This presentation was given during the second Lightning Talk session at the Alfresco DevCon 2012 in San Jose. This briefly covered some languages that can be translated to JavaScript (TypeScript, Dart, ActionScript, CoffeeScript) and used for developing HTML5/JS web applications and mobile web apps. TypeScript seems to be the best choice. IDEs and editors currently supporting TypeScript were listed. My plans to support various Alfresco and CMIS things was covered: port CMIS Spaces and FlexSpaces from Flex/AS3 to TypeScript, TypeScript wrappers for AlfJS and CMIS.JS, additional Alfresco and CMIS TypeScript libraries, sample showing a Share dashlet, and a TypeScript definition file for intellisense / compile time type checking for Alfresco WebScripts.

1. TypeScript for Alfresco and CMIS
Steve Reiner
CTO
Integrated Semantics

2. JS++ Search
• Seeking something close to ActionScript that
can translate to JavaScript
• Close to ActionScript would make it easier to port
ActionScript in multiple large Flex applications
(FlexSpaces, CMIS Spaces, FlexibleDashbord) and
ActionScript libraries (such as Grebulon XMLA
OLAP) to this JS++
• By being ActionScript like, would also be a good
productive language for large apps (static typing,
class syntax, interfaces,etc.)
• Also like IDEs / intellisense (Flash Builder, etc.)

3. JS++ Search
• Use ActionScript and translate to JavaScript
• Jangaroo Compiler and ActionScript API to ExtJS
developed by CoreMedia AG
• FalconJS from Adobe (Adobe is slow in getting this to
Apache Flex, still not available)
• Approach not taking off with developers, better things
coming along: Dart and TypeScript
• Dart from Google
• Nice language, nice html and core libraries, good IDE with
integrated debugging, can use on server too
• InterOp with JavaScript is awkward and more work
• Only “modern web browsers” supported (not old versions)
• Others: Haxe, Opa, JavaScript++, CoffeeScript, etc.

4. TypeScript
• Despite coming from Micro$oft (hold your nose) its
actually seems like the best approach
• Extends JavaScript, all JavaScript code is valid
TypeScript (Dart is JavaScript like, but still a new
language)
• Open Source (Apache 2.0)
• Using coming ECMAScript 6 for parts it has (class
and interfaces), adding typing and modules
• Optional typing like Dart
• Can use for node.js serverside code, tsc cmd line
compiler can install as node.js pkg (compiler written
in typescript)

5. TypeScript
• Can have typed interface wrapper for existing
JavaScript libraries in declaration / definition files
(d.ts) without having to modify original js library files
• Seeing good bit of existing javascript libraries have
typescript definition files created within 2-3 weeks
after TypeScript was announced was very
impressive (see DefinitelyTyped repo in github)
(compared to slow pace of libraries being ported to
Dart)
• Note: TypeScript is in Preview phase, not final, but
since output-ed JavaScript is JavaScript and no
runtime libs there is somewhat less risk

6. TypeScript IDES
• Visual Studio 2012 with TypeScript plugin
• Can debug TypeScript code in VS and run in IE
• Can debug in debuggers in recent Chrome and FireFox
(need to manually add –sourcemap to tsc build line in VS
project files)
• Free Express version of Visual Studio 2012 can be
used (WebEssentials plugin with side compare JS
feature can’t be used in the express version)
• Also MS WebMatrix can be used, syntax files for
Sublime Text, Vi, and Emacs.
• JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA EAP has some support
• No Eclipse yet (thought Dart Editor could be changed
to work with TypeScript)

7. TypeScript Alfreso and CMIS apis
• Will have a TypeScript definition wrapper for AlfJS by
DevCon SJ
• Will have a basic TypeScript defnition wrapper for any
CMIS.JS Alfresco has
• Also could have a CMIS api with interfaces and classes
more like the Java OpenCMIS client apis
• In porting CMIS Spaces libraries could port the as3
atompub code if CMIS.JS doesn’t happen or it is only for the
cmis browser binding
• Also will try and have TypeScript for Alfresco Cloud APIs
• In porting FlexSpaces to TypeScript will initially use custom
webscripts it has.
• Then will change to be able to use subset of features
without custom webscripts (use webscripts in place for
Share, thus a TypeScript wrapped more full featured AlfJS)

8. TypeScript based Clients / App
Components
• Plan to port both FlexSpaces and CMIS
Spaces to TypeScript
• Modify Jangaroo Compiler to do AS3 ->
TypeScript
• Use YUI3 and some other JS frameworks thru TS
defn wrappers
• HTML5/JS in browser, PhoneGap mobile, and
AIR/JS (for desktop drag in/out,native clipboard,
offline file syncing, etc.) packagings
• Support Alfresco Cloud too?

9. TypeScript Dashlets / WebScripts
• If there is interest:
• Share Dashlet clientside code: will try to put together a
sample dashlet done in TypeScript with TS defn
wrappers for YUI 2.x, some wrappers for Share base
components, etc.
• Thus get intellisense and type checking in IDES.
• The YAHOO.extend of YUI components may be a little
tricky.
• Share WebScripts: since TS compiles to JS you could
use it for basic webscripts
• Alfresco WebScripts: It may be possible to have TS
definition file for what root scope objects and typed
apis are available from this env

10. Links to Find out more
• http://www.typescriptlang.org/
• http://www.typescriptlang.org/Playground/
• http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Anders-Hejlsberg-
Introducing-TypeScript
• https://github.com/borisyankov/DefinitelyTyped
• http://code.google.com/p/flexspaces/
• http://code.google.com/p/cmisspaces/
• www.integratedsemantics.org blog
• www.integratedsemantics.com
• Twitter: @stevereiner