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The JavaScript Trap

Resurfaced independently across 10 calendar years, with breakout response in 2 of them.

submissions
13
submitters
13
observed span
2009–2024
peak thread · 114 comments
79 pts
latest 20+ return · 2014-12-06
78 pts

Submission timeline

2007–2026

One slot for every year since HN launched. Height is that year's peak points; orange marks a 100+ point or 50+ comment breakout. Select a bar to open its strongest thread.

First comments on top threads

HN comment order

There's a disturbing lack of understanding in this community about free software, the GPL and other licences, and RMS himself. Of course Stallman is an extremist. Every leader of such a movement by definition must be an extremist, even if it makes them look foolish. The ACLU for example takes cases that make them look like a joke, but they are forced to because they must exhibit unwavering believe in their ideals. As the leader of the free software movement…

tsally·79-point thread·

Of all the things in the world to be concerned about, running non-GPL'd JavaScript in my browser is far enough down my list that writing this comment bumps me well over my lifetime quota for the issue.

While it might feel like a trap for some users, relying on "non-free" software (in other words, most software) is a trap the vast majority of users are happy to get into. They would prefer to have modern websites with fairly advanced stuff, all of which is easy to do in JavasScript and already working. The genie won't go back in the bottle just because a few purists liked it better that way.

not sure if i'm going to take advice on how to deploy js from someone actually not using a web browser. https://lwn.net/Articles/262570/

htor·5-point thread·

The first top-level comment from each of the four biggest threads, in HN’s own order. Excerpts are shortened; open a comment for full context.

Breakout years
2

100+ points or 50+ comments

Total points
205

reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking

Total comments
234

reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking

Every submission

DateTitle as submittedByPointsComments
2009-03-22The Javascript TrapFirst breakout · Best threadrlm79114
2012-05-31The JavaScript Trapzoowar20
2013-10-17The JavaScript Trapanon138520
2014-12-06The JavaScript TrapLatest 20+ point returnpmoriarty78111
2015-03-20The JavaScript TrapHall inductionavinassh20
2016-06-03The JavaScript Trapqz_50
2017-01-04The JavaScript Trapscapecast30
2017-03-13The JavaScript Trapschiller-silvio20
2018-01-05The JavaScript Trapuserbinator31
2018-06-14The JavaScript Trap, by Richard StallmanHyugo51
2019-03-25The JavaScript Trapchippy50
2019-10-07JavaScript TrapFillardMillmore10
2024-05-13The JavaScript Traprolph187