although JS is a mess, I don't understand the exponential rise in its popularity

I think you got a typo in your post 😅 or was it on purpose?

It’s TTHW is v low (it’s on your browser) so probs why

No matter how retarded the language is, if it is popular enough and if it is easy enough to use, nothing else seems to matter. Sadly.

It has also been relabeled from "scripting language" to a "programming language" without any justification except for its popularity.

scheme: fool's luck

It’s popular because it survived. It’s not the best, but it was better than Flash, Java Applets, ActiveX, or any of the other early 2000’s UI frameworks/plug-ins that we’re out there. JS is adaptable and flexible enough to survive amongst a sea of UI tech that didn’t have staying power.

Because all other web stuff was somehow even worse

@Aahan THIS is what you hate about JS? I find this particular stuff quite irrelevant.
Casing is pure preference.
And missing namespaces are not a big deal as you can just wrap your stuff into a named object. It comes very close to being a namespace for all practical purposes. And I’m telling you as someone who hates JS with a passion.