System and method for synthesizing object-oriented high-level code into browser-side javascript

• US 20070055964A1
• Filed: 09/05/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Morfik Technology Pty Ltd. (Altium Limited)
• Original Assignee: Morfik Technology Pty Ltd. (Altium Limited)
• Inventors: Besharati, Shahram, Mirkazemi, Aram
• Application Number:
  US11/516,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20070055964A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/140
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/24 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/41 Compilation

Abstract

A system and method are provided to enable developers of web sites and software applications to code in an object-oriented high-level language that is compiled into a browser-side JavaScript which can be natively interpreted by a browser. This enables developers to program in a high-level language of choice to create browser-side web applications, instead of directly using the target lower-level language JavaScript.

Claims

1. A method to compile a web application programmed in a high-level language into browser-side JavaScript comprising:

reading at least one source file comprising the high-level language;

parsing the at least one source file to generate a semantic map to provide a structured representation of information contained in the at least one source file; and

emitting browser-side JavaScript from the semantic map, the JavaScript being produced by walking over nodes of the semantic map.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein unneeded information consisting of white space or comments is removed before generating the semantic map.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the semantic map is an abstract syntax tree which is a finite labeled directed tree where internal nodes are labeled by operators and leaf nodes represent operands and node operators.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the nodes in the semantic map are comprised of objects which are instances of various classes descending from a common base class.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein during the walk over the semantic map:

an appropriate infrastructure code is emitted when a type or class definition is encountered;

a declaration and an initial assignment are emitted for each variable that is encountered;

a declaration is emitted for each constant that is encountered;

a declaration is emitted for each function that is encountered; and

JavaScript is emitted which embodies each statement that is encountered.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the at least one source file is compiled to server-side executable code, further comprising:

emitting a stub routine for each routine or method representing a server-side operation to provide an interface that is callable by any portion of the browser-side JavaScript;

emitting intermediate code from the semantic map wherein the intermediate code is high-level language code which embodies server-side elements comprising the at least one source file to be executed in concert with the browser-side JavaScript, the intermediate code being produced by walking over the nodes of the semantic map and producing high-level language source code representative of server-side constructs found in the semantic map;

reading the intermediate code; and

compiling the intermediate code to server-side binary executable code.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein producing the high-level source code consists of mapping the semantic map to a high-level language similar to the high-level language used to program the source file from which the semantic map was derived.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the server-side binary executable code comprises at least one of a) an implementation of each server-side routine declared in the at least one source file and b) at least one support routine to assist in the implementation of a remote procedure call.

9. A method for producing a web application that runs natively in a browser, comprising:

writing in a high-level language to develop a source file;

parsing the source file to produce a semantic map; and

processing the semantic map by emitting browser-side JavaScript comprising at least one dispatcher having a set of parameters to invoke a code segment utilizing the same set of parameters.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the high-level language comprises a high-level language from among the programming languages consisting of Ada, C, C++, C#, COBOL, ColdFusion, Common Lisp, Delphi, Fortran, Java, Object Pascal, SmallTalk, Visual Basic, and Visual Basic.NET.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the high-level language comprises a statically typed high-level language selected from among the programming languages consisting of Ada, C, C++, C#, Delphi, Fortran, Java, Object Pascal, SmallTalk, Visual Basic, and Visual Basic.NET.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the high-level language is strongly typed and comprises a high-level language selected from among the programming languages consisting of Ada, C#, Delphi, Fortran, Java, Object Pascal, and Visual Basic.NET.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the statically typed source file is directly compiled or compiled just-in-time.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing an integrated design environment to facilitate writing the source file.

15. A system for producing a web application that runs natively in a browser, comprising:

a computer and software under control of a user for writing in a high-level language to develop a source file;

the software running on the computer for parsing the source file to produce a semantic map; and

the software running on the computer for processing the semantic map by emitting browser-side JavaScript comprising at least one dispatcher having a set of parameters to invoke a code segment utilizing the same set of parameters.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the high-level language comprises a high-level language from among the programming languages consisting of Ada, C, C++, C#, COBOL, ColdFusion, Common Lisp, Delphi, Fortran, Java, Object Pascal, SmallTalk, Visual Basic, and Visual Basic.NET.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the high-level language comprises a statically typed high-level language selected from among the programming languages consisting of Ada, C, C++, C#, Delphi, Fortran, Java, Object Pascal, SmallTalk, Visual Basic, and Visual Basic.NET.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the high-level language is strongly typed and comprises a high-level language selected from among the programming languages consisting of Ada, C#, Delphi, Fortran, Java, Object Pascal, and Visual Basic.NET.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the statically typed source file is directly compiled or compiled just-in-time.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising an integrated design environment to facilitate writing the source file.