East Bay Developers

Upgrading the Web with Douglas Crockford

May 21, 2015 · 6:30 PM
VSCO

The web was originally imagined to be a simple distributed document retrieval system. It is now being used for applications that go far beyond the system's original capabilities and intentions. We have found ways to make it work, but they are difficult and far too fragile. Many times companies have offered to replace the web with superior proprietary systems, but we rejected them. We have been adding features to the web, but this does little to correct the deep underlying deficiencies, increasing instead of reducing its complexity.

This talk suggests a way forward, taking inspiration from our successful transition from NTSC to HDTV. There is a way forward to a web that is safer, easier, and as good as we desire.

About the speaker: Douglas Crockford was born in Frostbite Falls, Minnesota, but left when he was only six months old because it was just too damn cold. He turned his back on a promising career in television when he discovered computers. He has worked in learning systems, small business systems, office automation, games, interactive music, multimedia, location-based entertainment, social systems, and programming languages. He is the inventor of Tilton, the ugliest programming language that was not specifically designed to be an ugly programming language. He is best known for having discovered that there are good parts in JavaScript. This was an important and unexpected discovery. He also discovered the JSON Data Interchange Format, the world's most loved data format. And he works at Paypal.

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Jon S.

very interesting approach to securing the web... but who's gonna do it?

0 · May 28, 2015
- Harry M.
  
  First I need to make a helper app. Then learn some qt.
  
  0 · May 29, 2015
- Jon S.
  
  :=)
  
  0 · May 29, 2015
Harry M.

Was the video every published for this talk?

0 · May 29, 2015
Dave D.

Unfortunately I committed to another Meetup in the city at the exact same time. Will this be recorded?

0 · May 12, 2015
- View all 5 replies
- Joann B.
  
  Hi Dave! Yes, the plan at this time is to record our meetups. I'll update you when I have more details. Thanks! -- Jo
  
  1 · May 13, 2015
- Dave D.
  
  That's great to hear. Thanks!
  
  0 · May 14, 2015
- Joann B.
  
  Hi, Dave. I just wanted to get back to you regarding your request. We do plan to record this meetup. However, I am not certain as to where we will store our vids at the moment. If you ping me your email address, I can follow-up with you on this.
  
  0 · May 20, 2015
- Joann B.
  
  Also, stay tuned as I will be posting details of our next meetup soon.
  
  0 · May 20, 2015
- Dave D.
  
  Will do. I'll message you my email.
  
  1 · May 21, 2015
Nikita

Will Doug have a chance to sign my copy of Javascript: The Good Parts? :-)

0 · May 21, 2015
Harry M.

What time is the meetup estimated to end?

1 · May 21, 2015
- Joann B.
  
  Hi Harry! Doug will probably wrap up around 8pm. Folks are welcome to stay for another half hour to ask questions or mix and mingle. Hope to see you there!
  
  0 · May 21, 2015
Will L.

Hi! I'm curious, will the talk begin right at 6:30? Thanks!

0 · May 19, 2015
- Joann B.
  
  Hey there, Will. Food and drinks will start at 6:30pm. This is also a time for guests to mix and mingle. Doug will start his talk at 7:00pm. See you tomorrow!
  
  0 · May 20, 2015
Abubakari F.

I would like to be with a person like Douglas for experience

0 · May 8, 2015