HaXe is an open source programming language that can compile code to multiple targets including Flash, JavaScript, C++ and PHP. It has an ECMAScript-like syntax and supports object oriented and functional programming. The HaXe compiler is very fast and includes code completion support for IDEs. Popular HaXe libraries include NME for desktop and mobile game development, Jeash for HTML5 games, and hxOpenFrameworks for creative coding. Performance benchmarks show HaXe code can be as fast or faster than code written in other languages for the same targets. Active community support is provided through mailing lists, Twitter, and blogs.

1. Introducing haXe
Software Freedom Day HK 2011
Andy Li
blog.onthewings.net

2. what is haXe?
● opensource
● programming language
● compiler
● multi-target! compiling to:
○ Flash(swf)
○ AS3
○ JS
○ PHP
○ C++
○ Neko
○ Java
○ C# demo: HaXenstein

3. haXe programming language
Test.hx
● ECMAScript-like
○ similar to AS3/JS
● type system: strong + dynamic
● OOP (and FP!)

4. haXe programming language
Test.hx
● type inference
● iterator
● generic type

5. haXe programming language
● inlining
● enum
● metadata
● macros
● remoting
● ORM (SPOD)
● ...

6. haXe tools
● haXe compiler
○ VERY fast
○ code-completion API for IDE integration
● haxelib
○ opensource library packaging tool
○ eg. haxelib install project-name

7. haXe libraries

8. NME
http://www.haxenme.org/
haxelib install nme
● Neko Media Engine
● Flash-API for C++/Neko target
● desktop
○ Windows
○ Mac
○ Linux
● mobile
○ iOS
○ Android
○ WebOS

9. Jeash
http://jeash.com/
haxelib install jeash
● Flash-API for JS target
● using HTML5 (canvas)

10. hxOpenFrameworks
http://github.com/andyli/hxOpenFrameworks
haxelib install hxOpenFrameworks
● openFramework binding for C++ target
● for creative coding, eg. generative art, installation art
● desktop only at the moment
○ Windows
○ Mac
○ Linux

11. HxSL
● haXe Shader Language
● using haXe macros & metadata
● compiles to AGAL for Flash 11
● probably compiles to GLSL/HLSL soon
● HxSL Studio

12. FAQ

13. performance?
● Evaluating spritesheet animations on mobile
NME(haXe/C++) vs Corona(Lua) vs Flash/Air(AS3)
● Multi-Language-Bench
haXe/C++ vs C++ vs Java
● AS3 vs haXe performance
benchmark with animated fractal
● More HTML5 & HaXe Speed Tests
haXe/JS is faster than plain JS!?

14. target platform libraries?
● Flash
○ RobotLegs (RobotHaxe)
○ GTween (GTweenHX)
○ Actuate
○ Flixel (Flixel-Haxe / HaxeFlixel)
○ FlashPunk (HaxePunk)
○ CasaLib (CasaHx)
● C++
○ wxWidgets(waxe)

15. target platform libraries?
● JS
○ jQuery (both as 3rd party and core)
○ Dojo Toolkit (bdog-dojo)
○ Modernizr (haXe-modernizr)
○ Node.js (bdog-node)
○ Titanium (desktop / mobile)
○ RaphaëlJS (raphaelExtern)

16. IDE?
● FlashDevelop
● FDT
● more...

17. community?
● mailing list
○ top haXe devs
● Twitter
○ #haxe
● blogs
○ a list of them
○ haXe roundup

18. Question?