Node is a runtime, npm is a package manager. Together they let you download code (js or otherwise) and run it.
This is the same as Java (JVM), .NET (CLR), and plenty of other languages. You can compile to a native assembly if you like (similar to C++ or Go) but it's not necessary when you have fast runtimes and JIT compilation.
Everything you listed for functionality is possible today - while also letting people write and ship code to multiple platforms quickly.
This is the same as Java (JVM), .NET (CLR), and plenty of other languages. You can compile to a native assembly if you like (similar to C++ or Go) but it's not necessary when you have fast runtimes and JIT compilation.
Everything you listed for functionality is possible today - while also letting people write and ship code to multiple platforms quickly.