Real OOP with AutoIt? Meet JSAIO...

[MarkRobbins]

I've been thinking about this for the last couple of weeks, and I've finally got around to putting together a proof of concept.

As far as OOP goes, Javascript is a pretty damn good language -- very flexible, but lets look at some code. Here is a two button form for AutoIt written in Javascript.

var $=this;
var hgui;
this.MsgHandler_=function (m){
  if (m==$.AutoIt.GUI_EVENT_CLOSE) {
    $.AutoIt.GUIDelete(hgui);
    return true;
  }else if (m==button1) {
    $.AutoIt.Run("notepad.exe");
  }else if (m==button2) {
    alert('Thanks from a javascript alert box!');
  }
  return false;
}
var button1,button2;
function Example1(){
  var msg;
  hgui=$.AutoIt.GUICreate("My Gui",400,500);
  button1=$.AutoIt.GUICreateButton("Run Notepad",10,10,200,30);
  button2=$.AutoIt.GUICreateButton("Press Me",10,40,200,30);
  $.AutoIt.GUISetState($.AutoIt.SW_SHOW,hgui);
}
Example1();

This code would reside in an external file and be called by AutoIt.

I've created a framework in AutoIt using AutoItObject that is just big enough to make this code work.

Basically I am creating an AutoItObject, tacking on some core AutoIt functions and constants, and sending it off to play in Javascript land. There is much more to be tacked on.

Other than this AutoItObject being a proxy for AutoIt functionality, there is a Javascript COM object into which the javascript file is loaded, and a message loop that calls back into the javascript.

The framework is 300 lines of code.

Before I extend this, I want to know if AutoIt ALREADY has a COM object I that I can use like this. But I am thinking that even if it does, this hand-coded way would be better because you can make the calls pass objects instead of parameters.

Here is the framework:

expandcollapse popup

#include <AutoItObject.au3>
#include <GUIConstants.au3>


Global $thisfile=@ScriptFullPath;
Global $logg=$thisfile&".log.txt";

Global $jsfile=$thisfile&".js";
;e C:\batch\borg\TestJsaio.au3.js

;fret not, you do not need, will be a no-op if not exist
Global Const $snarl="C:\batch\Snarl_CMD.exe";

; need script exit for AIO shutdown
OnAutoItExitRegister("EvtScriptExit")
_AutoItObject_StartUp()

; error handler
Global $oError
$oError = ObjEvent("AutoIt.Error", "_ErrFunc")

; JScript Com globals
Global $_ComObj_proxy
Global $_com
Global $_Js
JScriptInit()
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;done inits

;;;;;;;;;;; begin framework

; set up a mini framework of AutoIt Functions/constants and stick them on an object
Global $AutoItForCom=_AutoItObject_Create();
;_AutoItObject_AddMethod(ByRef $oObject, $sName, $sAutoItFunc, $fPrivate = False)
_AutoItObject_AddMethod($AutoItForCom,"GUICreate","GUICreate_AI")
_AutoItObject_AddMethod($AutoItForCom,"GUISetState","GUISetState_AI")
_AutoItObject_AddMethod($AutoItForCom,"GUIGetMsg","GUIGetMsg_AI")
_AutoItObject_AddMethod($AutoItForCom,"GUIDelete","GUIDelete_AI")
_AutoItObject_AddMethod($AutoItForCom,"MsgBox","MsgBox_AI")
_AutoItObject_AddMethod($AutoItForCom,"GuiCreateButton","GuiCreateButton_AI")
_AutoItObject_AddMethod($AutoItForCom,"Run","Run_AI")
;_AutoItObject_AddProperty(ByRef $oObject, $sName, $iFlags = $ELSCOPE_PUBLIC, $vData = "")
_AutoItObject_AddProperty($AutoItForCom, "SW_SHOW", $ELSCOPE_PUBLIC+$ELSCOPE_READONLY, @SW_SHOW)
_AutoItObject_AddProperty($AutoItForCom, "GUI_EVENT_CLOSE", $ELSCOPE_PUBLIC+$ELSCOPE_READONLY, $GUI_EVENT_CLOSE)


;;; here are the tie-ins that the object will call
Func GUICreate_AI($me,$title,$width,$height)
  #forceref $me
  ;GUICreate ( "title" [, width [, height [, left [, top [, style [, exStyle [, parent]]]]]]] )
  Local $rv=GUICreate($title,$width,$height)
  Return $rv
EndFunc
Func GUISetState_AI($me,$flag,$hwnd)
  #forceref $me
  ;GUISetState ( [flag [, winhandle]] )
  Local $rv=GUISetState($flag,HWnd($hwnd));need to covert Int32
  Return $rv
EndFunc
Func GUIGetMsg_AI($me,$advanced)
  #forceref $me
  Local $rv= GUIGetMsg ($advanced)
  Return $rv
EndFunc

Func GUIDelete_AI($me,$winhandle)
  #forceref $me
  Local $rv=GUIDelete($winhandle)
  Return $rv
EndFunc

Func MsgBox_AI($me,$flag,$title,$text)
  #forceref $me
  ;MsgBox ( flag, "title", "text" [, timeout [, hwnd]] )
  Local $rv=MsgBox($flag,$title,$text)
  Return $rv
EndFunc

Func GUICreateButton_AI($me,$text,$left,$top,$width=Default,$height=Default,$style=Default,$exstyle=Default)
  #forceref $me
  ;GUICtrlCreateButton ( "text", left, top [, width [, height [, style [, exStyle]]]] )
  Local $rv=GUICtrlCreateButton ( $text, $left, $top, $width, $height, $style, $exstyle)
  Return $rv
EndFunc

Func Run_AI($me,$program,$wkdir=Default,$show_flag=Default,$opt_flag=Default)
  #forceref $me
  ;Msg2("run",$program)
  Local $rv;
  If False Then
  ElseIf @NumParams==2 Then
    $rv=Run($program)
  ElseIf @NumParams==3 Then
    $rv=Run($program,$wkdir)
  ElseIf @NumParams==4 Then
    $rv=Run($program,$wkdir,$show_flag)
  ElseIf @NumParams==5 Then
    $rv=Run($program,$wkdir,$show_flag,$opt_flag)
  EndIf
  ;Run ( "program" [, "workingdir" [, show_flag [, opt_flag]]] )
  ;Local $rv=Run($program,$wkdir,$show_flag,$opt_flag)
  Return $rv
EndFunc
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; end of tie-ins

;;;;;;;;;; setup JScript COM obj
Global $jso=NewComObj()

; import our AutoIt Proxy into the jso
$jso.set("AutoIt", $AutoItForCom)

; read our javascript file
Global $ftext=FileRead($jsfile)

; set the file text up as a Main function
$jso.set_function("Main", "", $ftext)

; need to run our message loop in autoit code, but pass it back to JS land here
$jso.set_function("MsgHandler", "m", "return eval('this.MsgHandler_(m)');")

; hold on to your britches...
; this call will run through the js file and the file must do a setup and have a callback MsgHandler_
$jso.Main()

;; Message Loop
Local $end_if_true
Local $m
  While True
    $m=GUIGetMsg(0)
    $end_if_true=$jso.MsgHandler($m)
    ;Msg($end_if_true);
    If $end_if_true Then
      ExitLoop
    EndIf
  WEnd
Exit

;; the only thing worth looking at below this point is the _ComObj_init and friends
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;functions
Func EvtScriptExit()
  ;Msg("EvtScriptExit")
  _AutoItObject_Shutdown()
  ;_logline('EvtScriptExit')
  ;If IsObj($MidiMgr) Then
  ;  $MidiMgr.Terminate()
  ;EndIf
EndFunc

Func Msg($s)
  MsgBox(0,$thisfile,$s)
EndFunc
Func Msg2($t,$s)
  MsgBox(0,$t,$s)
EndFunc


Func logclear()
  FileDelete($logg)
EndFunc

Func _logline($line)
  logline($line)
EndFunc

Func logline($line)
  Local $fh1=FileOpen($logg,1);
  If $fh1<>-1 Then
    FileWriteLine($fh1,$line)
    FileClose($fh1)
  EndIf
EndFunc

Func logsnarl($line)
  logerr($line)
  snarl(10,'Fatal Error',$line)
EndFunc

Func snarl($i,$t,$s)
  If Not FileExists($snarl) Then
    Return
  EndIf
  $s1=StringReplace($s,'"',"'")
  $t1=StringReplace($t,'"',"'")
  $cmd=$snarl&' snShowMessage '&$i&' "'&$t1&'" "'&$s1&'"';
  Run($cmd)
EndFunc

;;;;js utils
; #FUNCTION# ==================================================================
; Name      : _ComObj_init
; Description  : Creates MS Windows Script control and deploy it as proxy for
;               AutoIt COM object binding.
; Syntax      : _ComObj_init([$VBScriptSupport = false])
; Parameter : $VBScriptSupport
;               By default JScript doesn't have alert() function, it is provided
;               by browser's window object.
;               We can emulate this using VBScript's MsgBox function, which is
;               performance hog because we need another ScriptControl instance.
;               Other advantage is to be able to execute other VBScript's methods
;               within function via vb.Eval() method.
;               This feature is disabled by default.
; =============================================================================
Func _ComObj_init ($VBScriptSupport = false)
  Local $_Script
  $_Script = ObjCreate("ScriptControl")
  $_Script.Language = "JScript"
  $_Script.Timeout = 60000
  ;$_Script.AddCode("var $=this,arrays=[],vb;function set_vbscript($) {vb=$;vb.Language='VBScript';vb.AllowUI=true;}function alert(s){if(vb)vb.Eval('MsgBox(Unescape(""'+s+'""), 0, ""Autoit"")')}function get_proxy(){return $}function new_object($){$=new Function('return{'+$+'}')();$.set=function(k, v){$[k]=v};$.unset=function(k){delete $[k]};$.set_object=function(k,$){this.set(k,new_object($))};$.set_array=function(){var v=[];for(var i=0;i<arguments.length;i++)v[i]=arguments[i];$.set(v.shift(),new_array.apply(this,v))};$.set_function=function(k,p,$){this.set(k,new_function(p,$))};return $}function new_array(){var v=[];for(var i=0;i<arguments.length;i++)v[i]=arguments[i];return v}function array_get($,k){return $[k]}function array_set($,k,v){return $[k]=v}var new_function=(function(){function F(r) {return Function.apply(this,r)}F.prototype = Function.prototype;return function(p,$){p=p.split(/\s*,\s*/);p.push($);return new F(p)}})()")
  ;a[a.length]=i;
  ;function new_array(){var v=[];for(var i=0;i<arguments.length;i++)v[i]=arguments[i];return v}
  Local $more= _
  "$.get=function(k){return $[k]};" & _
  "$.has=function(n){" & _
  "  for (var i in this){" & _
  "    if (i!=n){" & _
  "      continue;" & _
  "    }" & _
  "    if (!this.hasOwnProperty(i)){" & _
  "      continue;" & _
  "    }" & _
  "    if (typeof(this[i])=='function'){" & _
  "      continue;" & _
  "    }" & _
  "    return true;" & _
  "  };" & _
  "  return false;" & _
  "};" & _
  "$.keys=function(){" & _
  "  var a=[];" & _
  "  for (var i in this){" & _
  "    if (this.hasOwnProperty(i)){" & _
  "      if (typeof(this[i])!='function'){" & _
  "        a[a.length]=i;" & _
  "      }" & _
  "    }" & _
  "  };" & _
  "  return a;" & _
  "};" & _
  "$.set2=function(){" & _
  "  for(var x=0;x<arguments.length-1;x+=2){" & _
  "    this[arguments[x]]=arguments[x+1]" & _
  "  }" & _
  "};" & _
  "Array.prototype.item=function(n){" & _
  "  return this[n];" & _
  "};" & _
  "Array.prototype.has=function(v){" & _
  "  for(x=0;x<this.length;x++){" & _
  "    if(this[x]==v){return true;}" & _
  "  }" & _
  "  return false;" & _
  "};" & _
  "Array.prototype.asString=function(d){" & _
  "  var s='';" & _
  "  for(x=0;x<this.length;x++){" & _
  "    if(s==''){s=this[x];}else{s+=d+this[x];}" & _
  "  }" & _
  "  return s;" & _
  "};"
  $_Script.AddCode("var $=this,arrays=[],vb;function set_vbscript($) {vb=$;vb.Language='VBScript';vb.AllowUI=true;}function alert(s){if(vb)vb.Eval('MsgBox(Unescape(""'+s+'""), 0, ""Autoit"")')}function get_proxy(){return $}function new_object($){$=new Function('return{'+$+'}')();$.set=function(k, v){$[k]=v};"&$more&"$.unset=function(k){delete $[k]};$.set_object=function(k,$){this.set(k,new_object($))};$.set_array=function(){var v=[];for(var i=0;i<arguments.length;i++)v[i]=arguments[i];$.set(v.shift(),new_array.apply(this,v))};$.set_function=function(k,p,$){this.set(k,new_function(p,$))};return $}function new_array(){var v=[];for(var i=0;i<arguments.length;i++)v[i]=arguments[i];return v}function array_get($,k){return $[k]}function array_set($,k,v){return $[k]=v}var new_function=(function(){function F(r) {return Function.apply(this,r)}F.prototype = Function.prototype;return function(p,$){p=p.split(/\s*,\s*/);p.push($);return new F(p)}})()")
  If $VBScriptSupport = true Then $_Script.Run("set_vbscript", ObjCreate("ScriptControl"))
  Return $_Script
EndFunc
; =============================================================================

Func NewComObj()
  Local $com
  While True
    $com=$_com.new_object("")
    Sleep(30)
    If IsObj($com) Then
      ExitLoop
    EndIf
  WEnd
  Sleep(30)
  Return $com
EndFunc

Func JScriptInit()
  $_ComObj_proxy = _ComObj_init(true)
  $_com = $_ComObj_proxy.Run("get_proxy")
  $_Js = $_com.new_object("")
  $_Js.set_function("AIOSetProperty","o,n,v","o[n]=v;")
EndFunc

Func JS_SetProp()
  $_Js = $_com.new_object("")
  $_Js.set_function("AIOSetProperty","o,n,v","o[n]=v;")
  Return $_Js;
EndFunc

My main questions are...

1. Why doesn't this already exist, and where is it? and...
2. Why doesn't this already exist -- what wall am I headed for?

Edited July 31, 2013 by MarkRobbins

[jaberwacky]

What are all of the concepts that a language needs to be considered object oriented?

[MarkRobbins]

  On 7/31/2013 at 7:16 AM, jaberwocky6669 said:

What are all of the concepts that a language needs to be considered object oriented?

 

While you can 'do' OOP in any language, it can be very painful without support. When you think about it, OOP is about making miniature programs, self-contained and (as much as possible) unaware of the outside world.

Many OOP languages are strongly typed, to prevent you from sticking square pegs in round holes, and catching those mistakes at compile time.

Javascript is 'duck typed', meaning its objects are fluid and it is up to the programmer to decide if a particular object 'quacks like a duck'.

This is done by inspecting the object to see if it has a particular property or interface.

The main thing an OOP language must support is heritability, Javascript does a reasonable job of this but it does fall short in some sense, you have to boilerplate a lot of the heritability mechanism yourself.

Bright points of Javascript are:

• Functions are objects, can be passed
• It has a cool binding mechanism, where functions declared within functions can access variables within the enclosing scope. Its hard to explain, but once you get it, its very useful
• Objects are dynamic, and act like hash tables
• It has a very powerful Eval()
• Objects can be made up on the fly, no formal declarations or 'class makers' needed
• It has reflection, you can iterate through an object
• Its the most popular scripting language in the world

Compared to AutoIt, Javascript will:

• Get rid of the Globals nightmare, probably possible to write a very complex program with just a single global
• Allow Case Sensitive identifiers (which some will hate)
• Get rid of $ on identifiers (which I will LOVE)
• Provide potential code libraries to be used from the web (typecastjs.org), though many of these are web based, they could be ported
• Get rid of the parameter nightmare, just pass objects
• Dynamically create functions, objects and 'code' with Eval()
• Offer Easy Timers - SetInterval, SetTimeout
• Provides an easy, well established plugin-mechanism
• Base types (Number,String,Object,Array,Date,Bool) can be extended

 

For a great lecture on Js ...

[jaberwacky]

"Functions are objects, can be passed"

"Get rid of $ on identifiers (which I will LOVE)" 

I'm hoping that a later version of AutoIt will provide this.

"It has a cool binding mechanism, where functions declared within functions can access variables within the enclosing scope. Its hard to explain, but once you get it, its very useful"

I think those are called closures.

OK, so basically, not real oop in autoit but rather java oop in autoit?

Edited July 31, 2013 by jaberwocky6669

[Mat]

Javascript is the most popular scripting language in the world? Most used perhaps, but only because its the only choice for client side web apps. Doesn't mean its a good language.

[MarkRobbins]

  On 7/31/2013 at 8:43 AM, jaberwocky6669 said:

OK, so basically, not real oop in autoit but rather java oop in autoit?

 

Some would claim that java is TOO oop-y. Execution in the Kingdom of Nouns

Javascript!=Java

Its a common misconception that Js is not real oop, its just not classical oop ala C++ and the like.

[MarkRobbins]

  On 7/31/2013 at 8:47 AM, Mat said:

Javascript is the most popular scripting language in the world? Most used perhaps, but only because its the only choice for client side web apps. Doesn't mean its a good language.

<script type="text/vbscript">

Do you know of a better language for scripting? I mean language in terms of language features, not libraries.

I think its a good language, though it does have some flaws. For a not-good language, one would have a hard time explaining the rise of Js on the server side.

[LateArrival]

Forgive me for being somewhat critical but I struggle to see how shoehorning another language into autoit is a good idea.

I would much prefer Autoit or AutoitObject to evolve to be a fully fledged OOP language rather than masquerade it to something that it is not. I love autoit for its directness and simplicity in achieving tasks that would otherwise take you a lot of time to get through in another language.

At the same time my 10-20,000 lines of structured code (not anymore) can use the oop treatment.

So I would ideally prefer for Autoit or AIO to evolve to provide better OOP plumbing (i.e. events etc.) stuff you find in C# and .NET (there you go I said it). If found myself building similar “frameworks” that look like this:

#include 'System.au3'

#include 'System.Collections.au3'

#include 'System.ComponentModel.au3'

#include 'System.Diagnostics.au3'

#include 'System.Data.au3'

#include 'System.Messaging.au3'

#include 'System.Drawing.au3'

#include 'System.IO.au3'

#include 'System.Windows.au3'

#include 'System.Windows.Automation.au3'

#include 'System.Windows.Controls.au3'

#include 'System.Windows.Forms.au3'

#include 'System.Windows.Input.au3'

You can guess what’s in there and what they are supposed to do but I say “frameworks” because in reality it’s a mickey mouse attempt to dress up win api or au3 functions so that they behave like .net. It worked for a while but before too long you run into all sort of other issues.

Having been through this loop I really think it’s a waste of time. There is language that does this already. Its called C# and it runs on a framework that dos all this already and its called .NET and you can buy some thing like DevExpress or similar to sex it up.  

Autoit is still great. Just a few days ago it helped me sort through  150,000 images and save the day for a pretty major retailer all from code found in the help files. Thank you very much. I love Autoit but I am gonna have to give up trying to make it look and work like .NET J

Edited July 31, 2013 by LateArrival

[Mat]

Apparently the Node.js creator chose javascript because it had no io conventions so he could come up with his funky event based system, that made it so popular. Outside of web development, does javascript have many uses?

Python and ruby have pretty large feature sets. They are both used far more often than javascript for server side programming (and not because they've been around for longer like php). Python I know has most (if not all) the features listed above are there, and there are plenty more as well.

Personally I'd say lots of language features doesn't make a good language, and neither does being flexible. To me, a good language is something like C#, where if you gave 2 C# programmers the same task, their code would look very similar (and not because they are restricted by the language).

Edit: I hope I'm not sounding too cynical about your project. Nothing personal, I just don't like javascript. Probably because I was forced to use it in a couple of web development projects.

Edited July 31, 2013 by Mat

[MarkRobbins]

  On 7/31/2013 at 1:12 PM, LateArrival said:

Forgive me for being somewhat critical but I struggle to see how shoehorning another language into autoit is a good idea.

 

I think of it this way. On the language front, AutoIt is lacking, but on the library front it is pretty good. Somone at Netscape once remarked that Windows was just a bag of iffy drivers... which at the time, was kinda fair for an insult. So if we look at AutoIt and see it as a so-so language that has a nice bunch of calls... and those calls can be pretty easily clipped onto a COM object -- why would you stay in the language?

Your point about DotNet is well taken, but not even C# is Javascript. Its all about target size, do you want an elephant gun or a shotgun. Javascript gives informality and quick prototyping. I guess my point is that heavier armor has its cost.

To be fair, the objections that come to my mind would be the continuity and coding split, and the question of debugging. I guess my question for you is, why do you do AutoIt and not DotNet? Whats wrong with the best of both worlds?

That is, if it can be done. This is just a probe, I really didn't expect so much poo-pooing. Did AutoItObject receive that reception?

[MarkRobbins]

  On 7/31/2013 at 1:24 PM, Mat said:

 

 

  Quote

 

Outside of web development, does javascript have many uses?

ECMAScript is basis for ActionScript, which is Flex and Flash, both are not confined to the web and are used to create rich GUI desktop apps.

  Quote

 

I'd say lots of language features doesn't make a good language, and neither does being flexible

Javascript has many, many flaws. But something has to be said about a language that is so flexible that its mistakes can be rectified ad-hoc.

  Quote

 

if you gave 2 C# programmers the same task, their code would look very similar

 

Good thing for a production environment for sure.

I think your comments were pretty restrained for someone who dislikes javascript. I will ask the same question to you -- why not just develop in C# instead of AutoIt? I don't want to sound snarky, but shouldn't we all have a good answer to that? There must be a reason, and wouldn't that reason be better off in a language that supports OO?

 

[LateArrival]

  On 7/31/2013 at 2:57 PM, MarkRobbins said:

 Its all about target size, do you want an elephant gun or a shotgun. I guess my point is that heavier armor has its cost.

 

I guess in my case I need an elephant with a machine gun!

A lot of the low level stuff like handling windows, controls, trays, ini files - if you care for that - or hotkeys are not very accessible in WPF or are very counter-intuitive to work with.Do-able but a royal pain. On the other hand, wiring sophisticated GUIs together in AI is also doable but also a royal pain. I mean who wants to register WM_something to handle control events in 2013.

So there is no happy medium as I see it. Enough people have build some of the 'missing' features in WPF over the years so rather than trying to turn AI into something it is not perhaps the best course of action is to invest time in building up the features one needs in C#/WPF (or similar). I could be wrong but attempting to do the opposite  may be quite a huge task and there are always lots of people with varying needs and you can never keep everybody happy.

To be honest it would be too much for me to presume what is right or not for AI since I am new here and I have very healthy respect for anybody who can produce a language and run it successfully over many years. Anyway wasn't poo poing your idea but I just come to think that AI is a pretty good script language to automate windows applications. That is it I think...The rest is just mismanaged or unrealistic expectations (on my part at least).

[Mat]

  On 7/31/2013 at 3:16 PM, MarkRobbins said:

why not just develop in C# instead of AutoIt? I don't want to sound snarky, but shouldn't we all have a good answer to that? There must be a reason, and wouldn't that reason be better off in a language that supports OO?

I do. I do hardly any AutoIt scripting any more, apart from for very small desktop apps and utilities. For GUI programming, I could still write a GUI in AutoIt from scratch faster than I can do it in visual studio with the designer (and certainly a lot faster than I could do it in C# source code). AutoIt I could write a few hundred lines of script in notepad on someone elses pc, run it with a single standalone executable, and it will work first time (well... most of the time anyway). 

For me, C#, C++, AutoIt and python cover all my needs. None of them are perfect, I don't think a one-language-fits-all solution is possible.

But anyway. Don't let my grumbling stand in your way. Language development is great fun, its something I've had an interest in for years.

[LateArrival]

To Mat 

Btw if I got this right do you take:

 

43 38 48 31 30 4e 34 4f 32 with 43 31 32 48 32 32 4F 31 31 or without?

[MarkRobbins]

I've done some timing tests.

The message loop has to reside in AI and call into JSCOM using an eval.

1000 such calls take 626ms

Direct calls, without eval, into JSCOM

1000 such calls take 728ms (it is weird that eval is faster)

Calling an empty function on the AutoIt AutoItObject (calling out to autoit)

1000 such calls take 69ms

For direct speed comparisons of the languages...

100k loops of addition x=x+1 in AI take 174ms, in JSCOM take 12ms - 1450% faster

10k loops of string concatenation s=s&' '  in AI take 97ms, in JSCOM take 7ms - 1385% faster

100k loops of calling an empty function in AI take 559ms, in JSCOM take 64ms - 873% faster

 

[James]

Eval is not good.

[BrewManNH]

  Quote

 

I've done some timing tests.

 

 

For direct speed comparisons of the languages...

100k loops of addition x=x+1 in AI take 174ms, in JSCOM take 12ms - 1450% faster

10k loops of string concatenation s=s&' '  in AI take 97ms, in JSCOM take 7ms - 1385% faster

100k loops of calling an empty function in AI take 559ms, in JSCOM take 64ms - 873% faster

 

Not sure how you did the timing tests, but for me 100K "x += 1" gives me 44ms, string concatenation $s &= " " gives me 60ms, and calling an empty function 100K times gives me 104ms, using beta 3.3.9.12. In 3.3.8.1 I get 27ms, 64ms, and 68ms respectively. All things considered, the speed difference isn't all that bad, considering interpreted languages and all.

 

[MarkRobbins]

  On 8/1/2013 at 3:51 PM, BrewManNH said:

 

Not sure how you did the timing tests, but for me 100K "x += 1" gives me 44ms, string concatenation $s &= " " gives me 60ms, and calling an empty function 100K times gives me 104ms, using beta 3.3.9.12. In 3.3.8.1 I get 27ms, 64ms, and 68ms respectively. All things considered, the speed difference isn't all that bad, considering interpreted languages and all.

 

 

 

I don't know how you can say that about the speed diff, they are both interpreted. On my planet any difference over 2x is quite considerable. The addition loop executes in 0.06 the time, Concat 0.07, and empty fn in 0.1  -- those are huge.

 

Here are the AI Tests

expandcollapse popup

;loop additions
#cs
$time=TimerInit()
Global $end=100*1000
Global $x,$y=1
For $x=1 To $end
  $y=$y+1
Next
Global $t1
$t1=TimerDiff($time);174
Msg($t1)
Exit
#ce

;loop concat
#cs
$time=TimerInit()
Global $end=10*1000
Global $x,$y=''
For $x=1 To $end
  $y=$y&'x'
Next
Global $t1
$t1=TimerDiff($time);97
Msg($t1)
Exit
#ce

;loop empty fn
#cs
Func EmptyFn($x)
EndFunc
$time=TimerInit()
Global $end=100*1000
Global $x,$y=''
For $x=1 To $end
  EmptyFn(0)
Next
Global $t1
$t1=TimerDiff($time);559
Msg($t1)
Exit
#ce

Intel Xeon E5 2620

[Mat]

  On 8/1/2013 at 9:19 AM, LateArrival said:

To Mat 

Btw if I got this right do you take:

 

43 38 48 31 30 4e 34 4f 32 with 43 31 32 48 32 32 4F 31 31 or without?

Nope. I don't like them sweet. I like them hot and black

[MarkRobbins]

  On 8/1/2013 at 3:11 PM, James said:

Eval is not good.

 

It is the js eval I have to use if I calling into JSCOM with the msg loop, otherwise it hangs...

$jso.set_function("MsgHandler", "m", "return eval('this.MsgHandler_(m)');")

So the call looks like

Local $end_if_true
Local $m
  While True
    $m=GUIGetMsg(0)
    $end_if_true=$jso.MsgHandler($m)
    ;Msg($end_if_true);
    If $end_if_true Then
      ExitLoop
    EndIf
  WEnd
Exit