In 1995, a Netscape employee wrote a hack in 10 days that now runs the Internet

Three decades ago, the tech world witnessed the birth of a revolutionary programming language. In May 1995, Netscape Communications, in collaboration with Sun Microsystems, announced the creation of JavaScript—a scripting language that would transform how we interact with the web. This groundbreaking development was the result of a remarkable 10-day effort by engineer Brendan Eich, who crafted a functional prototype during a frenzied sprint at Netscape. Although JavaScript was not publicly released until September of that year and did not achieve its first stable version until March 1996, its impact has been profound. Today, JavaScript runs on nearly 98.9 percent of all websites that utilize client-side code, establishing itself as the dominant programming language on the internet. Its versatility extends far beyond web browsers; JavaScript is also integral to server backends, mobile applications, desktop software, and various embedded systems. Netscape aimed to create a lightweight scripting language that would empower web designers and amateur programmers alike to build interactive web pages. Eich drew inspiration from several sources: the syntax was influenced by a trendy programming language called Java to appeal to management, while the core concepts were derived from Scheme and Self, which informed JavaScript's unique prototype-based object model. The launch of JavaScript was bolstered by endorsements from 28 significant tech companies. However, the landscape has changed dramatically since then, with many of those endorsing companies either absorbed or defunct. For instance, Digital Equipment Corporation was acquired by Compaq, which later merged with HP, while Silicon Graphics has since declared bankruptcy. Netscape itself was bought by AOL and eventually dismantled, and Sun Microsystems, a co-creator of JavaScript, was acquired by Oracle in 2010. Yet, JavaScript has endured, proving its resilience in the ever-evolving tech industry. The story of JavaScript's rapid development has become a part of programming folklore, though it often simplifies the complexities involved. Eich's initial prototype was just a working demo, and over the following year, Netscape continued to refine the language. This hurried development introduced quirks and inconsistencies that developers still grapple with today, leading to frustrations among some of the industry's leading figures at the time.