Could this be a new way to build?
This is what happens when I get excited about something. At WWDC in 2014, Apple announced that JavaScript would be supported as a native scripting language. That nugget of information got stuck in my brain. I spent evenings and weekends over the next months researching what the change meant. And what new things were possible.
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Hats worn
Research, development, design, writing, speaking
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Code used
JavaScript, Objective-C, Cocoa
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Platform
Mac OS X
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Timeframe
2014, 2015
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Repo
TODO: This page needs a thorough edit. For clarity, story, and I’m sure spelling and grammar.
After I proved to myself that I could produce a working native app with JavaScript I set out to share what I found with other people. For the most part, the results were met with enthusiasm and positive feedback. I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome from something that was just a fun thing to do.
I didn’t do much with it for while. Then, I got word that my talk proposal on the topic was accepted by MidwestJS 2015. In the months leading up to the conference I dove back and learned how all the pieces worked together again to put together a talk. During that time I also experiemented with a build process for it using webpack and started a jQuery-esque UI library for JXA called Starstuff.
Speaking
I was able to take my show on the road with this one. What I enjoyed most about developing these talks was getting the chance to revisit the topic. Each time I’m back to the project I could see it with fresh eyes and come up with new things I couldn’t before because I was too deep in.
MidwestJS 2015
This was my first proper conference talk. I’ve had plenty of proposals rejected over the years, but this one made it in. As I was developing this talk, I started a small UI library project. I never did anything with it after the talk, but I called it Starstuff and it’s still available on GitHub. Maybe I’ll have a reason to revive it one day.
There’s a video of the talk on YouTube. I’ve been told it’s good, but still can’t bring myself to hear my own voice so I’ve never seen it.
![A slide with the title; 'The Objective-C Bridge' over a black and white photo of a bridge over a river that I morphed and skewed.](/images/work/jxa/jxa-midwest-js-objc-bridge.jpg)
![A slide with the title; 'There's Got to Be a Better Way' over a black and white photo of a man's face that I Photoshopped to look like it's melting.](/images/work/jxa/jxa-midwest-js-better-way.jpg)
![A slide showing a representation of a JS to Browserify to osacompile to OS X App build process.](/images/work/jxa/jxa-midwest-js-build-process.jpg)
![A slide with the title; 'Demo' and a black and white photo of a hyena that I Photoshopped to be all wobbly and blurry.](/images/work/jxa/jxa-midwest-js-demo.jpg)
![A slide showing Chip thinking about data type conversion between 'JS Land' and 'Obj-C Land'. Has a subtitle of 'Syntax' at the bottom.](/images/work/jxa/jxa-midwest-js-syntax.jpg)
![A slide with the title; 'starstuff.js, A UI Library for JXA' over a black and white photo of a space shuttle in space that I Photoshopped to be all wobbly and grainy.](/images/work/jxa/jxa-midwest-js-starstuff.jpg)
JerseyScript, November 2014
In the early days of Jenn’s EXTREMELY CHILL social gathering, she invited folks to give short talks. I used this as a wonderful excuse to make Springsteen-themed slides. Something I hope to get to do again.
![A slide with the title; 'Building OS X Apps with JavaScript'. The 'OS X Apps' is in block lettering with photos of New Jersey filling them in. with 'Tyler Gaw' in cursive handwriting at the top and 'JerseyScript • Nov 11 2014' at the bottom. This slide is an homage to Bruce Springsteen's album; Welcome to Asbury Park.](/images/work/jxa/jxa-jerseyscript-title.jpg)
![A slide with the title; 'JavaScript for Automation' and subtitle 'How to Run'. This slide is an homage to Bruce Springsteen's album; Born to Run.](/images/work/jxa/jxa-jerseyscript-run.jpg)
![A slide with the title; 'Jerscript U.S.A/Thank You'. This slide is an homage to Bruce Springsteen's album; Born in the U.S.A.](/images/work/jxa/jxa-jerseyscript-thanks.jpg)
Recognition
- An email from former Apple automation product manager, Sal. He sent me a short note to say he saw the post and thought it was cool and thanks for working with the technology. Of all the recognition I got for this project, this felt the best.
- Got horse_js’d
- Hacker News front paged 🤔