The client-side Javascript to me is not a relevant issue anymore since JS is an open standard and browsers are sandboxed these days.
Hi
I'd like to disagree with this statement.
Mandating javascript is a problem for several reasons:
* Webbrowsers have gotten enormously complex, and not by accident: In my view this is a result of the fight of initially netscape and microsoft, and now google and microsoft for control of the web - piling on features appears to have been a strategy to place the opponent on the back foot. Even if a particular snippet of javascript happens to be GPLv3'ed, the infrastructure running in support of it (eg, the web browser) is probably not. Trying to keep up with this feature race is a red queen problem, and soaks up precious developer time - I would argue this is by design.
* The complexity of a browser (almost certainly the largest piece of software running on most computers) means that securing the sandbox is hard. I would say impossibly hard. The recent Spectre class security issues illustrates this nicely.
Then there are other problems, which aren't directly related to free software issues, but may be relevant to people who would like to use computers ethically:
* The unnecessary bloat of contemporary web browsers means that computers have to be upgraded often and consume too much power. Without this a computer from a decade ago would be perfectly serviceable. Individually this is a minor issue, but in total this is a significant environmental problem.
* The majority of javascript run is not for the benefit of the owner of the computer, but to track, spy on and manipulate the viewer. Much has been said on surveillance capitalism, and I won't repeat it here. But an effective way of opting out of much this is to disable javascript completely. If javascript is mandated by the free software community then it becomes that much harder to opt out.
I understand that many programmers develop for the web, that maybe some on this list regard "being a javascript developer" as part of their core identity, and so might regard these statements an attack on themselves personally. But this is hardly a unique position - coal-powerplant builder, land-mine manufacturer and even butcher or just fisherman all have to face these questions, programmers should not be excluded from those concerns.
regards
marc