Javascript vs VBScript?

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Any thoughts on using Javascript vs VBscript?

If you were doing work for an Intranet with IE5 (so there’s no browser issues) which would you choose?

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Without a doubt – Javascript! I use it all the time. You’ll find it liberally sprinkled throughout the Lounge.

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Eileen,

My understanding is that you would not have any choice- as VBScript is only supported by MSIE. You have to support Netscape as well, so Javascript is your only choice- is that correct?

How do you find cross-browser Javascript issues?

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I’d never even consider *anything* VB – I hate the whole bunch of ’em.

Cross-browser issues are vry well dealt with – there’s a very active community of Javascript addicts who always keep abreast of any problems that might arise.

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Javascript is also more secure. Almost all of the Outlook security issues can be traced to a VBScript feature that intentionally does not exist in JavaScript.

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There is an ISO standard (might still be proposed, I forget its status) based on ECMA Script (ECMA 262), which is based on both JasaScript and JScript.

It seems that implementations have agreed to migrate to ECMAScript. See unofficial Javascript FAQ at http://www.jibbering.com/faq/%5B/url%5D.

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I am new to web page programming but I have experience with other languages. One says C programmers can adapt to Java while the structure of many things is very similar. I know for speed and control C and C++ leave Basic in the dust (I know it takes longer to write the prog in the first place). So is there any performance differences between VB script and Javascript? Are there things that one can do with Javascript and not with VB Script. This may help in this discussion.
Personally I am going with Javascript as I don’t want to recode anything should a browser other than IE be used. After all have you never experienced the ‘Oh yes we have a corporate policy to use XXX’. Then three months later well actually we know support YYY as well due to our new acquisition.

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At this time, ECMAScript is THE standard.

Javascript, JScript and ECMAScript are not quite the same, and the ECMAScript standard will be revised, likely within the next year or so. Cross platform scripts are still a moving target.

I would expect all implementations to move towards better conformance with ECMAScript.

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…and that said, unless you’re a Microsoft shop, go with Javascript. And even then… If you look at Microsoft’s own sites, you’ll find them full of JScript!

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That’s what finally convinced me to go Javascript.

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It really depends. Is browser compatability an issue?(It doesn’t sound like it.) Have you programmed in the VBA language before? Have you programmed in C before?

If your doing client-side scripting AND your only browser is IE AND you have a VBA language background, then IMHO VBScript will be the way to go. VBScript is essentially a subset of the VBA language, so it’s easy to get up and running if you already know the VBA language.

If you have a C programming background, Javascript will probably be easier to learn as it very C like but simpler and it works in both NS and IE for client-side scripting.

I believe there’s plenty of resources on both.

Mike

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Mike,

Thanks for the response.

Compatibility is not an issue- intranet, IE5.5 standard.

I’ve done heaps in VB and VBA. It was really the only thing that tempted me towards VBScript.

I’ve done miniscule C (not ++) and some Java.

But, the fact that MS do all their own site in JScript was a big push away from VBscript.

There also seemed to be a lot more resources available for Javasvcrcript on the web. It was much easier to find recipe-book solutions with JS than with VBS.

The syntax was simple; the biggest stumpling-block starting off was to learn to put urls with forward slashes rather than backward slashes.

So far, I’ve done everything without a de######. That’s been a major nuisance (most of all coming from a VB environment). Is there a good JS debugerr out there? For instance, I had understood that Front Page had something- but I know very little about FP.

Any thoughts?

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Geoff,

If you have a copy of Netscape, you can debug your JavaScripts by loading the page, then, in the location box, type ‘java script:’ (make sure to include the colon, but not the quotes). This will bring up the Javascript Console which lets you know if there is a problem, and if so, the line and a brief reason. Netscape also offers a more extensive de######. Try http://developer.netscape.com/tech/javascript/index.html. I downloaded it there a while back, but they may have since moved it.

Last check out this article http://www.webreview.com/2000/10_06/webaut…0_06_00_1.shtml, which gives you step by step instructions on building your own de######.

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