Lex Fridman Podcast #160 – Brendan Eich: JavaScript, Firefox, Mozilla, and Brave
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Feb 12, 2021 Brendan Eich, the visionary behind JavaScript and co-founder of Mozilla and Brave, dives deep into the evolution of web technology. He shares fascinating insights about the origins of JavaScript, its impact during the browser wars, and the rise of user privacy through Brave. Eich discusses his journey from early programming experiences to tackling present challenges in tech monopolies and user tracking. He emphasizes the ethical responsibilities of innovators, reflecting on how technology shapes society and the future of online privacy.
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Early Programming and Physics
- Brendan Eich's initial programming experience involved creating a BASIC program simulating the Death Star Trench run from Star Wars.
- He developed a passion for HP calculators and initially aimed to pursue physics, influenced by science fiction and a desire to explore advanced concepts like hyperdrives.
Physics Needs More Experiments
- Eich believes theoretical physics suffers from an overemphasis on theory and a lack of experimentation.
- He argues for more emphasis on real-world experiments, following an approach closer to Aristotle than Plato.
Netscape and Java
- Eich joined Netscape with the intention of implementing Scheme in the browser, but this plan changed due to a deal with Sun Microsystems to incorporate Java.
- Netscape aimed to create a programmable browser, recognizing the limitations of static web languages.