JavaScript is an easy language, full stop. It isn’t perfect, but if I had to teach a language to eager newbies, I’d prefer JavaScript over C# or Java. But apparently, some folks think JavaScript is too hard. With Atlas, you are encouraged to use helper libraries so that you can write code like this.

Type.registerNamespace("Demo");

Demo.Person = function(firstName, lastName, emailAddress) {
    var _firstName = firstName;
    var _lastName = lastName;
    var _emailAddress = emailAddress;

    this.getFirstName = function() {
        return _firstName;
    }

    ...

    this.dispose = function() {
        alert('bye ' + this.getName());
    }
}
Type.registerClass('Demo.Person', null, Web.IDisposable);

Demo = new Object();
Demo.Person = function(options) {
  this.firstName = options.firstName;
  this.lastName = options.lastName;
  this.emailAddress = options.emailAddress;
}

Humor aside, there is a serious question here. Does it help to make one language look like another, like the C#-izing of JavaScript shown above? If it does help, is it a short-run, “training wheels” kind of thing, or a long run plan? If you’re building Ajax apps, drop a comment and let us know what you think.

Ad: Fortunately, there’s more to Atlas than the misguided C# veneer. We’ll be talking about some of the better parts at the Pragmatic Studio in Reston, VA, Feb 9-11.