Nativescript: A code converter: Objective-C to TypeScript and Java to TypeScript

[hkosev]

It would be really convenient to have a code converter that can convert Objective-C / Java code to TypeScript (using the NativeScript's paradigms).
Converting manually larger chunks of Objective-C / Java code is not fun.

[chrene]

That's not really possible or convenient imho. Also why would you rewrite (assuming working) code?

[pitaj]

Also, why would you ask this project? Ask the TypeScript people to do this.

[bundyo]

For native Java/Objective C calls within NativeScript. Not really connected with TypeScript as a language.

This idea can be further extended by doing a Chrome extension for instance which would allow directly copying NativeScript code from Android/iOS documentation code examples. That would be really convenient.

[N3ll]

We discussed this within the team and agreed this is not immediate, not even a long-term priority. Closing for now.

[toddanglin]

+1 This would be helpful for growing the community that can build NativeScript wrappers around popular iOS/Android libraries.

[speigg]

@toddanglin Why? A code converter doesn't seem necessary given how simple it is to create plugins that wrap Obj-c / Java exposing the same apis to the nativescript runtime.

[toddanglin]

Well...I don't think it's intuitive to everyone (at least, not without some practice) how you "convert" the ObjC/Java syntax in to the appropriate JavaScript for NativeScript. A converter would be both a helper for that process AND an educational tool to help people learn by example how you map ObjC/Java to {N} JavaScript.

[MrCroft]

So... 5 years later, trying to do my own plugin. Even got an Egghead subscription for a course on building plugins and I still have no idea how to write this into typescript: https://www.twilio.com/docs/chat/tutorials/chat-application-ios-obj-c
Seems to be a case-by-case basis, watched the course twice, but TwilioChat code seems to have a lot more stuff than the course presents.
Lost days on this and it still feels like I haven't spent one minute on it.
An automated tool that turned Java and Objective-C and/or Swift into TypeScript for a plugin would have been really useful, even if not perfect.

I guess writing plugins is only for those that also know Objective C and Java. Although, one of the main advantages of NativeScript should be to not have to learn that, and to simply use TypeScript/JavaScript.

[demetrius-tech]

This would be really helpful. I am stuck for one week now to translate a CoreNFC Objective C code to TypeScript. Do you think that the effort isn't worth it?