JavaScript Engines

JavaScript engines are software programs that execute JavaScript code. They take the JavaScript code as input, parse it, compile it, and then execute it. There are many JavaScript engines available, each with its own implementation and optimization techniques.

Here are some of the most popular JavaScript engines:

  • V8: Developed by Google, V8 is the JavaScript engine used in the Google Chrome browser and the Node.js runtime environment. It is known for its speed and efficiency, and is one of the fastest JavaScript engines available.
  • SpiderMonkey: Developed by Mozilla, SpiderMonkey is the JavaScript engine used in the Firefox browser. It was the first JavaScript engine to be developed and is known for its performance and flexibility.
  • JavaScriptCore: Developed by Apple, JavaScriptCore is the JavaScript engine used in the Safari browser and the WebKit rendering engine. It is also used in some iOS and macOS applications.
  • Chakra: Developed by Microsoft, Chakra is the JavaScript engine used in the Microsoft Edge browser and the Internet Explorer browser. It is also used in the Windows Store apps and the Xbox One console.
  • Nashorn: Developed by Oracle, Nashorn is a JavaScript engine for the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). It allows developers to write JavaScript code that can be executed on the JVM, providing a way to integrate JavaScript with Java applications.

Each JavaScript engine has its own set of features and performance characteristics, and developers can choose the engine that best fits their needs based on factors such as speed, compatibility, and support for specific features.

Engines for smaller or IOT devices

JavaScript engines for smaller or IoT devices typically have lower resource requirements than those used in desktop or server environments, since IoT devices often have limited processing power and memory.

Some JavaScript engines that are suitable for IoT devices include:

  • JerryScript: JerryScript is a lightweight JavaScript engine designed for resource-constrained devices. It is written in C and has a small memory footprint, making it ideal for IoT applications.
  • Duktape: Duktape is another lightweight JavaScript engine that is designed to run in resource-constrained environments. It is written in C and has a small memory footprint, making it suitable for IoT devices.
  • Espruino: Espruino is an open-source JavaScript engine that is designed to run on microcontrollers. It is written in C++ and supports a wide range of devices, including the Raspberry Pi and Arduino boards.
  • MuJS: MuJS is a lightweight JavaScript engine that is designed for embedded systems. It is written in C and has a small memory footprint, making it suitable for IoT devices.
  • QuickJS: QuickJS is a small and fast JavaScript engine that is designed for embedded systems. It supports a subset of ECMAScript 2020 and has a small memory footprint, making it suitable for IoT devices.

These JavaScript engines are optimized for running on resource-constrained devices and provide a way for developers to write JavaScript code that can run on IoT devices with limited processing power and memory.