MSDN Magazine - January 2009 - (Page 9)

SCott MitChELL Toolbox C# JavaScript, Eric Lippert’s Blog, And More Create JavaScript for AJAX Apps Using C# and Visual Studio In the past, JavaScript was considered a toy language that was useful for simple input validation and Document Object Model (DOM) manipulation. But JavaScript is, in fact, a powerful and feature-rich language that powers today’s AJAX-enabled Web sites. And while the prevalence and role of JavaScript in modern Web applications have expanded dramatically over the past few years, there is still a very noticeable difference in the design-time experience when writing JavaScript code compared to writing C# code. Visual Studio provides IntelliSense and debugging support for JavaScript, but many JavaScript errors and warnings cannot be detected until run time. On the other hand, C# offers compile-time-type checking; more robust object-oriented semantics; and tools for refactoring, creating technical documentation, and class browsing. Furthermore, most ASP.NET developers are more familiar with C# than with JavaScript. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could write C# code instead of JavaScript? This is possible with Script# (version 0.5.1), a free compiler, runtime, and framework created by Microsoft Software Architect Nikhil Kothari. The Script# compiler takes C# code and translates it into equivalent JavaScript code. Use Script# to create short, one-off JavaScript functions or event handlers as well as larger JavaScript libraries. You can use it to create ASP.NET AJAX components and behaviors or Windows Vista Sidebar gadgets. The Script# compiler can use .resx files to generate localized script files and can be configured to generate release or debug scripts. (Debug scripts include white space and descriptive variable names for readability, whereas release scripts have unnecessary white space removed and variable renaming for code compactness.) In a nutshell, Script# gives you all the benefits of working with C# code—compile-time erthe RSS store in Internet Explorer 7, and to access Microsoft Virtual Earth from within the browser. Keep in mind that Script# is not designed to convert existing C# applications into AJAX-enabled Web applications. Rather, Script# gives developers the ability to create Web applications or Sidebar gadgets JavaScript used to be considered a toy language. it is, in fact, a powerful language that fuels today’s AJAX-enabled Web sites. rors, familiar C# OOP syntax and semantics, and better tool support—while generating the JavaScript code needed for your Web application or Sidebar gadgets. In addition to a compiler, Script# includes a runtime and a framework. Both the runtime and framework include a server-side implementation that you program against when writing C# code and a client-side implementation that is used by the JavaScript code generated by the Script# compiler. The runtime defines the type system and it is mandatory. The framework is optional, but offers APIs for performing common tasks such as HTTP requests, JSON serialization, browser detection, and so forth. The framework also includes user interface controls and APIs to work with the Silverlight control in the browser, to access by writing C# code that is then converted to JavaScript code. However, because there is not a oneto-one correspondence between C# and JavaScript, not all of the C# language features are available when using Script#. For instance, write-only properties are disallowed, as are certain constructs and keywords, including goto, using, lock, and sizeof. Price: Free. projects.nikhilk.net/ScriptSharp Blogs of Note The most important ingredients for a really great technical blog include the following: frequent, knowledgeable, on-topic posts; in-depth examinations of important technologies or concepts; and a unique voice or style. You’ll find these Send your questions and comments for Scott to toolsmm@microsoft.com. All prices were confirmed November 19, 2008, and are subject to change. The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions at Microsoft. January 2009 9 http://projects.nikhilk.net/ScriptSharp

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of MSDN Magazine - January 2009

Toolbox CLR Inside Out Basic Instincts Cutting Edge Test Run First Look� Geneva Framework Silverlight Windows Mobile Service Station Security Briefs Extreme ASP.NET Foundations .NET Matters { End Bracket }

MSDN Magazine - January 2009

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