Why JavaScript rather than a standard browser virtual machine? -

would not make sense support set of languages (java, python, ruby, etc.) way of standardized virtual machine hosted in browser rather requiring use of specialized language -- really, specialized paradigm -- client scripting only?

to clarify suggestion, web page contain byte code instead of higher-level language javascript.

i understand pragmatic reality javascript have work due evolutionary reasons, i'm thinking more long term. regard backward compatibility, there's no reason inline javascript not simultaneously supported period of time , of course javascript 1 of languages supported browser virtual machine.

well, yes. if had time machine, going , ensuring lot of javascript features designed differently major pastime (that, , ensuring people designed ie's css engine never went it). it's not going happen, , we're stuck now.

i suspect, in time, become "machine language" web, other better designed languages , apis compile down (and cater different runtime engine foibles).

i don't think, however, of these "better designed languages" java, python or ruby. javascript is, despite ability used elsewhere, web application scripting language. given use case, can better of languages.