> Javascript has always been considered as a scripting language with low performance compared to most low level languages. Thanks to V8 engine, it is now becoming a platform where developers can prepare a fully functional backend.<p>This is not accurate, and shows a lack of respect for the JS VM developers at other browser vendors.<p>Very close to the time v8 was launched, SquirrelFish Extreme from Apple and TraceMonkey from Mozilla were also launched, each far faster than previous JS VMs, beat v8 on various benchmarks while losing on others, etc.<p>Since then v8 has generally been in the lead, certainly, but not always, and it would depend on the benchmark and platform.<p>So it is not fair to say - and this is not the first time I see it, or else I would not write this comment - that v8 is single-handedly responsible for JS being fast today.