UK. Posting with Google.
                        Mail: J.R.""""""""@ph ysics.org or (better) via Home Page at
                        Web: <URL:http://www.merlyn.demo n.co.uk/>
                        FAQish topics, acronyms, links, etc.; Date, Delphi, JavaScript, ....|

                        Comment

                        • Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn

                          #13
                          Re: EcmaScript, ECMAScript, or JavaScript ?

                          Conrad Lender wrote:
                          On 2008-10-07 21:15, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
                          >Conrad Lender wrote:
                          >>Agree about that. JavaScript is what it's generally know as, and the
                          >> distinction between the language standard and the names of the
                          >>various implementations is less important than letting people know
                          >>what we're talking about.
                          >Non sequitur. Those differences have become one important reason why
                          >we are discussing here in the first place.
                          >
                          I'm getting a little tired of your "non sequitur" remarks, and I'm
                          beginning to wonder if you even know what it means.
                          Yes, I do know what it means.
                          We're having discussions here, we're not engaged in formal logical
                          disputes.
                          If you are making an argument in favor of or against something, it should be
                          a convincing one or it is a waste of everybody's time. The least criterium
                          that it has to fulfill to have a chance to be convincing to anyone
                          reasonable is conclusiveness, i.e. it must not be fallacious. That is not
                          quibbling about meaning or opinion, it is a requirement for any fruitful
                          discussion. The Ancients (most notably Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle)
                          understood that well; you would be wise to follow their teachings.
                          But if you want it formally:
                          >
                          premise A) Most people know this language group only as "JavaScript ".
                          premise B) Non-experts have no clear idea of what ECMAScript is.
                          premise C) The FAQ is intended for non-experts.
                          Non-experts are supposed to read the FAQ before the post to the newsgroup,
                          or they are directed to the FAQ after they posted to the newsgroup. In any
                          case, it is unwise at best to remove terms that are used in the newsgroup
                          from the FAQ, or use them in an inappropriate way.
                          hypothesis: Letting non-experts know we're talking about what they call
                          JavaScript is more important than only talking about ECMAScript all the
                          time.
                          Non sequitur: (a colon instead of a dot now, so that you might see the
                          position of the reasoning better) Nobody said that we should only talk
                          about ECMAScript. However, calling something JavaScript (in whatever case)
                          when it is not only JavaScript or may not be a feature in this language
                          implementation at all, or not calling it ECMAScript when we are referring to
                          specified behavior, is *wrong*. Again, the differences between them do
                          matter in code, no matter the coder's experience.
                          corollary 1: ... escpecially when _we_ _ourselves_ are so inconsistent
                          with our use of "JavaScript ". corollary 2: ... escpecially when the FAQ
                          deals mostly with problems that are beyond the scope of ECMAScript.
                          corollary 3: Defining the terms in the FAQ is still a Good Thing.
                          >
                          When you say "non sequitur", you're supposed to state *why* the
                          hypothesis doesn't follow from the premises.
                          I did, in the sentence that followed. You just "overlooked " that and added
                          another fallacy. Maybe you thought that trimming the relevant quotation
                          would help that others would overlook that flaw, too.
                          If you fail to prove that, your "non sequitur" is void (i.e. almost every
                          time you use it). You're free to argue against any of the premises, just
                          don't claim "non sequitur" then. I even invite you to tell me why you
                          think that my reasoning is faulty (as it may well be), I only object to
                          your naming of logical fallacies as a substitute for an argument.
                          It is not my problem if you are not only unable to provide a single
                          conclusive argument in your posting, but also provide at least one
                          inconclusive argument, repeatedly.

                          If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.


                          PointedEars
                          --
                          var bugRiddenCrashP ronePieceOfJunk = (
                          navigator.userA gent.indexOf('M SIE 5') != -1
                          && navigator.userA gent.indexOf('M ac') != -1
                          ) // Plone, register_functi on.js:16

                          Comment

                          • Conrad Lender

                            #14
                            Re: EcmaScript, ECMAScript, or JavaScript ?

                            On 2008-10-07 23:05, Dr J R Stockton wrote:
                            On Oct 7, 8:11 pm, Conrad Lender <crlen...@yahoo .comwrote:
                            >>On 2008-10-07 18:35, Dr J R Stockton wrote:
                            >>>One should be guided firstly by what ISO/IEC 16262 uses internally,
                            >>>secondaril y by what ECMA 262 uses internally,
                            >>Is there any difference between the two? I've never bothered with the
                            >>ISO specs, because I consider ECMA-262 to be normative, and because ISO
                            >>usually charges quite a bit for a copy of their specs.
                            >
                            For the casual reader, IMHO, ISO uses a nicer font. For the
                            programmer, ISO has has some at least of the ECMA bugs fixed. For the
                            present purpose, the "auxiliary" text differs between the two, and is
                            as much a source of guidance as the core text.
                            Thank you. Apart from the nicer font, would those "bug fixes" be the
                            ECMA-262 errata, or did they change the language in any way, to remove
                            what they considered bugs? And what do the "auxiliary" texts contain? I
                            still balk at paying CHF 230,- for something that should be free and
                            open and accessible to all; but I would very much like to know if
                            they've added anything substantial to the specification.
                            >Wikipedia? As useful as it can be at times, I would very much ignore
                            >what Wikipedia has to say about this topic. They're not an authority.
                            >
                            Wikipedia technical articles are usually thoughtfully written and
                            edited, with discussion. In such matters, they are more likely to be
                            right than is any one person here, and approximately as likely to be
                            right as is a consensus here. Therefore they are worth considering,
                            as a respectable opinion.
                            Good point about the consensus, at least they have a process for such
                            decisions. And I agree that the technical articles are usually of a
                            pretty high quality. But the FAQ is specifically for this group, and if
                            a sort of consensus could be reached here, it would trump the Wiki article.

                            Talking about the FAQ, I would just like to mention that I think that
                            Garrett is doing a great job, and putting a lot of effort into it.
                            Thanks.
                            I would *NOT* have recommended Wikicodia.
                            Never even heard of that one. www.wikicodia.org shows something about a
                            "FaviGame" whatever that is, and www.wikicodia.com is just a squatter?
                            Off-topic warning : I've noticed a Web-Mailer which, at least in its
                            display, apparently treats characters < and maybe & as HTML does.
                            They should of course be sent to the browser as &lt; &gt; &amp;, as is
                            necessary in my Code Boxes.
                            Sorry, I lost you there. Was that a remark on the formatting of my post?
                            I've been using aioe.org since my usual provider has been unreachable
                            all day. Still it should be all plain-text (I hope).


                            - Conrad

                            Comment

                            • Richard Cornford

                              #15
                              Re: EcmaScript, ECMAScript, or JavaScript ?

                              Conrad Lender wrote:
                              On 2008-10-07 19:25, Richard Cornford wrote:
                              >>Technically , 'ECMAScript' is more official, though it's a
                              >>little easier to read and type camel case than all-caps.
                              >>
                              >Typing ease is hardly an excuse, but use "javascript " (capitalised
                              >if it appears at the beginning of a sentence) and it is likely that
                              >readers will sufficiently understand what is being referred to.
                              >>
                              >>What do you want in the FAQ: JavaScript, EcmaScript,
                              >>or ECMAScript?
                              >>
                              >Javascript.
                              With all due respect, but if "JavaScript " is a trademark, then
                              "Javascript " is protected as well
                              Your point being? (Given that I am not proposing not using "JavaScript "
                              because it is a trademark name but rather using it only to identify the
                              implementation to which the trademark name belongs.)

                              <snip>
                              My point is that it would be unwise to make an important
                              distinction between JavaScript, Javascript, and javascript,
                              just based on the capitalization.
                              <snip>

                              The distinction (between specific implementations , implementations in
                              general and the specification that is implemented (and extended by
                              implementations )) is necessary/useful, and no better alternative has
                              been suggested. While employing the capitalisation to suggest the
                              distinction has been employed extensively for a long time, on this group
                              if perhaps not that widely elsewhere.
                              That would be extremely confusing, especially for
                              newcomers.
                              No it would not. Newcomers don't tend to appreciate the distinction at
                              all and so would read "javascript " as having exactly the same meaning as
                              "JavaScript ", so using the former cannot increase confusion. Later,
                              understanding more, re-reading would reveal only increased meaning. The
                              difference between not making a distinction and not seeing a distinction
                              is negligible, but making the distinction allows for the possibility
                              that the distinction will be seen.
                              Writing it all-lowercase, as you suggested, would not help
                              the situation -
                              Except that it already does.
                              all languages that I can think of are proper nouns and
                              written with capital initial letters; making "javascript " the
                              only exception would only cause more confusion.
                              How?
                              Like it or not, JavaScript has become a pars pro toto expression;
                              in technical discussions we will keep the distinction between
                              standard and implementations , but in practical usage (and even
                              in this group) "JavaScript " is almost generally used as "all
                              languages/implementations derived from ECMAScript" (there are
                              a few exceptions, such as "ActionScript") .
                              That is certainly not true of this group.
                              One way to make the distinction clearer in the FAQ would be to
                              use JavaScript® and JScript® for trademarked names.
                              It would be problematic to use the symbols given the simulations
                              delivery of the content (derived from an XML source) as HTML and plain
                              text (though not insurmountable) .
                              At the very least the FAQ could (should) mention which names
                              are trademarked.
                              I don't see that as adding anything useful, given that it already states
                              what JavaScript, JScript and ECMAScript are.

                              Richard.

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