Building OS X Apps With JavaScript

@labfoo

http://is.gd/osxjs

Script Editor

& Cocoa Bridge

Building truly native applications

Good performance

Lots for "free"

Native components mean OS differences are handled for you

Very well suited for people who are interested in adding an element of pain & suffering into their lives

Node.js

or io.js

Great for CLI applications

Performance comparable to C & Java*

Good native support through bindings

135,000+ libraries to depend on

*http://is.gd/543cm8

Supported on all desktop platforms

NW.js

formally node-webkit

Building native-like applications

Good performance

Familiar workflow

Has some trouble when it comes to native bindings.

Compiles to OS X, Windows or Linux

Alfred

with Workflows Pack

Building CLI-like Apps

Is a premium feature

Easy to build

hard to distribute (for now)

 (but for n00bz)

... with basic feedback.

OS X only

Input

Output

Business Logic

Business Logic

js2coffee

# Assignment:
number   = 42
opposite = true

# Conditions:
number = -42 if opposite

# Functions:
square = (x) -> x * x

# Arrays:
list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

# Objects:
math =
  root:   Math.sqrt
  square: square
  cube:   (x) -> x * square x

# Splats:
race = (winner, runners...) ->
  print winner, runners

# Existence:
alert "I knew it!" if elvis?

# Array comprehensions:
cubes = (math.cube num for num in list)
var cubes, list, math, num, number, opposite, race, square,
  slice = [].slice;

number = 42;

opposite = true;

if (opposite) {
  number = -42;
}

square = function(x) {
  return x * x;
};

list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];

math = {
  root: Math.sqrt,
  square: square,
  cube: function(x) {
    return x * square(x);
  }
};

race = function() {
  var runners, winner;
  winner = arguments[0], runners = 2 <= arguments.length ? slice.call(arguments, 1) : [];
  return print(winner, runners);
};

if (typeof elvis !== "undefined" && elvis !== null) {
  alert("I knew it!");
}

cubes = (function() {
  var i, len, results;
  results = [];
  for (i = 0, len = list.length; i < len; i++) {
    num = list[i];
    results.push(math.cube(num));
  }
  return results;
})();

Script Editor

& Cocoa Bridge

ObjC.import("Cocoa");

var styleMask = $.NSTitledWindowMask | $.NSClosableWindowMask | $.NSMiniaturizableWindowMask;
var windowWidth = 600;
var windowHeight = 300;

var window = $.NSWindow.alloc.initWithContentRectStyleMaskBackingDefer(
  $.NSMakeRect(0, 0, windowWidth, windowHeight),
  styleMask,
  $.NSBackingStoreBuffered,
  false
);

window.title = "My Awesome Application";
window.makeKeyAndOrderFront(window);
window.center;

Cocoa Bridge

demo time

https://github.com/adambutler/osxjs

 

http://tylergaw.com/articles/building-osx-apps-with-js

 

https://github.com/dtinth/JXA-Cookbook

 

https://developer.apple.com/videos/wwdc/2014/#306

Further reading

One more thing...

What about Swift?

Im sorry* but

Swift !~ JavaScript

*I'm not really sorry!

Adam Butler

@labfoo |     /adambutler

Building OS X Apps With JavaScript

By Adam Butler

Building OS X Apps With JavaScript

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