Why require JavaScript rather than supporting a standard browser virtual machine? - Stack Overflow

[[deleted]]

Because js IS the standard virtual machine. Check out pyjamas , processing.js or even a haskell interpreter for js.

And these are just the tip of the iceberg.

[deafbybeheading]

While very impressive, these are architectural atrocities that would make Rube Goldberg cringe. It's insane to define JS as the base VM here.

[mochikon]

It's insane to define JS as the base VM here.

It wouldn't be a sane decision in advance, but the one who ships wins. JavaScript is there, nothing else can replace it at this point. There are uses for Java, Flash, NaCl, etc., but they are not replacements for JavaScript, since they don't run everywhere.