In 1995, an engineer spent ten days writing code: 30 years later it is the glue that keeps the internet alive

In 1995, a Netscape engineer, Brendan Eich, spent ten days writing the code that would become JavaScript, a scripting language designed for interactive web applications. Today, 30 years later, this language underpins a significant portion of the visible web, demonstrating its crucial role in the digital world. This rapid development became the foundation for a technology that would shape the internet as we know it. Eich wrote the core of JavaScript in just over a week, a feat born from necessity. He was under pressure to make the language resemble Java, leading to its syntax incorporating elements of Java. However, he also integrated functional programming concepts from Scheme and a prototype-based object model from Self. This rushed development resulted in technical inconsistencies, which developers still grapple with. The impact of JavaScript is immense, affecting all web developers and users. Initially called Mocha and then LiveScript, the language's final branding as JavaScript, to capitalize on Java's popularity, helped its widespread adoption. This naming strategy, while successful, also led to confusion, demonstrating the complex interplay of marketing and technical development within the tech sector. This early history of JavaScript highlights the fast-paced, competitive environment of the 1990s tech industry. It underscores the importance of quick innovation and the lasting influence of decisions made during the internet's formative years, which still impact today's digital landscape.