Google has unveiled Dart, its new programming language for writing web applications. In a blog post, Dart software engineer Lars Bak explained that the goal is to create a "structured yet flexible" language that performs well in all environments and is easy to learn.
He also writes: "Dart code can be executed in two different ways: either on a native virtual machine or on top of a JavaScript engine by using a compiler that translates Dart code to JavaScript. This means you can write a web application in Dart and have it compiled and run on any modern browser."
Gotocon.com attendees were this morning given a detailed briefing on the inner workings of Dart. Tweeting from the conference, Lanyrd developer Jake Archibald wrote: "So far, Dart looks like a JavaScript wish list rather than something justifiable as a whole new thing. JS should take the good bits".
He followed up with "JS could make it quickly irrelevant by adopting the good bits" and "Hopefully it'll give JS a kick in the scruttocks when it comes to adopting optional typing and classes".
We spoke to developer Ross Bruniges who gave this view: "In a nutshell I don't see the point of Dart at the moment, in the same way that I don't see the point of CoffeeScript, HAML or SASS. It feels like something created to allow people who can't or won't learn what I consider the core components of the web: HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
"We can already create mind-blowing functionality using these technologies. For instance, at Fronteers last week I saw Seb Lee Delisle use JavaScript to access the audience's 500+ smartphones and devices, detect their location and then run a Nyan Cat between them. It feels like people just like tinkering with something that while has limitations doesn't seem to stop people from creating incredible things with it."
Google unveils Dart
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