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Microsoft Open Sources Edge JavaScript Code, Plans Linux Port (windows.com)
colinneagle writes: One month after promising to release the JavaScript engine of its Edge browser, Microsoft has proven good for its word and then some. Not only is it releasing the code, it's planning a Linux port. The company uploaded the code to GitHub and announced its plans via a blog post by Gaurav Seth, principal PM manager for Chakra, which is what they're calling the JavaScript engine. "Today, we are excited to share with you that we've just made the sources for ChakraCore available under the MIT License at the ChakraCore GitHub repository," he wrote. "Going forward, we'll be developing the key components of Chakra in the open." With the release, you can build ChakraCore on Windows 7 SP1 or above with Visual Studio 2013 or 2015 with C++ support installed, Seth said. Of course, Edge is more than just the Chakra engine, but this could result in a back port to Windows 7. He also said Microsoft is committed to bringing it to other platforms, starting with Linux, and invited developers to "help us in the pursuit either by letting us know which other platforms they'd like to see ChakraCore supported on, or even by helping port it to the platform of their choice."
It's like the Slashdot of old, circa 2000 or so.
This story was just posted 6 hours ago, timmay. Bang up job as always!
Smart, though definitely a market-following move. This leads to a microsoft-built open-source equivalent to node, which will make people who are used to the microsoft ecosystem or who want microsoft support to keep their clients happy seriously consider them for a whole host of project types.
The competition also means we can have some benchmarking competitions between the two javascript engines, which will inspire both to get a little better.
Especially since the proper spelling on Slashdot is Micro$oft.
Al Gore will be happy!
http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_...
Do you have ESP?
I can't wait to not use Edge on another operating system!
Yeah sure they're such a great company now, forcing everyone to upgrade to Windows 10 whether they want it or not, countermanding settings you set specifically, installing 'updates' that amount to malware/spyware and calling it 'telemetry', etc etc etc. Or are all of you the 'if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear' types, and furthermore think that Microsoft knows what's best and everyone should just shut up and do as they're told? What are you all even DOING on Slashdot, then? If you believe all that is right then how are you different from the average, non-technical consumer sheep that just use whatever is put in front of them and don't even know that the computer they bought isn't even really theirs, it's Microsofts', because they really have no control over it? Are you really going to call ME the 'troll' here, when Microsoft is the biggest troll in the room? Bull-fucking-shit. I used Windows since v3.1 and the worst complaints about it were dependability, but I even held an MCSE at one point and learned that the haters just didn't know how to manage it properly (for the most part) -- but now they go WAY too far, and I, the former more-or-less satisfied user says "ENOUGH!", and you call ME the troll? Fuck you all sideways with a rusty chainsaw, if you don't like what I have to say, but come correct: Microsoft is the villain here, not me.
Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
We have about 6,382* text editors, last I looked, 17 C compilers, 243 "desktop environments", 49 video encoders, 482 standalone email clients, 2,183 web browsers, 49 ports of "Breakout", and three whole office suites, and you're of the opinion TWO would be too many standalone Javascript implementations?
* OK, figures are made up, except for the office suites. But they're probably underestimates anyway.
You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
There is no altruism on Microsoft's part here, this is just an obvious ploy to compete against Node.JS.
The only newsworthy part here is that Nadella is clearly not innovative enough to move away from the same tired old Microsoft playbook of getting to the market years late with a bad copy of somebody elses already dominant product.
Actually there is 14 actively maintained Javascript engines out there and 4 unmaintained. I just mentioned two out of them because they were coupled with the two other significant web browser to make a fair comparison about supported features.
The comparison with the number of text editors is irrelevant and unfair. There isn't a standardized interface and behavior for a text editor, it is all a matter of choice and taste. It cannot be compare to a Javascript engine which have to stick to a publish standard. Unless you consider adding extension that would break portability of code between browsers is a desirable feature.
Achille Talon
Hop!