TypeScript for Alfresco and CMIS
Steve Reiner
CTO
Integrated Semantics

JS++ Search
• Seeking something close to ActionScript that
can translate to JavaScript
• Close to ActionScript would make it easier to port
ActionScript in multiple large Flex applications
(FlexSpaces, CMIS Spaces, FlexibleDashbord) and
ActionScript libraries (such as Grebulon XMLA
OLAP) to this JS++
• By being ActionScript like, would also be a good
productive language for large apps (static typing,
class syntax, interfaces,etc.)
• Also like IDEs / intellisense (Flash Builder, etc.)

JS++ Search
• Use ActionScript and translate to JavaScript
• Jangaroo Compiler and ActionScript API to ExtJS
developed by CoreMedia AG
• FalconJS from Adobe (Adobe is slow in getting this to
Apache Flex, still not available)
• Approach not taking off with developers, better things
coming along: Dart and TypeScript
• Dart from Google
• Nice language, nice html and core libraries, good IDE with
integrated debugging, can use on server too
• InterOp with JavaScript is awkward and more work
• Only “modern web browsers” supported (not old versions)
• Others: Haxe, Opa, JavaScript++, CoffeeScript, etc.

TypeScript
• Despite coming from Micro$oft (hold your nose) its
actually seems like the best approach
• Extends JavaScript, all JavaScript code is valid
TypeScript (Dart is JavaScript like, but still a new
language)
• Open Source (Apache 2.0)
• Using coming ECMAScript 6 for parts it has (class
and interfaces), adding typing and modules
• Optional typing like Dart
• Can use for node.js serverside code, tsc cmd line
compiler can install as node.js pkg (compiler written
in typescript)

TypeScript
• Can have typed interface wrapper for existing
JavaScript libraries in declaration / definition files
(d.ts) without having to modify original js library files
• Seeing good bit of existing javascript libraries have
typescript definition files created within 2-3 weeks
after TypeScript was announced was very
impressive (see DefinitelyTyped repo in github)
(compared to slow pace of libraries being ported to
Dart)
• Note: TypeScript is in Preview phase, not final, but
since output-ed JavaScript is JavaScript and no
runtime libs there is somewhat less risk

TypeScript IDES
• Visual Studio 2012 with TypeScript plugin
• Can debug TypeScript code in VS and run in IE
• Can debug in debuggers in recent Chrome and FireFox
(need to manually add –sourcemap to tsc build line in VS
project files)
• Free Express version of Visual Studio 2012 can be
used (WebEssentials plugin with side compare JS
feature can’t be used in the express version)
• Also MS WebMatrix can be used, syntax files for
Sublime Text, Vi, and Emacs.
• JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA EAP has some support
• No Eclipse yet (thought Dart Editor could be changed
to work with TypeScript)

TypeScript Alfreso and CMIS apis
• Will have a TypeScript definition wrapper for AlfJS by
DevCon SJ
• Will have a basic TypeScript defnition wrapper for any
CMIS.JS Alfresco has
• Also could have a CMIS api with interfaces and classes
more like the Java OpenCMIS client apis
• In porting CMIS Spaces libraries could port the as3
atompub code if CMIS.JS doesn’t happen or it is only for the
cmis browser binding
• Also will try and have TypeScript for Alfresco Cloud APIs
• In porting FlexSpaces to TypeScript will initially use custom
webscripts it has.
• Then will change to be able to use subset of features
without custom webscripts (use webscripts in place for
Share, thus a TypeScript wrapped more full featured AlfJS)

TypeScript based Clients / App
Components
• Plan to port both FlexSpaces and CMIS
Spaces to TypeScript
• Modify Jangaroo Compiler to do AS3 ->
TypeScript
• Use YUI3 and some other JS frameworks thru TS
defn wrappers
• HTML5/JS in browser, PhoneGap mobile, and
AIR/JS (for desktop drag in/out,native clipboard,
offline file syncing, etc.) packagings
• Support Alfresco Cloud too?

TypeScript Dashlets / WebScripts
• If there is interest:
• Share Dashlet clientside code: will try to put together a
sample dashlet done in TypeScript with TS defn
wrappers for YUI 2.x, some wrappers for Share base
components, etc.
• Thus get intellisense and type checking in IDES.
• The YAHOO.extend of YUI components may be a little
tricky.
• Share WebScripts: since TS compiles to JS you could
use it for basic webscripts
• Alfresco WebScripts: It may be possible to have TS
definition file for what root scope objects and typed
apis are available from this env

Links to Find out more
• http://www.typescriptlang.org/
• http://www.typescriptlang.org/Playground/
• http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Anders-Hejlsberg-
Introducing-TypeScript
• https://github.com/borisyankov/DefinitelyTyped
• http://code.google.com/p/flexspaces/
• http://code.google.com/p/cmisspaces/
• www.integratedsemantics.org blog
• www.integratedsemantics.com
• Twitter: @stevereiner