HaXe is a programming language that allows developers to write code once and deploy to multiple platforms like JavaScript, Flash and PHP. It aims to simplify web development by eliminating the need for separate codebases for each platform or language. Key features include cross-compilation, strong typing, code reuse across platforms and an emphasis on productivity over heavy IDEs. Popular uses of HaXe include games, visualization tools and client-server applications.

1. HaXe
Taming Web Development
(So we can spend time on more interesting things)

2. motivation
cross-platform
visualization
interaction

3. demotivation
bloated, expensive IDEs
dozens of languages
client-server code
browser quirks
applet speed

4. Luke, I’m your
father
ECMAScript The Grandfather of:
KJS (Konqueror)
actionscript
javascript
QtScript
(several others)

5. javascript vs. actionscript
you must have
been adopted javascript: based on ECMA ~ v.3
actionscript: based on ECMA ~ v.4
different:
method overloading restrictions
initialization behavior
garbage collection
native class APIs
global functions
error handling

6. virtually closed
source
virtual machines
Flash is most prevalent pres. tech.
video, fast/simple 2d rendering.
pseudo integration with css.
lightweight, portable.
but swfs are
completely closed source

7. Is there a better language for AVM2 than AS3?
Can I also target javascript with this language? October, 2005
What else?
Nicolas Cannasse
swfhacking
Open Source SWF Hacker
MTASC founder
AS3=>SWF compiler
Targets AVM(1/2) directly
improves AS3 performance

8. client source.js
source.swf
one language to source.hx
rule them all haXe
compiler source.so
actionscript
javascript
neko
php
c++ source.php
server source.n

9. Test.hx
not so different build.hxml
syntax is essentially the same
class files + main() => target
moved global functions to API
type inference test.swf

10. compiler
options
sets platform
optional dumps
extra libs/paths
vm versioning

11. AS3
JS
single API
integrated namespaces
universal methods
(XML, Math, Dates)
Parameterized Classes
(Array, List, Hash)
Native Data Types
Int, Float, Bool

12. all kinds of
goodies
fast compilation
strong and dynamic type checking
dynamic objects, reflection (c++)
contextual autocompletion (!)
inlining & generics (flash)
conditional compilation
packages & typing (js)
mixins & closures

13. Prizee scarygirl
who uses haXe?
growing from Euro flash game MyBrute
developer community to server
side applications.
Comapping.com github

14. hello hello hello world
compile single haXe source to
js, swf, php

15. javascript
team
vs. haXe team
actionscript php
team team

16. HaXe
in summary
streamlined development
complete unit testing
more productivity
better debugging
more flexibility
more agility
faster code
etc. etc.
etc.
More Time to do Interesting Things on the Web