Title: JavaScript Chat Summary – September 18th Author: Andrew Duthie Published: September 18, 2018 --- [ ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/aduth/) [Andrew Duthie](https://profiles.wordpress.org/aduth/) 7:39 pm _on_ September 18, 2018 Tags: [javascript ( 130 )](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/javascript/) # JavaScript Chat Summary – September 18th Below is a summary of the discussion from this week’s JavaScriptJavaScript JavaScript or JS is an object-oriented computer programming language commonly used to create interactive effects within web browsers. WordPress makes extensive use of JS for a better user experience. While PHP is executed on the server, JS executes within a user’s browser. [https://www.javascript.com](https://www.javascript.com/) chat( [agenda](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yDN-iEMzSCGql8KjU1wPHWzFC2wostZYWj1tPD8SO3w/edit), [Slack transcript](https://wordpress.slack.com/archives/C5UNMSU4R/p1537275620000100)). Have a topic for discussion for the next meeting? Leave a suggested edit on [next week’s agenda](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1l9W19i4jQyZLoh5Pc0emiZ7BlMCPHhikLe8NwAcsflc/edit). ## Announcements * Work toward introducing a formal asynchronous data flow as part of the `@wordpress/ data` continues, with the introduction of [support for generator controls in resolvers](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/9507). * Following-up on discussions from last week’s meeting, a [new `wp-polyfill` script has been added to Gutenberg](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/9794), the goal of which to serve as a single dependency which any pluginPlugin A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WordPress plugins are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress. These can be free in the WordPress.org Plugin Directory [https://wordpress.org/plugins/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/) or can be cost-based plugin from a third-party. seeking support for either new language features or browser functionality can leverage.  ## Open Floor ### Documentation of Available GutenbergGutenberg The Gutenberg project is the new Editor Interface for WordPress. The editor improves the process and experience of creating new content, making writing rich content much simpler. It uses ‘blocks’ to add richness rather than shortcodes, custom HTML etc. 󠀁[https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/](https://wordpress.org/gutenberg/)󠁿 Scripts [(Slack Conversation)](https://wordpress.slack.com/archives/C5UNMSU4R/p1537276081000100) Gutenberg registers a number of scripts, but an exhaustive set of all scripts isn’t available, nor is it well-documented how these scripts can be used by a plugin. **Decision:** Create new documentation to be included in the “Reference” section of the Gutenberg Handbook, detailing which script handles are available for plugin authors to reference. **Issue:** [https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/10005](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/10005) ### Reducing Exposure of Moment.js in the `@wordpress/date` module [(Slack Conversation)](https://wordpress.slack.com/archives/C5UNMSU4R/p1537277631000100) Our `@wordpress/date` module uses the popular [Moment.js library](https://momentjs.com/) to implement date formatting. We should be conscious of the long-term maintenance burden in committing this into our public APIAPI An API or Application Programming Interface is a software intermediary that allows programs to interact with each other and share data in limited, clearly defined ways., particularly in light of alternative date formatting offerings and future maintenance likelihood of Moment. js. **Decision:** We’ll continue to use Moment.js for the immediate future, but we should eliminate its availability from the public interface. **Issue:** [https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/10007](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/10007) **Future Action Items:** * Gain a better understanding of the requirements of our public interface by auditing existing usage, understanding server-imposed restrictions (site formatting as an option), and knowledge transfer from equivalent WordPress PHPPHP The web scripting language in which WordPress is primarily architected. WordPress requires PHP 7.4 or higher APIs (strive for seamless transition) * Explore alternative offerings to Moment.js  **Related Resources:** * [Similar effort with `@wordpress/i18n` ](https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/pull/9485) * [The original author of Moment.js stepping down from his maintainer role](https://medium.com/@timrwood/moment-endof-term-522d8965689) [#javascript](https://make.wordpress.org/core/tag/javascript/) ### Share this: * [ Threads ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/09/18/javascript-chat-summary-september-18th/?share=threads) * [ Mastodon ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/09/18/javascript-chat-summary-september-18th/?share=mastodon) * [ Bluesky ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/09/18/javascript-chat-summary-september-18th/?share=bluesky) * [ X ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/09/18/javascript-chat-summary-september-18th/?share=x) * [ Facebook ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/09/18/javascript-chat-summary-september-18th/?share=facebook) * [ LinkedIn ](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/09/18/javascript-chat-summary-september-18th/?share=linkedin) # Post navigation [← Dev Chat Summary: September 12, 2018 (4.9.9 week 5)](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/09/18/dev-chat-summary-september-12-2018-4-9-9-week-5/) [Dev Chat Agenda: September 19th (4.9.9 Week 6) →](https://make.wordpress.org/core/2018/09/19/dev-chat-agenda-september-19th-4-9-9-week-6/)