Brendan Eich Style Guide⁠‍⁠​‌​‌​​‌‌‍​‌​​‌​‌‌‍​​‌‌​​​‌‍​‌​​‌‌​​‍​​​​​​​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​​​​​‍‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‍‌‌​​​‌​​‍‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​‌​​​​‍​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‍​‌​​‌​‌‌‍​‌‌​‌​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍​​‌​‌​​​‍‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‌​‌​​‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌‍​​​​​​‌‌‍​​​​‌​‌​‍‌‌​‌​‌‌​⁠‍⁠

Overview

Brendan Eich created JavaScript in 10 days at Netscape in 1995. Despite time constraints, he embedded powerful concepts: first-class functions, prototypal inheritance, and dynamic typing. Understanding his design choices unlocks JavaScript's true power.

Core Philosophy

"Always bet on JavaScript."

"JavaScript has first-class functions and closures. That's a big deal."

Eich designed JavaScript to be accessible yet powerful, borrowing from Scheme (functions), Self (prototypes), and Java (syntax).

Design Principles

1. First-Class Functions: Functions are values—pass them, return them, store them.

2. Prototypal Inheritance: Objects inherit directly from objects, not classes.