Date: Thu, 6 Feb 1997 10:15:19 -0800
From: mrm@doppio (Marianne Mueller)
Message-Id: <199702061815.KAA14776@puffin.eng.sun.com>
To: Zombie@Mlink.NET
Subject: Re: Java Script
JavaScript isn't connected to Java. It is a scripting language that is
interpreted by another interpreter (that is, it's not interpreted by the Java
interpreter.) You would think that the name implies that JavaScript is a
scripting lanaguage for Java, and in some sense, you can use it that way in
Netscape's browser, but it's not part of the standard Java platform.
I don't know the JavaScript security constraints (if any) in detail, but I do
know that JavaScript is definitely not subject to the control of the Java
security model and security manager.
There was talk a while ago about fixing this so that JavaScript would be
implemented in Java and interpreted by the Java interpreter, but, I don't know
the status of that idea/project.
As for how to use JavaScript -- I really have no idea! You might ask Netscape,
or refer to a JavaScript book.
I wouldn't recommend using JavaScript to prompt for user name and password
unless you thought there was reason to believe the password were being
transmitted using a safe protocol.
Marianne