How to translate JavaScript or TypeScript to Dart?

[jodinathan]

Hi,

Could we use this package to translate JS or TS files to Dart?
What do we need to do to make it possible?

[renggli]

Sure, that is definitely possible: You would need a JS/TS parser (that you could write with this package) and a visitor that converts the parsed result to Dart. I've written similar tools in the past to convert some of my Smalltalk code to Dart (i.e. the initial versions of this package).

Unrelated to this package: While I suspect this will be quite easy for control structures and functions (they are pretty much the same in Dart, TS and JS), it will become pretty challenging to fully automate when it comes to more complicated constructs like types, classes, interfaces, imports, etc.

[gmpassos]

FYI:

Take a look in the package ApolloVM (that uses PetitParser):

https://pub.dev/packages/apollovm

ApolloVM can run and also can convert from one language to another.

If you implement the JS grammar and also the TS grammar you will be able to make the conversion.

One of the TODOs of the project is JS support, so we can help in the development and tests for JS.

Here you can see a simple web example using it:

https://apollovm.github.io/apollovm_web_example/www/

Note that not all Dart and Java syntax is implemented yet.

[jodinathan]

I am very new to this petit/peg/grammar parser. So sorry if any noob/obvious question.

I guess there are some JS grammar out there for other parsers, but I have no idea if it could be used here, or give a start or nothing at all.
There is even the old js_facade_gen from google that could be a start.
What do you think?

[gmpassos]

You just need to implement a directory like that for javascript:

https://github.com/ApolloVM/apollovm_dart/tree/master/lib/src/languages/dart

You can use the Java files or Dart files as a start point.

[gmpassos]

If you need any help just open an issue at ApolloVM GitHub (in case you want to implement it as another language of ApolloVM).