📄 Getting Started with BoxLang – CFCamp 2025 Session with Luis Majano Explore the foundations of BoxLang, the next-generation dynamic JVM language created by Ortus Solutions, in this introductory session led by its creator, Luis Majano, at CFCamp 2025. This PDF contains the full slide deck from the session, walking attendees through the key concepts, syntax, and use cases of BoxLang, along with live coding examples and tips for building modern web applications. Ideal for developers seeking hands-on experience with a language designed to be modular, productive, and future-proof. A special thank you to the CFCamp team for providing us with the space to share our vision and help the community take its first steps with BoxLang. 🌐

1. Getting Started
www.boxlang.io

2. LUIS F. MAJANO
Your Host
• CEO Ortus Solutions
• Computer Engineer
• Creator of MANY things box!
• Documentation Weirdo!

3. Agenda
• What
• Features
• How

4. BoxLang is a modular dynamic language for the JVM, aiming
to make your development more productive, expressive,
functional, and available everywhere.
DYNAMIC : MODULAR : PRODUCTIVE

5. What is Boxlang?
• New language and runtime for the JVM
• Lightweight (7MB!) dynamic, loosely typed language
• Multi-Runtime
• Multi-Parser
• Modular + Extensible
• Can replace ColdFusion/Lucee installs
• Open Source + FREE 🎉

6. BoxLang +/++
• BoxLang +/++ Subscriptions
• Premium Modules + Features
• Support + SLAs
• CommandBox PRO
• Cache Connectors
• WebServer Connectors
• Server Sync
• Much more.
•https://www.boxlang.io/plans

7. BoxLang is a modular dynamic language for the JVM that
aims to make development more productive, expressive,
functional, and available everywhere.

8. Multi-Parsers : BoxLang + CFML + ???
• Our way to split with the old and bring in the new
• Transpile CFML into BoxLang
• JIT
• One-Time
• BoxLang is a NEW clean slate
• Our way to provide static analysis tooling
• Tons of features now in our IDE
• Two Transpilers In Planning: COBOL, Groovy
.cfc, .cfm
.bx, bxs, bxm

9. CFML Drop-In Replacement
• For Drop-In Replacement of CFML
• bx-compat-cfml
• Tools
• boxlang featureAudit <options>
• boxlang cftranspile <options>
.cfc, .cfm
.bx, bxs, bxm

10. File Types
.cfc
.cfs
.cfm
CFML Types
Lucee Only

11. Coming from CFML
https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/getting-started/overview/syntax-style-guide/cfml

12. Key Features
• 100% Java interop
• Auto Casting, type promotions, type contagion
• Extend Java, Implement Java, Import Java
• Classes (full OO, interfaces, abstract, static, etc)
• Closures and Pure Functions
• Unmodi
fi
able Types (Query, Array, Struct)
• Event-Driven Language
• Caching Engine + API
• Task Scheduling

13. Key Features
• Member functions
• Tag Islands
• Extend via Modules
• Meta programming
• Array/Struct Change Listeners
• All File operations use NIO
• Async Framework
• Much More…

14. How
• Install the JDK (21+ minimum)
• Install the binaries
• Install the IDE

15. Runtime Installers
• Each runtime can be di
ff
erent
• Installation
• Con
fi
guration
• Modules
• Please know this before hand
• Each runtime doc speci
fi
es it

17. BoxLang OS
• OS Binary
• Scripting
• Scheduling
• CLI Applications
• Installers
• Quick Installer
• Windows Installer
• OS Binaries
• boxlang
• install-bx-module
• boxlang-miniserver
• install-boxlang
https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/getting-started/installation

18. Binaries
https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/getting-started/installation
REPL
Code Execution
Transpiler
Compiler
Feature Audit
Scheduler
boxlang
Installer
Updater
Install-boxlang
List
Install
Install-bx-module
Create Miniservers
boxlang-miniserver

19. BoxLang Home
• User Home Folder: ~/.boxlang
• Compiled Classes
• Con
fi
guration Files
• Lib (Java Integration)
• Logs
• Modules
• Maven pom.xml
• Etc

20. BoxLang Modules
• Extra functionality in
• OS
• install-bx-module {moduleName}
• box install {moduleName}
• JDBC Drivers, mail, orm, ai, pdf,
markdown, etc

21. Demo

22. BoxLang CLI Apps

23. CLI Apps
• Execute
• *.bxs
• *.bxm
• *.bx -> main( args = [] )
• BIFS
• CLIGetArgs()
• CLIClear()
• CLIExit()
• CLIRead()
https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/getting-started/running-boxlang/cli-scripting

24. CLI Apps
• server.cli
• Execution Path
• CLI Arguments
• Positional
• Options
• Working directory
• Much more
https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/getting-started/running-boxlang/cli-scripting

25. CLI Options
• --option (option is true)
• --option=X (option is X)
• -o=X (shorter)
• --!option (option is false)
• --no-option (option is false)
https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/getting-started/running-boxlang/cli-scripting

26. SheBang Scripts
• Unix/Mac Scripts
•
#
!
/usr/bin/env boxlang
• Basically a *.bxs script
https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/getting-started/running-boxlang/cli-scripting

27. Scheduler
• A simple Class
• 1 method: configure()
• Several Injections
• Interact with a Scheduler Class
• Startup a scheduler
• boxlang schedule path.toScheduler.bx
https://apidocs.ortussolutions.com/boxlang/1.1.0/ortus/boxlang/runtime/async/tasks/BaseScheduler.html

28. BoxLang IDE

29. BoxLang IDE
• LSP Runtime
• Code Insight + highlighting
• Inline docs
• MiniServer
• Run CFML/BX Code
• Built-in debugger!

30. Tooling Overview
• More polished experience
• Dedicated toolbar and
panels
• Quick access to the
BoxLang community
• BoxLang REPL

31. Tooling - Integrated BoxLang Commands

32. Tooling - Home Manager
• Manage your runtime homes
• Clear class
fi
les
• Open home folder
• Easily manage con
fi
guration
• View log
fi
les
• Manage and install modules

33. Tooling - Version Manager
• Install and manage di
ff
erent versions
• Easily run CLI scripts and MiniServers with
speci
fi
c BoxLang versions
• A game changer for testing for regressions

34. Boxlang Debugger
• Breakpoints on any CFML/BX Code
• OS, MiniServer or CommandBox
• Pause Threads
• Change variables at runtime
• Watch variable expressions
• Conditional Breakpoints
• Live debug any BoxLang Enabled Server

35. Demo

36. BoxLang WebApps

37. Different Runtimes
• MiniServer
• CommandBox
• Servlet Deployments (war)
• Tomcat
• Jetty
• Resin
• Payara

38. MiniServer
• Lightweight Pure Java Web Server
• NOT a servlet engine
• Extremely fast
• Rewrites Enabled
• WebSockets
• Custom Home
• Custom Con
fi
gs
• ENV Support

39. MiniServer Can’t….
• SSL Port
• Multi-Site
• Server Rules
• WAF
• Security Rules
• CFCon
fi
g Support

40. CommandBox
• Recommend Enterprise Engine
• Open-Source -> CommandBox Open-Source
• BoxLang +/++ -> CommandBox PRO
• Multi-Site
• Automatic JDK management
• Cache Connectors
• Server Sync
• OS Service Manager

41. CommandBox

42. Demo

43. Further Study
• AWS Lambdas (Session Tomorrow)
• Schedulers
• Async Framework
• Modules
• Read the docs!
https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/

44. Q&A
The Future of Modern Development
Starts Here, with you! 🚀
www.boxlang.io