Saturday 4 May 2013

Google Dart: New Programming language to replace JavaScript


Google Dart: Structured Web Programming language

Google has launched its much awaited mysterious DART web programming language. Ahh another programming language…, why does google launched a new language Google DART? What I read from web is that google is trying to replace JavaScript as main web scripting language. Over the years from Netscape Era JavaScript has evolved, formed a large based of Developers and has existing codes, framework and utilities, so I am not sure how far Google DART can go but this is a serious attempt to replace JavaScript much in the line of Chrome which was launched to replace Internet Explorer and What we see now is they are living happily with there own market share though Chrome is growing and snatching market share form other browsers.

Now let’s get back to Google Dart, according to leaked Memo, Google perceives that Security Problems of JavaScript cannot be solved by modifying or evolving language and it has tried to solve that on Google Dart: A structured web programming language on its own way.


Example of Google Dart Code
Let's see an example Hello World program in Google Dart, I bet you will see and understand it in one second if you written code in Java or C#.


  main(){
  print("Hello World from Google Dart");
  print("My Name is Google Dart and I am going to replace JavaScript");
  }

Nothing fancy simple and familiar syntax and that's what Google reiterate as one of design goal.
You can execute Dart Code in two ways either in native Dart Virtual Machine; Google is planning Dart support in Chrome and push other vendors to do the same.
Salient feature of Google Dart

Familiar Syntax: if you look Google Dart code you will easily able to understand what's going on because its syntax is quite similar to Java,Which is undoubted world famous programming language.Its is also similar to C# on same line.

High Performance: Dart is promising high performance from web browser to hand held devices to Server Side Execution.
Runs in Virtual Machine: Similar to Java Google Dart also run on Virtual Machine.
Google Dart is semi typed language where you can switch from typed to untype based on your need.


Open Source: Google Dart is open source project and it comes with set of tools for compiling and executing Dart Code. You can check dartlang.org for further details.
 

How Google Dart will get Popular

Google is doing its hard work to get Dart accepted by web developers and community and arranging support, tools and execution environment for Google Dart.

1. Google will provide support of Dart in Google Chrome by integrating native virtual Machine and it will encourage to Microsoft and Mozilla to do the same.

2. Google will provide a Cross Compiler which will convert Dart to ECMAScript 3 , so that it can run on Non Dart Browser. This will be the major step as getting Dart Virtual Machine integrated on all popular brower might take some time.
 
 
What is positive for Google Dart

Though Google Dart is a new programming language and anything new takes it time to get adopted and supported by community and that's the most difficult phase for language. Google Dart is not an exception but there are some positive facts which suggest that it can go a long way:

Technologically advanced: Dart is technological advanced than JavaScript and since it aims to fix security and other problems of JavaScript it will definitely have an appeal.

Google: Since language is developed and launched by Google, expect future support, marketing and strong backup from Google.
Familiar Syntax: Google Dart doesn't reinvent the wheel at least on language syntax it's quite familiar to Java and C# which gives it easy access of large community of Java and C# web developer.

Google Dart Cross Compiler: Cross compiler will make Dart running on browsers which doesn't have native Google Dart Virtual Machine, if google gets it right this would be the biggest point and can provide language an initial thrust.

High Performance: Google Dart Promises high performance from web browser, web Server to hand held devices
  
  
If you want to know more about Google Dart I suggest reading References

Dart homepage

Dart language specification [PDF]
Google Blogspot

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