The Past, Present, and Future of JavaScript Where We've Been, where We Are, and what Lies Ahead

What's next for JavaScript? Its phenomenal rise from a simple client-side scripting tool to a versatile and flexible programming language exceeded everyone's expectations. Now, hopes and expectations for JavaScript's future are considerable. In this insightful report, Dr. Axel Rauschmayer explains how the combination of several technologies and opportunities in the past 15 years turned JavaScript's fortunes. With that as a backdrop, he provides a detailed look at proposed new features and fixes in the next version, ECMAScript.next, and then presents his own JavaScript wish list -- such as an integrated IDE.