"Always bet on JavaScript." — Brendan Eich
Every powerful invention has a story — often chaotic, usually rushed, and occasionally misunderstood.
JavaScript's story is no different.
In this first episode, we journey back to 1995, when one man — in just 10 days — wrote the foundation for what would become the most widely-used programming language on the internet.
Why care about JavaScript's history?
Writing code is one thing — understanding the language shows love.
I fell for JavaScript, and that led me deep into its past.
If you're even a little curious (or a little obsessed), this story is for you.
So, Let’s begin with: The Web Before JavaScript
Table of Contents
- The Web Before JavaScript
- Enter Netscape: The Startup That Started the Browser War
- Brendan Eich and the 10-Day Miracle
- Why JavaScript? Why Not Java or C++?
- Why the Name "JavaScript"?
- JavaScript's DNA: Born of Necessity, Built for the Web
- A New Era Begins
- Closing Thought
- MCQ: Strengthen Your Understanding
The Web Before JavaScript
In the early '90s, the web was a static place.
- HTML gave structure to documents.
- Links let users click around.
- Forms could collect data, but always required a page reload.
- CSS didn't even exist yet.
There was no interactivity, no animations, no dynamic behavior.
Pages were digital brochures, not applications.
The web needed a brain — something to react to users, validate input, and update content without reloading the entire page.
Enter Netscape: The Startup That Started the Browser War
Netscape was the dominant web browser company at the time, founded by Marc Andreessen, the same mind behind Mosaic (the first graphical browser).
Netscape had a bold vision:
"The web should be alive — not static."
They wanted a scripting language that:
- Ran directly in the browser
- Could manipulate the page (DOM)
- Was lightweight and forgiving
- Was easy for web designers, not just hardcore developers
Brendan Eich and the 10-Day Miracle
To solve this, Netscape brought in Brendan Eich — a brilliant programmer with a deep background in designing languages.
Originally, he was supposed to add Scheme to the browser — a simple, elegant language from the Lisp family, known for its power and minimalism. But Netscape leadership had a different idea. They wanted a language that looked a bit like Java (which was very popular at the time), but was much easier to use, especially for beginners.
Eich was given just 10 days to create a working version.
In that short time, he:
- Took Java's familiar curly-brace syntax to make it look approachable.
- Borrowed dynamic features from Scheme — like treating functions as values.
- Used an idea called prototypes (from a language called Self) instead of traditional classes for objects — making it more flexible.
- Delivered the first version of the language, initially called Mocha, then LiveScript, and finally… JavaScript.
Yes — JavaScript was created in just 10 days.
"It had to be done fast. We knew it wasn't perfect, but it worked."
— Brendan Eich
Why JavaScript? Why Not Java or C++?
Netscape already supported Java Applets — but they were:
- Slow to load
- Required a separate runtime
- Not integrated with the DOM
- Too heavy for quick scripting
C++ was out of the question:
- Compiled, not interpreted
- Unsafe for user-facing environments
- Not beginner-friendly
JavaScript, on the other hand, was:
- Lightweight
- Interpreted by the browser
- Safe (sandboxed)
- Forgiving and flexible
JavaScript wasn't designed to be perfect — it was designed to be accessible.
Why the Name "JavaScript"?
Initially called Mocha, then LiveScript, the name was changed to JavaScript as a marketing stunt.
At the time, Java was exploding in popularity, and Netscape wanted to ride the hype.
Even though Java and JavaScript are completely different, the name stuck — and confused generations of developers in the process.
Java is to JavaScript as car is to carpet.
JavaScript's DNA: Born of Necessity, Built for the Web
Brendan Eich didn't just create a language — he gave it a unique personality, shaped by the needs of the early web. From day one, JavaScript was built around three big ideas:
Functions Are First-Class In JavaScript, functions aren't just instructions — they're values. You can store them in variables, pass them around, and return them from other functions. This makes JavaScript incredibly flexible and enables things like callbacks and closures.
Objects Use Prototypes, Not Classes Instead of using classes like Java or C++, JavaScript lets objects inherit directly from other objects — a model called prototypal inheritance. It's simpler under the hood and makes the language more dynamic (even if a bit confusing at first).
It's Built for the Browser JavaScript is event-driven — meaning it reacts to things like clicks, scrolls, or keystrokes. This made it perfect for interactive web pages that respond to user actions without reloading.
It wasn't perfect. It wasn't polished. But it was exactly what the web needed — and that made it revolutionary.
A New Era Begins
In the months following its release:
- JavaScript shipped with Netscape Navigator 2.0 in 1995.
- Microsoft quickly created its own version, called JScript, for Internet Explorer.
- This kicked off the infamous browser wars, where different browsers implemented JavaScript in conflicting ways.
The web was chaotic, and JavaScript's early days were rough — full of bugs, inconsistencies, and developer frustration.
But against all odds, JavaScript survived. And over time, it evolved to become the most important language of the web.
The fact that JavaScript even survived is a story worth telling on its own — full of twists, rivalries, and redemption. We'll explore that journey in the next episode: Episode 2 – "Why JavaScript Survived: Wars, Standards, and Second Chances"
Closing Thought
The first version of JavaScript may have been written in just 10 days — but its impact has lasted decades.
It wasn't built to be perfect. It was built to bring the web to life — and it did exactly that.
Up Next:
Episode 2: "Why JavaScript Survived: Wars, Standards, and Second Chances"
In the next episode, we'll explore how JavaScript almost collapsed under its own success — and how a community, a standards body, and a few smart bets helped it rise again.
Thank You
Thanks for reading Episode 1 of our series - Unpacking JavaScript: 10 Days That Changed the Internet.
If something sparked a thought, raised a question, or just made you curious — drop a comment below. I’d love to hear your take, continue the conversation, or geek out with fellow JavaScript lovers.
If you found this helpful, a like or share would mean a lot — it helps get the story to more curious developers like you.
Let’s connect:
💻 GitHub
MCQ: Strengthen Your Understanding
Questions
1. Who created JavaScript, and how long did it take?
A. Douglas Crockford – 3 weeks
B. Brendan Eich – 10 days
C. Tim Berners-Lee – 1 month
D. Marc Andreessen – 5 days
2. What was JavaScript's inheritance model inspired by?
A. Java
B. Python
C. Self language
D. Ruby
3. What triggered the browser wars in the 1990s?
A. Competing programming languages
B. Poor documentation
C. Conflicting JavaScript implementations in browsers
D. JavaScript being too slow
Answers
- B. Brendan Eich – 10 days
- C. Self language
- C. Conflicting JavaScript implementations in browsers
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