Script#

Script# allows programming against the DHTML DOM APIs and JavaScript APIs, as well as Silverlight 1.0 script API. The compiler itself isn’t coupled to any one particular framework. You can use Script# to program against Microsoft ASP.NET Ajax as well as other 3rd party frameworks such as ExtJS (via Ext#). At the same time, the compiler is complemented by an optional ScriptFX framework, which is a small framework built using Script# itself. Finally, if you have existing scripts, they can be imported and then used from new C# code so you don’t have to rewrite everything from scratch to start using Script#.

Scripts generated using Script# are honest-to-goodness plain old JavaScript files, that you can freely deploy into your applications, and there is no runtime dependency on the Script# compiler. You will need .NET 2.0+ and/or Visual Studio on your development machine. You can also use Visual C# Express which is available for free.

Productivity and better tooling are primary motivators behind Script#. At the same time, a fundamental design tenet and driving philosophy behind the design of Script# is to produce script that resembles hand-written script that is aware and faithful to the script runtime environment found in browsers. Specifically the compiler does not introduce unnecessary layers of abstraction or indirection. The idea is you’re simply writing script in a better and pragmatic way, rather than trying to port a .NET application to the browser, which is more likely to produce impractical results.

What you can build with Script# ProjectAjax Applications – Script# allows you to implement the Ajax code for your pages and mashups using a choice of frameworks. (see tutorial)

Ajax Frameworks and Components – Script# allows you to create reusable script libraries and components that can be consumed during further application development using either Script# or via direct JavaScript as well.

ASP.NET Ajax Server Controls – Script# can be used to develop script libraries containing components such as controls and behaviors that can then be embedded into server controls and control extenders.

Sidebar Gadgets – Script# can be used to program gadgets for Windows Vista by referencing the Gadget APIs, RSS Feed APIs and File System APIs in addition to the default DHTML DOM APIs. (see tutorial)

Script# Roadmap
The Script# project has been an on-going piece of work. The following are on the list for a v1 release during 2009 beyond what is available in the current and latest build:

Unit testing support

jQuery support

High priority bug fixes and improved Visual Studio integration

Longer term, there are a number of additional features on the roadmap such as:

Support for generics

Support for static linking and other script optimizations

Support for additional script APIs and scenarios

Besides features, the plan is to open source the Script# project following the v1 release