V8 is the high-performance JavaScript Virtual Machine that is part of new Google’s Chrome web browser.

A high-performance Javascript could be critical for “pure-dHTML rich internet applications” when combined to other developments, like Canvas and SVG support! Then bye bye flash-flex/java applets/silverlight etc…!

V8 JavaScript engine [wikipedia]

Stricking features:

• Dynamic JustInTime compilation to native code!
• Multi-threaded from the ground up.
• Efficiant non-conservative garbage collector.
• Independent from the browser; can be used in other projects.

Nice article by Zviki Cohen: Google Chrome: ‘JavaScript Forever!’

Google wants your JavaScript web applications to run fast, stable and secure and to feel much like desktop applications. You achieve that by downloading a different runtime engine (you can call it browser, but that name is totally obsolete). That sounds like the next generation RIA [Rich Internet application] technologies: Microsoft Silverlight, Adobe Flash/Air and Sun’s JavaFX. Google are sending a clear message: “we have a lot riding on JavaScript and we’re not looking for a replacement anytime soon”.

Note: Mozilla’s next-generation JavaScript engine TraceMonkey (for firefox 3.1) will outperforms (actual implementation of) V8.

Some people are even starting to think about using V8 as a VM for other (dynamic) languages :

Dave Griswold has made interesting posts on Strongtalk-general google group:
Using V8 for other languages
Chrome and V8

We’ll have to see what the details are when the code comes out, but the release of the V8 VM is the beginning of a whole new era for dynamic languages (Smalltalk, Ruby, Python, etc).
Let the flood of fast new dynamic language implementations begin!

Could JavaScript Power A Significant Future Ruby Implementation or VM?

Side note: A nice new book about JavaScript:
JavaScript: The Good Parts