Welcome to the Roaring 20s of JavaScript!
A Trip Down Memory Lane With Javascript
Robin Gin, the executive Director of Open Js Foundation, offers an insight into the world of Javascript - an integral part of world's websites used by developers worldwide. Acknowledging the humbling responsibility to represent this popular language at the Open Js Foundation, Robin takes us back in time to understand more about the history of Javascript.
Journey of Javascript and Its Relevance Today
Stunningly created in only 10 days by Brendan Eck 25 years ago, the relevance of Javascript has only grown over the years. Today, over 97% of the world’s websites use Javascript. For perspective, the same year Javascript was created, Google was just a research project at Stanford named Backrub, Amazon sold its first book, and Microsoft launched Windows 95 and Internet Explorer. These significant moves led to a fierce competition in what is popularly known as the browser wars.
Javascript has not only retained, but also strengthened its position over the years, continually taking the top spot in developer surveys like Github and RE Red Monk. The robust growth of Javascript truly represents an amazing journey, one that readily embraces change and upholds relevant usage, into the future.
Offerings of Open Js Foundation
A Hub of Diverse Projects
The Open Js foundation, established almost two years ago by merging the Node Js and Js Foundations, currently houses 38 projects. Many of these projects are probably familiar, as developers around the globe regularly turn to them for their needs. From AMP and Dojo, and ESLint to Node, JSJ_query, Node_Red, WebPack, and many others - the foundation holds numerous notable projects.
Incubation Program and Collaboration Network
Open Js also provides a supportive environment for budding projects through their incubation program, where new projects join and prepare themselves to be full-fledged projects. The foundation assists them in setting up their open governance program and ensures they are sufficiently supported and ready to take off.
For instances where technical obstacles might hinder the advancement of projects, Open Js has instituted the Collaboration Network. This initiative convenes folks from different projects and extends toward experts in related areas, thereby facilitating a more seamless and effective execution.
Sponsor Support and Script Growth Pace
The Open Js foundation gratefully acknowledges the exceptional support they receive from their sponsors, such as Google, IBM, Joint Microsoft, GoDaddy, and Netflix. These sponsors not only provide financial backing but also play an instrumental role in the foundation's governance process.
In the recent past, they have been delighted to welcome new members, such as American Express Bloomberg, Coil Node Experts, and Stream – a great testament to the healthy growth and constant pace at which Javascript and open-source projects are evolving.
Significance of Open Governance
Emphasizing neutrality and openness, Open Js operates a governance structure where technical steering committees of respective open-source projects control their direction. This mechanism maintains a clear distinction between the dues-paying members and any technical influence from the project. The team at Open Js provides ample support in removing any friction while running these projects. From marketing and finance to program management, legal, events, and coding assistance, they offer an extensive helping hand.
Respecting the sanctity of neutrality and embracing the ethos of foundations, Open Js believes in the power of collaboration and increased community participation for the betterment of open-source projects. Thus, they operate in radical openness and transparency, ensuring meetings broadcast live on YouTube and other online platforms, extending a warm welcome to everyone passionate about Javascript.
Conclusion
Javascript, under the umbrella of Open Js Foundation, pledges to keep the language relevant, safe, and modern and bring about the necessary changes to remove systemic bias in the tech industry. The future holds promise, and with active collaboration, shared knowledge, and incessant learning, Javascript, and open-source projects will continue to bloom in years to come.
Video Transcription
Thanks everyone for having me such an honor to be here again. I'm Robin Gin, executive Director of the Open Js Foundation. Um And you know, when you've been working in open source for as long as I have, sometimes you have a little historical perspective.Um So as she uh Margo mentioned, uh javascript was created 25 years ago. Um And Brendan Eck at the time, created it in only 10 days, which is pretty amazing. So for perspective, at the same time, same year, uh Google was just getting started as a research project at Stanford called backrub. Um Amazon sold its first book and Microsoft launched Windows 95 and Internet Explorer, which really led to fierce competition in the browser wars.
So most people are surprised to learn that over 97% of the world's websites use javascript. So most people are using javascript whether they know it or not. And uh javascript continues year after year to hold the number one spot on uh developer surveys such as github and RE Red Monk. So really uh javascript is used by developers all around the world. So, you know, we at the Open js foundation, just see it as really just an awesome and a humbling uh responsibility uh to represent this popular language. So to give a hint at the future, let's go further back 100 years, which is definitely before my time, uh the roaring twenties, uh they called it the decade of change. Um It was a return to normalcy following the pandemic and the war then at that time and it was a time where electricity really was, become a sort of mainstream and homes and it changed the way that people lived and worked. Um radio and television at that time, started connecting people all around the world. Um And it was at that time that women in the United States finally won the right to vote.
Um Yet, as we can see today, there's still um an uphill battle in civil rights for many here and around the world. So fast forward 2020. Wow, the pandemic took a toll on many of us um in our open Js families and businesses. Um But yet it was really uplifting to see how our communities uh you know, fought uh for equality um among underserved communities. Um And so, you know, moving forward, um we look at, you know, history guiding us and wondering can we see that same rapid uh growth um and change? Can we keep javascript relevant for the future? Can we keep it safe and modern and can we really change? Um and change uh systemic bias in the tech industry. We think we can. Uh we all think uh we're at the boom years for javascript. And really, this is evidenced by the really the diverse and wonderful uh people in projects who make up the Open Js Foundation. Uh Open Js was created just under two years ago uh with the merger of the node Js and the Js Foundations. Um I like to say we knew or new, but many of the folks working have been with us for a long time. Um And just a great set of positive productive people. Uh We have 38 projects. You may use some of them or know of them. Um Anyone from AMP and Dojo es Lint electron node, JSJ query node, red web pack. Gosh, so many.
Um And you know, for me, the pandemic was a time where we really uh you know, even though we are virtual, we really got to, to be closer to those important to us. Um And for me working at Open Js, um our members and those others in the community and technical project have been just fan fantastic um sponsors like Google IBM, Joint Microsoft Godaddy and Netflix. Um They not only provide our financial support but they play an active role in our governance process. Um And just this month, we are really excited to welcome new members like American Express Bloomberg coil node experts in stream. So I really want to thank them. Um And I really wanna thank all your sponsors. It was, it's just fantastic to see all these great supporting uh companies supporting women in tech. Um And the pandemic was also a time where we really um got closer to our projects and to some of our end users of our projects. Um As you all saw 2020 we saw dramatic spikes in online commerce um and in the digital uh delivery of education and health care. Um And you know, javascript, as I mentioned is used everywhere and what we found out is it's even used in space.
Um We recently did a node Js case study with NASA where they're using node Js to build um spacesuit solutions to keep them safe and monitoring any potential leakage. So to kind of get an update this last year on how um how uh NASA was using uh javascript and uh aeronautical engineering. We checked in with NASA astronaut Christina Cook. I don't know if you know her, she spent a year on the space station. She is super cool. So I was able to talk to her at our conference last year to learn more about how they're using open source and the web. Um And uh she told us and I urge you to go back and look at the video. It's really cool. She told us that um they use javascript for their web apps on their tablets in space. So yes, that does answer the question. They do have the World Wide Web in space. Um And they also used it on the space that uh spacex Dragon U I uh which was built on Chromium uh with javascript. Um And so that, that uh the dragon, they had to even develop special uh gloves on their spacesuits so they can uh manage the touch on the screen. So we thought that was super cool. Um So, you know, we see today javascript, it's mature, it's stable yet.
It is innovating still every day in so many ways. Um Again, 38 projects here are just some of our few highlights. Um AMP recently released its new plug in for wordpress, um am for testing recently moved from beta to final release and gosh, they're having lots of cool use cases across Samsung ties and TV S and Roku and chromebooks. Um Electron Ship version 13 with lots of updates um ESL releases frequently. So if you're interested in getting started, they actually have a triage board. So that might be a good place to start if you're interested in open source. Uh We celebrated with the web driver team this year with their uh V seven, which was a total rewrite and ty and type script. Um We continue to see web pack five stabilizing and adding new features and gosh the No Js community. They are busy all the time. They're adding new features. Um They've also uh launched a mentorship program. If you're interested, you can check out their N api uh mentorship and, and keep on the lookout for more. Um And the Node project uh with Open Js also launched a free training program uh for their certification. Um And you all may not think you're not, you don't need javascript or jquery. We all need javascript.
Uh but jquery is still used in more than 70% of libraries uh powering 500,000 websites. Um and just shout out to the Jquery maintainers who we meet with every week. They're fantastic and keep Jquery running. So taking a look more closely at no Js um A lot of folks really attribute sort of the growth and stability of no Js uh to our foundation that supports it. Um And by having no Js and a neutral foundation, uh really um people see it as really helping it overcome fractures in the community and the code base. Um And today, no Js um is just a healthy community supported by just a diverse number of companies who provide all kinds of support from direct build support to the infrastructure. So thank you for uh everyone who supports node. And you can see just a really wonderful set of companies who are using node every day. Um We also have a program called for uh open source projects. It's our incubation program and it's really uh when a new project joins the foundation and they set themselves up uh ready to be sort of a full project.
And what they may do is set up their open governance program um and just get their project ready for kind of our staff support. Um And just last week, we were just thrilled to welcome Loop back to the Open Js Foundation. Uh Loop back is a popular uh no Js framework for building large scale, no Js apps. Um And it has been supported over time through IBM, but through uh many, many in the community, um in fact, uh just right now, almost half of their poll requests and github come from the outside community, which is pretty amazing to see. So we are really delighted to welcome uh Loop back to our Open Js family. Um In addition to projects, we have another uh program which is led by our uh technical um cross Project Council and it's called the Collaboration Network. So when you have um sort of areas, technical uh areas uh that may be an obstacle or an opportunity uh technical scenario, so to speak, uh the community is organizing around these collaboration spaces, you might see it as a special interest group and some other foundations. Um And they, they do that as a as a way to convene uh folks from across projects, but also as a way to sort of reach out across uh others um experts in that space.
So we recently launched our first collaboration space um around security because security, of course, is such a, a high priority. Um And it's the package vulnerability management and reporting space. So if that's something you're interested in, I urge you to check out. Um We did a blog on it, you can check it on our blog um and the github Repo and there's a lot of uh great work happening there. Um And uh I think we mentioned the front, we are sort of a, an open community uh working to drive healthy communities. And as we know, to have a healthy community, it must be uh diverse, equitable and inclusive. And so de I has been a big priority of ours. Um And since I joined, we're trying to put more structure around our DE I programs. Um And as a start, we took sort of a leadership uh cues from the inclusive naming initiative where we have gone through our project, uh github repos as well as our open source uh or Open js github repos and have removed all all of the harmful language. So if you're interested in either the inclusive naming initiative or doing more work around DE I with open Js, uh I urge you to check it out. We uh we need to learn more and do more. We have a lot of work to do.
Um And uh really want to make progress in this area. Um I had mentioned the training earlier from No Js. Um We had, we've recently launched a program uh for certification on uh node Js and the apps and the service side, it had been really in high demand for some time. Um And we kicked it off with two sort of node uh organization experts at node source and near form. And really the certification is a great way to sort of showcase your abilities in the job market and allow employers to find top talent. And so we talked to someone recently who had um passed the Node certification program, uh Prosper Opara, who's a full stack engineer at Damos Cloud in Nigeria. Um And he sort of shared his experience taking the exam and sort of how that's impacted his career. Um And he said, not only is does he have more confidence um from his teammates, he also sees it sort of as a great sort of way for his career path. So that was pretty cool to see. Um We also launched a, a fun new indi individual supporter program called javascript Landia. So wherever you may live, you can join uh open Js at $25 yearly and be part of the individual supporter program. And it just brings you all kinds of fun, cool exclusive benefits.
You get digital badges for your online profiles, recognition on our website, um some other community updates and discounts. Um And just last week, we stood up our javascript landia.com website. So you can collect your favorite badges much like you would uh the, the stickers that are uh in person events and then start to show how you're a fan for javascript Landia. Um So let's kind of go back to neutrality. Um And why that's important um neutrality ensures that no one company um controls a piece of technology that we all rely upon. Um And you can see over time how foundations have supported those important projects from the Linux kernel being supported at the Linux Foundation um eclipse in the Apache projects, and.net. Um Those all have um a wonderful sort of uh open governance community ecosystem around them that are truly neutral and really uh take account of all stakeholders. Um And so, you know, since we are an an umbrella organization, um a big goal of ours and how we organize is we set up a model that gives a strong voice to our projects.
So, um if you're familiar with open source projects, they have technical steering committees and they still um control the direction of their project. And we keep a really separate uh line between dues paying members and any technical influence uh from projects that's really important to us.
Um But what we do at Open Js is we provide support to really sort of remove any uh sort of friction for uh running your project. Uh We have a, a board of directors who sort of sets our vision and mission. Our cross project council is like our technical oversight committee that provides a sort of cross issue support. Um And then our staff, I'd like to think of us as sort of like your product team that you might have at your company. Um And we're there for you, like whether it's marketing or finance, program management, legal um throwing events, we are there to support the projects so they can just um keep working on coding and making their project better every day. Um And if you think about sort of the whole notion of neutrality and foundations, we're starting to see more uh community leaders speak out and taking uh important open source projects to a neutral home, like a foundation. And following up from Mateo's Tweet, I thought I'd give you a little flavor of what sort of open governance means in action. Uh Fify is a project uh created by Matteo Kalina and Thomas Fell at uh Tom or Mateo is at uh is at near form and Thomas Dellavedova at Elastic.
And um Mateo has been a really active leader, not only at Open Js, but over the years at the No Js project. And uh we at Open Js have been huge fify champs um because we really, our goal is to really help drive adoption and bring in new contributors. So I checked in with Mateo just this week to see where they were and while they're at 900,000 downloads per month, which is up from 500,000 last year and they have 100 and 87 plugins. Um But what's really interesting is Mateo is great at building community and he said that they really built the fast five community before any lines of code were written. Uh Thomas had come to Mateo saying, hey, I really want to get started in open source. What do you, you know, what can I do? And so Mateo said, hey, why don't we build a uh no Js framework? Um So, you know, fast forward today, they've, they've built a, a wonderful uh network and they have some great uh folks who are using them and actually I spoke to one of their end users um on a customer case study last year, I urge you to check it out.
It was Ne Netta porte the fashion company and I thought that was pretty fun to talk to them uh to see how they're uh how fast I is helping them with web, web performance. Um Another uh important um goal of ours is to set policies that prioritize stability and openness. Um As you know, uh javascript is standardized and standardized and implemented in all of the major browsers. So you will see a lot of our um our leaders actively participating in standards development organizations like E CMT C 39 WTW three C uh UNICODE um O SI and others. And, you know, historically, I think there was this perception that open source and open standards were somewhat out of sync. Oh, that's definitely not the case today. I think you'll see um what we're doing between Open Js and all of the standards organizations. You'll see that the community boundaries are nearly erased. Um And as I mentioned, um we are open and what we like to say is we are radically open and radically transparent. And so what does that mean? That means we, we have most of our uh meetings broadcast live on youtube where you can go check it out and watch it later. So every Tuesday, if you're all welcome, you can come, just observe, you can watch after or you can join us.
Uh We have our cross project council meeting stream live. Here's one uh You can add all of our meetings to your calendar from our website on the collaboration tab. Um So that's, that's been great to see. And I like to say Tuesdays are my favorite days because I have so many wonderful people. I get to talk to live on youtube every Tuesday. Um So, you know, it, when it was reflecting back, um we had our big conference last week. Um And our board president is Todd Moore at IBM. And I asked him, you know, they, they have done quite a bit for um not only Open Js but other uh open source technologies. I'm like, so tell me Todd, why do IBM and other member companies uh support the foundations? Um and he really, essentially as you can see, he said, it's, it's in their economic interest and it's the plumbing that helps them drive their business forward. So that's cool. Hey, Robin,
just jumping in here at our time. Ok. So I ask you to sum it up in a bow here. Yes, this
is a great sum. A sum up. So again, we have wonderful folks in our community. They're doing things for, for, for good for technology and for society. Our friends at native script, I think summed it up better than anybody could. And then um I just invite you to sort of give us your feedback so we can help keep uh javascript boom, booming in the future. So please reach out if you have any questions.
Thank you so much, Robin and I know with the contact info you have there and some of the other initiatives you were naming, like getting involved with inclusive naming and some of those other pieces. I think you had some really good call outs for people if it resonated in ways they could get involved. So thank you so much for being here, Robin. Thank you
so much for having me. Thanks everyone.
Have a great rest of your day. You too. Take care.