How can I compile CoffeeScript from .NET?

Question

I want to write an HttpHandler that compiles CoffeeScript code on-the-fly and sends the resulting JavaScript code. I have tried MS [JScript][1] and IronJS without success. I

Answer 1

I don't have a direct answer, (I hope you find one), but maybe take a look at the following to see how it might be done.

• Jint - JavaScript interpreter for .NET
• Using IKVM to compile Rhino would get rid of the Java runtime requirement.
• jcoffeescript. I haven't looked at jcoffeescript, but I think it depends on JRuby and Rhino. You could possibly IKVM.NET this as well.

Answer 2

IronJS now supports CoffeeScript and is generally faster than the other .NET JS engines:

I have a blog post about wiring the two together here:
http://otac0n.com/blog/2011/06/29/CoffeeDemo-A-Simple-Demo-Of-IronJS-Using-CoffeeScript.aspx

Answer 3

Instead of shelling out to CScript you could shell out to Node.js (here are self-contained Windows binaries)

Answer 4

I wrote an inteructive shell using v8.

https://github.com/mattn/coffee-script-v8

This work as single executable file. (Don't use external files) It can't use require(). But enough to learn coffeescript.

Answer 5

I've managed to compile CoffeeScript from .NET using IKVM, jcoffeescript and Rhino. It was straightforward, except that the JCoffeeScriptCompiler constructor overload without parameters didn't work. It ran OK with a java.util.Collections.EMPTY_LIST as parameter.

This is how I did it:

1. Download IKVM, jcoffeescript and Rhino.
2. Run ikvmc against js.jar, creating js.dll.
3. Run ikvmc against the jcoffeescript jar.
4. Add a reference to the jcoffeescript dll in Visual Studio. More references may be needed, but you will be warned about those.
5. Run new org.jcoffeescript.JCoffeeScriptCompiler(java.util.Collections.EMPTY_LIST).compile() in your code.

The next step would be to create a build task and/or an HTTP handler.

Answer 6

You specifically said that you wanted to write a runtime compiler, so this may not be exactly what you are looking for, but if the main point is to have a way to generate the javascript result, the Mindscape Web Workbench is interesting. It is a free extension for Visual Studio.NET 2010 and available in the Extension Manager. It gives Intellisense, syntax highlighting and compiles to JS as you write. I am just getting started using it but looks promising. Scott Hanselman talks about it here. It also supports LESS and Sass.