[cristiantincu]

> In fact, native functions often have to cover complicated edge cases from the ECMAScript specification, which put them at a performance disadvantage.

What. Is. This. I don’t even.

[sp332]

So if you simplify the implementation, it gets faster but more fragile. Why is that confusing?

[pestaa]

If you simplify the specification, a proper implementation gets faster with no downside.

Why can't we build software on simpler platforms with better implementations?

[sp332]

Doing something complex on a simple platform requires complex code. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turing_tarpit Having a more complex platform can make things a lot easier for the programmer.

[pestaa]

Simplicity never meant easy. Doing something complex on a simple platform may as well use simple constructs and benefit from no edge cases.

For example, Haskell provides only a handful of constructs but allows the developer to build sophisticated systems.

Though I agree complex platforms are not necessarily complicated.

[ulisesrmzroche]

You programmed before? Implementations dont get simpler just because you wish them to.

[pestaa]

Why the ad hominem?

I can make the implementation simpler if the underlying specification is simpler. If a language is full of edge cases, it was not designed carefully. If there exists a significantly faster implementation in a significantly slower language that covers 99% of the specification, I'd look for opportunities to simplify.