DuoCode lets you cross compile C# code into JavaScript. Although it will be a commercial product developers are invited to apply for beta invitations and a public beta version is expected shortly.

DuoCode is integrated with the Visual Studio IDE and uses Microsoft’s .NET compiler platform (formerly known as Roslyn) to analyze the C# code.

Roslyn is used for the code-parsing, syntactic tree (AST) generation, and contextual analysis. The code is then handed over to DuoCode for code translation and the generation of the JavaScript code and source maps.

According to the DuoCode development team, while JavaScript is ideal for writing applications that run in the browser, it’s not always possible (or viable) to rewrite significant parts of core business logic in JavaScript, continuing:

“There have been many attempts over the years to create languages that translate to JavaScript (TypeScript, CoffeeScript, to name a few), but none really provide the raw power and tooling, available to C# developers. Until now!”

DuoCode uses the Roslyn compiler, now known as the .NET Compiler Platform. The developers say this allows DuoCode to:

 “fully ‘understand’ C# and all of its features (including the new C# 6 language features), and accurately convert them to corresponding JavaScript.”

They say that DuoCode supports things like Generics, Reflection, LINQ and dynamic, while providing full Visual Studio support for IntelliSense, syntax highlighting, and even debugging your original C# code in your browser.

The above image is from a brower-based demo that was written in C# to compiled to JavaScript using DuoCode. Click on the image to go to  duoco.de/samples/webgl/index. Pressing F12 lets you see the source code and if you enable source-maps in your browser you can debug the C# code directly.

DuoCode will be commercial and not open source, and is aimed at companies who have large quantities of pre-existing C# projects that they want to reuse in JavaScript. The beta version can be used until June 30, 2015.

Comments

Make a Comment or View Existing Comments Using Disqus

or email your comment to: comments@i-programmer.info