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Javascript in VB...

Yes, it's true, as Miguel found out at the compiler lab:

Another interesting detail: the new Javascript compiler is written in Visual Basic.NET.

The compiler he's talking about is the Silverlight-based Javascript compiler that we released in Silverlight 1.1. Of course, we're also writing VBx in VB as well, so...

posted on Thursday, May 24, 2007 1:24 PM

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# Why Oh Why Microsoft Why Why Why 5/24/2007 11:21 PM AddressOf.com
OK, this is ridiculous! Why wasn't this information funneled out to the VB MVP's (and other VB'ites

# re: Javascript in VB... 5/25/2007 12:42 AM Raj Chaudhuri
YES! This is great news.

I agree with Cory. This is big news for VBers, we should have heard it before.

# Javascript in VB... 5/25/2007 5:31 AM Sfoghi di un Genio Del Male


# JavaScript compiler in Visual Basic? 5/25/2007 2:26 PM The Problem Solver
Yes that seems to be the case. Cory just reported that Miguel reported that the new JavaScript compiler

# re: Javascript in VB... 5/25/2007 4:26 PM Anthony D. Green, MCPD
What do you mean you're writing VBX in VB? I seem to remember somewhere (http://www.panopticoncentral.net/archive/2006/10/10/16642.aspx) that moving the CodeBase to VB didn't have a compelling reason ;)

And what about the speed? No offense, Paul, but VB.NET builds slow enough as it is on the project I'm working on (HUGE) - I don't think making the compiler managed is gonna help that.

# Siverlight Javascript Compiler Written in VB.NET 5/25/2007 6:48 PM Beth Massi - Sharing the goodness that is VB
Paul posted an interesting tid-bit of news yesterday if you missed it, yes it's true, the JavaScript

# re: Javascript in VB... 5/25/2007 7:21 PM Paul Vick
Anthony: Well, given that we need a compiler available at runtime that can interface well with managed code, that's a compelling reason. Note that we're not replacing the compiler in VS at this point (and we've got even more improvements coming for performance in Orcas!).

# Microsoft Compilers written in VB ! 5/28/2007 8:05 AM Jackie Goldstein's Weblog (In Israel)
Yes, it is true - you can read about it straight from the source here . The upcoming Javascript compiler

# Microsoft Compilers written in VB ! 5/28/2007 3:21 PM Community Blogs
Yes, it is true - you can read about it straight from the source here . The upcoming Javascript compiler

# Silverlight V1.1のJavaScriptコンパイラはVBで製作 5/28/2007 11:47 PM OPC Diary
Javascript in VB... Yes, it's true, as M...

# re: Javascript in VB... 5/29/2007 2:48 AM Farrukh Shahzad
Well , these kind of things are obvious if microsoft hire programmers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh other low wages countries... :-[

I am from Pakistan wait for my turn :-)

# Silverlight 1.1のJavaScriptCompilerはVB.NETでかかれているそうな。 5/29/2007 4:01 AM ひろえむの日々是勉強
Silverlight 1.1?JavaScriptCompiler?VB.NET???????????

# re: Javascript in VB... 5/31/2007 3:19 AM Mike
I don't want to offend anyone, but I've never met any serious developer who would prefer VB.NET to C#. All other developers seemed to be migrated from VB/VBA to VB.NET and - sorry - but most of those are not even close to being serious professional developers. So, why not simply leaving VB.x for all those hobbyists out there and let's concentrate on C# if it comes to professional development (after all: C#, C++ and Java are syntactically very similar and the switch from one language to another is quite easy).

Mike


# re: Javascript in VB... 5/31/2007 11:38 AM Reza
Hey Make
It seems u r new in programming world and may be trying to find the most powerful programming language (and if it possible the easiest one). but let me say something. I am a C++ programmer for 12 years and I have gone that way once. If you remember when Visual Basic arrived it attracted many Visual C++ programmers like me for RAD purposes. I always choose C for low level works and I think there is no choice other than Visual Basic for high level ones because of many things like it's syntax and simplicity. Remember that for a professional programmer tools are not realy matter, He/She builds them if he/she wants.

# re: Javascript in VB... 6/1/2007 4:58 AM Roman
@Mike

Before u talk about 'serious professional developers' and 'hobbyists' u should learn, what CLR means and how a compiler in .NET works. Compiled VB.NET code is as good as any .NET code.
How many lines of VB code have you written?
Do u really think, u know both worlds?
And even if its not easy for u to switch to another language, u should give it a try.

# re: Javascript in VB... 6/1/2007 3:46 PM Iman
The VB.Net was a very good choice for this job, I know that all .Net languages are same (in compatibility, performance, and run speed), but it is important that you love your language.
I love VB.NET

Remember only the grammar of language, make they different

# Some FxCop rules for VB 6/3/2007 9:51 AM I may have joined the wrong side
We've got a rather large VB code base at FinRad , at least some of which we would like to migrate

# re: Javascript in VB... 6/10/2007 3:15 AM James Hanauer
You cannot compare the performance of Classic VB to VB.Net because of the managed aspect of .Net. The CLR allows developers the privilege of utilizing the strengths of a language while providing access to a common class library; the FCL. How the compiler of each .Net language writes its MSIL code and how the JIT compiles it makes the deference in .NET (minus the programmer that wrote the source code).

As a simple example, C# requires that reference types be instantiated before use. To enforce this on method calls for instance, the C# compiler emits a ‘callvirt’ (call virtually) IL instruction on methods that are non-virtual. This instruction forces the JIT compiler to emit a null reference check before calling the method and then the JIT checks to see if it really needs to call the method virtually or not. Other language compilers may just emit a ‘call’ IL instruction and not care if a class instance exists.

I love C#, C++, VB, VB.Net, and JavaScript, and I try to use them where most appropriate.

C# and C++ are not designed to be dynamically extended at runtime. Granted, reflection can assist in making these languages extensible at runtime but it is a costly approach if not used correctly; it also requires a lot of security checks when utilized.

JavaScript is a prototype based language and is designed to be extended at runtime, and it originated as an interpreted language. VB.Net also originates from its BASIC roots as an interpreted language. These languages can been seen as better equipped to help a developer write high-level code that takes advantage of the dynamic runtime aspects of the DLR and CLR because of their experience in an interoperated environment.

# re: Javascript in VB... 7/27/2007 8:29 AM tj hock
It seems that there's always someone who throws out a flaming comment about VB vs other languages that seems to get everyone excited.

I just have something to add. Let's just ignore those comments and concentrate on the topic at hand... it's a waste of topic time to address such issues. There are plenty of books about CLR and IL out there for anyone who really wants to learn about VB.Net vs C#, or whatever. Just my 2 cents.

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