A better future for JavaScript that won't happen

In the wake of a major npm supply-chain attack, the JavaScript ecosystem has an opportunity to fundamentally reform its dependency management practices. The author outlines what a better future could look like: a real standard library to eliminate micro-dependencies, Linux-distro-style package curation with maintainers and trust relationships, universal package signatures, reproducible builds, and corporate investment in sustainable open source security. However, the author is deeply pessimistic, predicting the community will respond with only symbolic gestures like mandatory 2FA and token donations, repeating the same cycle that has played out for decades without meaningful change.