[the_mitsuhiko]

> Is this really so? […] I have the feeling this is 'popular' because there are no alternatives

I think it's pretty clear that JavaScript is the most popular one. And yes, it's popular because in it's space it's without alternatives. But so was C for many environments. We can judge if that's fair or unfair, but it does not change the situation we have.

[criticalfault]

Maybe it's about the definition of the word 'popular'.

Dictionary.com:

1. regarded with favor, approval, or affection by people in general

2. regarded with favor, approval, or affection by an acquaintance or acquaintances:

3. of, relating to, or representing the people, especially the common people:

4. of the people as a whole, especially of all citizens of a nation or state qualified to participate in an election:

5. prevailing among the people generally:

6. suited to or intended for the general masses of people:

7. adapted to the ordinary intelligence or taste:

8. suited to the means of ordinary people; not expensive:

I have always associated popular with definition 1. Let me ask differently: do people really like JavaScript or they like web and JavaScript is forced upon them since there are no alternatives (and they actually dislike/hate it)?

[johannes1234321]

Well, there are alternatives. Many people user TypeScript (which then is compiled to JavaScript) or some other alternative. JavaScript is just a compiler artifact format.

[TeaVMFan]

With TeaVM you can compile Java to JavaScript and run it in the browser again. We've come full circle. https://teavm.org/