Ujjwal Sharma: How JavaScript is Made, Building the Web, Bias, Inclusion, and Equality

Links

- Codecrafters (Sponsor): https://tej.as/codecrafters

- Ujjwal on X: https://x.com/ryzokuken

- Tejas on X: https://x.com/tejaskumar_

Takeaways

- TC39 is responsible for maintaining the JavaScript language specification and ensuring the evolution of the language.

- Implementing JavaScript in browsers is a collaborative effort between companies like Google, Mozilla, and Apple, with Igalia playing a significant role.

- Language evolution requires balancing the needs and perspectives of various stakeholders, including browser vendors, platform owners, and developers.

- API design considerations include security, privacy, and the ability to isolate potential risks.

- Moving slowly in language development is crucial to ensure stability and safety. The web is both a blessing and a curse, serving as a reliable and trustworthy platform for communication while also presenting challenges like disinformation.

- Web technologies have become the de facto way of building interfaces, surpassing other methods and becoming a crucial part of the tech stack.

- Internationalization in JavaScript is facilitated by the Intl suite, which provides building blocks for localizing content into different languages, currencies, and cultures.

- Participating in the TC39 process involves engaging in discussions and providing feedback on proposals through GitHub repositories.

- Respectful and inclusive discussions are essential in the TC39 process, fostering collaboration and ensuring the growth and improvement of the JavaScript language.

- Internationalization plays a crucial role in making the web more accessible and inclusive, allowing people from different cultures and geographies to engage with online content. Technology needs to be more inclusive and adaptive to accommodate the needs of all users.

- The bias in technology benefits those who are already privileged, and it is important to address this bias to create a more equitable tech ecosystem.

- The web should be accessible to all, regardless of language or cultural background.

Chapters

00:00 Ujjwal Sharma

05:00 Introduction and Background

12:49 Implementing JavaScript in Browsers

20:01 The Challenges of Language Evolution

34:57 Balancing Stakeholder Perspectives in TC39

37:45 The Importance of Moving Slowly in Language Development

38:21 The Blessing and Curse of the Web

45:11 The Journey of Temporal and Intl

53:25 Participating in the TC39 Process

01:06:38 The Philosophical Question of Accessibility

01:09:59 The Need for a Broader Perspective

01:11:00 The Bias in Technology

01:15:10 The Divide Between English and Non-English Speakers

01:19:35 The Challenge of Implementing Different Calendars

01:24:28 The Role of AI in the Web

01:30:08 Contributing to the TC39 Committee

01:38:55 Dreaming Big for the Future

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