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ECMAScript
JavaScript was initially developed by Netscape Communications
as a programming language for its Navigator Web browser.
JavaScript borrowed heavily from the C programming language, but
it included modifications that simplified working with untyped
data. The language quickly became a standard for Web scripting,
prompting Microsoft to develop its version of JavaScript called
JScript®. The two implementations were more or less compatible,
but contained enough differences that a standard was needed to
ensure uniformity. This standardization effort was headed by the
European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA) and the
standardized language was named ECMAScript. DScript is an
implementation of the ECMA standard with extensions.
When a Web site developer refers to JavaScript, they are often
speaking about the version of JavaScript that includes extensions
for client-side scripting in Web browsers. Actually, there is a
client-side JavaScript and a server-side JavaScript. Client-side
JavaScript includes the core language, as specified in the ECMA
standard, plus extensions for controlling a Web browser. The
client-side version includes functions that take actions such as
opening a new browser window and responding to mouse movements.
These functions make no sense in server-side JavaScript.
Similarly, there are functions in server-side JavaScript that
make no sense in a client-side environment. However, client-side
and server-side JavaScript have one thing in common--Core
JavaScript.
Core JavaScript deals with the basic syntax of a program, the
statements, operators, and other key language components. It is
this portion of JavaScript that the ECMA set out to standardize.
It is also this portion of JavaScript that DScript implements
along with its own extensions that make sense only in a DScript
environment. You can take any code written in Core JavaScript,
paste it directly into DecisionPro or DecisionScript, and it will
function properly. However, using DScript's extensions you can
probably simplify the code considerably.
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