JavaScripting

The static typing and linking and altogether structure of Java is essential for some types of development. On the other hand, sometimes its a hinderance. Sometimes you just need something to get done quick and dirty-- maybe its a proof of concept or a prototype and you dont want to worry about the strong syntax of Java. For this there is scripting languages where you can do such things as change an objects inheritance hierarchy at runtine, add methods on the fly, reassign perfectly good methods to completely other methods, and all sorts of things that would make people cringe if you could do it in Java proper. Not that Java should be abondoned for these iconoclastic programming practices. Rather, we just need to learn when to use them and how to integrate them with your Java development.

Here are links to some of the biggies right now.

• Jython: http://www.jython.org
• JRuby^?: http://jruby.sourceforge.net/
• Rhino^?: http://www.mozilla.org/rhino/
• Seppia^?: http://www.seppia.org/
• Jacl^?: http://tcljava.sourceforge.net
• BeanShell: http://www.beanshell.org
• JudoScript: http://www.judoscript.com
• Skij^? (Scheme): http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/tech/Skij/
• Kawa^? (Scheme) http://www.gnu.org/software/kawa/
• SISC^? (Scheme) http://sisc.sourceforge.net/
• Groovy: http://groovy.codehaus.org/
• Pnuts^?: http://pnuts.dev.java.net/

A fairly definitive list is available at http://www.robert-tolksdorf.de/vmlanguages.html#scripting.

Another list is here: ScriptingLanguages

These engines can either be embedded individually or you can opt to use the BeanScriptingFramework. BSF provides a unified interface to any of the supported scripting languages.

Also see JSR 223 Scripting for the Java ™ Platform

Discussion about JavaScripting

Why isn't this under JavaScript? -- Main.redwolf - 31 Dec 2004

Because JavaScript is a scripting language, while JavaScripting is about using scripting languages in Java programs. -- XiXaQ^? - 06 Apr 2006