Chrome's JavaScript challenge to Silverlight

SYDNEY--The biggest rival for Microsoft's next-generation Silverlight Web technology will be JavaScript, not Adobe Systems' ubiquitous Flash, according to experts speaking at Microsoft's Tech.Ed conference here.

"I think that the next 18 months we're going to see a 100- to 1,000-fold speed increase in JavaScript as Google and the guys at Mozilla are going to kick us all in the arse and make our JavaScript jittered," Microsoft senior program manager Scott Hanselman told the audience Friday, days after Google released its Chrome browser, which features faster JavaScript technology.

Jonas Follesø, senior consultant at Cap Gemini, agreed, saying that JavaScript would continue to get speedier and that Chrome will become "massively" faster than it is.

"Now Google has stepped up and released a browser with jittered JavaScript and JavaVM, making this really, really, really fast," he said.

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The consultant said that whenever he thought people had reached a limit about what could be done inside a browser using just JavaScript, some "cool JavaScript writer" came up and showed him how to do more.

"It's going to be hard to tell if it's going to be Silverlight or JavaScript we're going to use for our applications," he said. "I think in the end JavaScript is going to be a bigger competitor to Silverlight than Flash is."

An audience member questioned the panel of experts later on whether he should "be out buying JavaScript books" now the language had been "put on steroids."

Harry Pierson, Microsoft program manager, answered that he thought "JavaScript is a very odd language for most developers" and that it was more interesting to do higher-level development and if necessary compile it down to JavaScript.

Hanselman had a different opinion, saying that although it was a "freaky, weird language," it was possible to do object-oriented programming. "The JavaScript I used and hated in Netscape 4 is not the same JavaScript we have today," he said. "So yeah, I think you should get some JavaScript books."

Follesø said that even if souped-up JavaScript became dominant, he thought Silverlight was going to be big, especially in the enterprise when "fun" Web 2.0 applications come to roost. "For the intranet, when the users expect the same kind of user experience it's not that easy to really build that stuff in HTML and JavaScript, so Silverlight might be a lot easier alternative," he said.

Suzanne Tindal of ZDNet Australia reported from Sydney.

Click here for full coverage of the Google Chrome launch.

[onlyauser]

Google muscle...hmmm...nice

[_marlon]

please, javascript is not a platform, it's a language... though there are some nice libraries out there, we'll have to wait and see...

[rahodeb]

That's "JIT'd", not "jittered". JIT = "just in time" compilation:<br /><br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just-in-time_compilation" target="_newWindow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just-in-time_compilation</a><br /><br />Ironically, Adobe has contributed a Javascript JIT compilter called Tamarin to Mozilla. It will be integrated into FF 4.0:<br /><br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamarin_" target="_newWindow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamarin_</a>(JIT)

[RRosal]

I wouldn't use Wikipeida as reference argument points, rahodeb. You have many more valid places to use than a site that relies on user-contributed "information."

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

It took me a while to figure out what she meant by Jittered (LOL)

[someguy999]

thanks for the clarification... I couldn't tell what the heck jittered was... first I thought it meant unstable and then I thought it meant fragmented... the right word really means A LOT in this case.

[thechromeguy]

Yes, Chrome will make open languages/methods (AJAX) much more powerful and a bigger challenger to proprietary systems (Silverlight, Flash etc). Its just what we've been waiting for. :-) Go Google Chrome! Come on in and join the community - <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://googlechromecommunity.com" target="_newWindow">http://googlechromecommunity.com</a>

[The_Decider]

No thank you, I don't contribute to malware.

[Vegaman_Dan]

If your idea of joining the community means handing over control of your personal information to a company for their financial gain, then go right ahead. I think I'd rather avoid identity theft though.

[tuneslover]

JavaScript is okky, but no way without Flash or SilverLight caz JS doesn't have animation feature, plus SilverLight doesn't depends on Browser's speed. it's another plus point.

[Imalittleteapot]

Actually JS does have an animation feature. Perhaps you should look into the Canvas tag.<br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://developer.mozilla.org/en/Canvas_tutorial" target="_newWindow">http://developer.mozilla.org/en/Canvas_tutorial</a><br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.abrahamjoffe.com.au/ben/canvascape/" target="_newWindow">http://www.abrahamjoffe.com.au/ben/canvascape/</a><br /><br />Make sure to use Firefox for those. The Canvas doesn't work in IE or at least not without some mad hackery. Not yet at least.<br /><br />Also, you may want to look in the Video tag support being added to Firefox which I heard was just turned functional in Firefox nightly builds. I imagine it would still be buggy being in the newest builds though.<br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://mozillalinks.org/wp/2007/06/firefox-3-to-feature-native-audio-video-support/" target="_newWindow">http://mozillalinks.org/wp/2007/06/firefox-3-to-feature-native-audio-video-support/</a><br /><br />Not saying it'll kill Flash or Silverlight, but these are some of the reasons people are saying JS is going to be a big competitor from here. Think about it from a web developer's point of view. If you could do video, audio, and animation without a plugin and without expensive development tools from MS or Adobe you'll probably at least consider it.

[Lerianis]

Yeah, JS does have an animation feature.... but it is hard to use for anything but 'flip-books' on the page. Anything truly animated like a cartoon or video..... it's Flash or Silverlight or nothing.

[JamesInIrvine]

Come on.... Silverlight is a way behind Adobe Flex. Also, javascript (ajax) has a limitation on animation and cross platform issue.

[rk2469]

Silverlight is a subset of WPF. WPF is a big part of the Microsoft .NET development. <br />Saying "Silverlight is a way behind Adobe Flex" is like "Microsoft .NET is a way behind Adobe Flex, ruby, or anything else out there.."<br /><br />I don't know how big adobe flex as of yet... but Microsoft .NET is big and it's not going anywhere. <br />Silverlight is just a natural extension of .NET framework. There is very little work going from webform, winform to silverlight/wpf.

[ZetaZeta_]

I think he used the term "jittered" because the language is "Java"script, and the language is being "sped up" in a way similar to being jittery after drinking too much coffee. Basically a very bad pun that confused readers. Good job!

[glucopilot]

Actually I said "JIT-ed" and I didn't say "arse" (I'm not English) so I think whoever heard it just got confused and didn't know what JIT-ed meant. There was no pun intended.

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

Text to peach.Arggh. Backspace. Delete no. Edit. Just forget it...

[heavydevelopment]

Ha, ha, ha, ha.....MS is acting as if they actually have an install base. I've yet to install Silverlight on any of the computers I use at home or work. And will refuse to until I absolutely have to. I'm a web developer and I'm moving away from the MS ecosystem. I rarely use IE anymore. I VMWare into XP every once and awhile. MS is losing....the Empire is over....hey even the Romans eventually lost (now THAT was a monopoly!) :)

[viper396]

So because YOU don't have Silerlight installed you assume nobody else does? So those millions of people who watched the Olympics over the internet using Silverlight imaged it? <br /><br />There is no rational argument or logic in your post, just more of the same old predictable anti-Microsoft rhetoric designed to make juvenile people like you feel smug about yourselves. If all you're doing is seeing the word "Microsoft" and siding against them without any relevent justification or reason then your opinions and arguments are completely pointless and irrelevent Did you think you become part of some "in crowd" because you've done what any idiot can do and bashed Microsoft anonymously over the internet? Grow Up.

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

You haven't tried it and yet you don't like it.... interesting. Maybe you should check out the Silverlight showcase, I would like to see Javascript equivalents of the apps in the Silverlight showcase. If Javascript is really fast enough now then its time to throw down the gauntlet. Chrome can speed up the client side, but what about server side?

[Seaspray0]

If you have never tried it, then you have nothing to base any of your remarks. So don't make any more stupid ones.

[GlennAllen]

Yes, "JIT" in "jittered" is for Just-In-Time. Few, however, actually say/write "JIT'd"; "jittered" is the correctly pronounced/spelled, (relatively) newly-coined phrase/term to represent Just-In-Time compiled Javascript. Grammatically speaking, this is not unusual: tech "slang" being used instead of "correct" syntax.

[j_a_s_p_e_r]

Actually jitted would have worked, jittered was probably entered with spellcheck

[alenas]

I have been doing JavaScript since 1997 and honestly language sux, speed is not great (yet) and browser incompatibilities is a huge issue.<br />Flash is only good for non-developers - designers and alike who want to drag around timelines and work in that weird environment. It is not development tool - it is animation tool (or something)...<br />And if we look at silverlight 2.0 - it has proper language (C#), proper presentation layer (WPF), good speed and all the other stuff that makes development structured, predictable and maintanable.<br />I have web application frontend written in javascript (around 5000 lines) and looking forward to rewrite it in silverlight 2.0

[Imalittleteapot]

You may want to look into a Javascript framework like jQuery or Ext if you ever use JS again. These take care of handling whatever browser incompatibilities that they can for you. You just call the framework and then it figures out how to talk to the browser for you to an extent. Plus Ext provides you with a bunch of pre-written widgets like buttons, tabs, panels, and stuff. Then again I have nothing against Silverlight or C#. I don't think JS sucks. I think C# is a better language, but I think JS has evolved into something pretty neat for its quirkiness over the years. They're both two of my favorites.

[kapilmohan]

Sorry for me asking this, but are you old, sick and retarded?

[Sekhar-Ravinutala]

Actually, Flash is now developer-focused, with stuff built through ActionScript and XML. If you useFlex, it is pretty much all programmatic.

[avj24]

Here we go again , these analyst and tech writers are not doing enough research , everytime these<br />tech writers are predicting that this new distraction from Google is going to be dominat.<br />CHROME is EQUAL TO KEY BOARD LOGGIN WATCH OUT<br />Well lets look at history of Google<br />(1) gmail - when it was launched , the very same tech writers said that gmail is going to burn the competition , where is it now<br />(2) google video - it sucked and they went out and overpaid for you tube and still trying to figure out with it<br />(3) google talk - is it out of beta yet <br />(4) google doc - getting its ass kicked by ZOHO<br />(5) Andriod - Will be dead on arrival and get its ass kicked by iphone <br /><br />And Lastly , on the first day of chrome launch , Google had to change its privacy policy , because they forgot to tell you that what you have installed as apart of chrome is a KEYBOARD LOGGER <br />So much for DO NO EVIL MOTO. <br /><br />NEVER BELIEVE a COMPANY that says DO NO EVIL they actually mean the opposite

[The_Decider]

Wow skilling, got anything intelligent to say?

[g15host]

Despite how many shortcomings JavaScript has, there will always be a big enough percentage of web developers who will do everything possible to keep developing in it and advance it, simply because you don't have to buy into Adobe or MS technology (and if you actually propose businesses use the free or express versions of anything for enterprise apps that is just laughable). So, however the tech landscape changes, I don't see JS going away anytime soon. The problem I see with Flash and Silverlight is simply this - in the last 10 years, Adobe and MS platforms have gone through so many changes that just keep their customers in never-ending upgrading and migrating projects. By comparison JavaScript is actually more mature and stable than Flex or C#. I'm wondering if I build something in C# 3.5 or XAML in less than 2 years do I have to recode it in F# or whatever? Don't get me wrong. The job security may be good....

[alenas]

So developing JavaScript applications in notepad is OK for enterprises, but developing Silverlight in express is NOT?<br />And javascript is mature and stable - are you joking? What about javascript "stable" memory leaks that relate to DOM? Do not forget that javascript is so dependand on DOM, which changes with every browser version...And so your maturness and stability goes down the toilet...

[bj70117]

Chromatabs vs Chrome. Can you say lawsuit? How stupid.

[magicmaster]

Microsoft should STOP peddling their silverlight technology on MS website by the mean of intrusive pop-up alike window when someone is short-tempered and actively searching troubleshooting articles to address the problems arose by lousy products MS produced, not even to mention their pathetic support options. <br /><br />Hereby, I refused to install silverlight technology and will recommend other developers and consumers to stay away. Having relationship with Microsoft will bring bad luck.

[eadeguzman]

Hey "heavydevelopment"... I guess you never watched the Olympics over the web... If you did you would have Silverlight on your machine already...<br /><br />With the worldwide excitement over the Olympics, I'd say Silverlight may have a significant install-base now.<br /><br />Not sure how many other websites will follow NBC's lead, but it's a pretty good start for a 1-year-old technology wouldn't you say?

[jelzfox]

It's sound so radiculous to hear that G-Chrome can surpass the Microsoft worldwide favourite Internet Explorer, it's so ambitious to say. Microsoft has its capability to do more in either web or desktop application. IE goes more and more powerful as what we have know. G-Chrome to use? No, IE is still have all the components and powerful tools that will be widely use in the future! It's like what happened in 1990's between IE and Netscape Navigator that Microsoft Internet Explorer won.

[Imalittleteapot]

I really don't think Google cares if Chrome becomes the most popular browser. I think the idea is to add features they want for their own services. For example, maybe they want Gmail to run faster so they make Chrome really fast and release it. Then a few people start switching to Chrome because it's really fast! This is just an example btw. It could be any new feature we haven't seen yet.<br /><br />Ok, so now what FF and IE and Opera and Safari does is say, well we can't have people switching! We'll have to make our JavaScript really fast too! Ok, they do that and people stop switching to GC or switch back. So, Chrome doesn't become the biggest browser, but what it did do is get the new features they wanted put in everybody's browser, not just theirs. That means even though their browser went nowhere their online services can still take advantage of the new features. They just have to get the features they want in a browser. It doesn't matter which one.

[slaingod]

The main thing that Adobe Flex (programmer's Flash), and to some extent Silverlight, has going for it is that it is a SINGLE entity for the most part that organizes everything on the platform, from the design tools to the SDK. The main problem with Javascript isn't necessarily the language itself, rather it is that there are so many standards bodies involved:<br />* Javascript: Browser implementation differences for Javascript<br />* CSS: Browser implementation bugs/difference<br />* DOM: Document Object Model implementation bugs/differences<br />* HTML: HTML support differences between browsers<br />What the plugins do is cut through all of that variability (at the cost of using web standards), which can speed development and reduce costs, at least initially.<br /><br />Personally, I want to avoid Javascript as my primary UI dev tool until I can do the things I can do in Flex consistently in a single javascript framework without worrying about browser issues: only thing passed between JS UI and server is XML, reduction in number of files that need to be pulled from the server/CDN (1 for SWF versus dozens for javascript pages typically), and a generally centralized, skinnable UI component and SDK tools ala Flex/Silverlight that are developer friendly.

[JimMcDish]

I played with Chrome for a whole day and I personally think Firefox kicks it to the curb!<br /><br />Jiff<br />www.anonymize.us.tc

[Kwasiowusu]

Outside of search, not much that Google has luanched has gone anywhere.<br />Hotmail continues to have by far more users than Gmail. Google Talk is Dead on Arrival, having been vastly outgunned by Yahoo IM and MSN IM which continue to dominate instant messenger use worldwide. <br />The so-called Google Docs, which was luanched to adoring, gushing, sucking up reviews by the mianstream media has gotten nowhere. MS Office continue to totally dominate personal productivity software.<br />As for Chrome, the less said about it the better. Within hours of Chrome being launched, serious security holes had been discovered. We haven't even mentioned the fact that that Chrome comes chock full of Google spyware, which not only records every keystroke you make and sends that data to Google headquarters, Google also records your IP address of exactly where you are typing from.<br />Google makes Big Brother look like rank amateurs.<br />Chrome?<br />Thanks but no thanks.<br /><br />These people writing this article are talking nonsense.<br />Crhome has close to ZERO market share, so any talk of Javascript from Chrome taking over from Sliverlight is like counting your chickens before the chickens even lay an egg. It's a complete joke.<br />Not to mention, Microsoft has already tied up exclusive agreements to use Sliverlight for the MLB, the NBA, NBC(where Silverlight got a major boost in use during the Olympics) and other major broadcasting outfits. <br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.infoq.com/interviews/mlb-silverlight" target="_newWindow">http://www.infoq.com/interviews/mlb-silverlight</a><br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.nba.com/news/nba_microsoft_071210.html?rss=true" target="_newWindow">http://www.nba.com/news/nba_microsoft_071210.html?rss=true</a><br />what does Google have?

[Lerianis]

Ah, but that might change with the Google Chrome browser (which I am using right now!). Their Chrome browser is awesome: extremely fast compared to even a 'add-on free' Firefox 3.0 and even faster than an add-on free Minefield with Tracemonkey.<br />As to the things that you said are bad points about Chrome.... dude, they tell you right in the setting menu that some information might be sent to Google. The keystroke logging feature I am a little concerned about, in all honesty. But that is all I am worried about, and with any beta software program and even final software program.... bug are going to be found.... it's simply a bottom-line thing: all software is going to have someone who finds flaws and security holes in it sooner or later.<br />Oh, and guess what? Silverlight, Flash and Javascript ALL work with Chrome..... so you can have your cake and eat it to. Even Move Media Player works with Chrome, which I was honestly not expecting it to do.