.. -- coding: utf-8 -- .. :Project: metapensiero.pj -- readme .. :Created: mar 01 mar 2016 15:52:36 CET .. :Author: Alberto Berti [email protected] .. :License: GNU General Public License version 3 or later ..

====================================================== JavaScripthon: a Python 3 to ES6 JavaScript translator

.. image:: https://gitlab.com/metapensiero/metapensiero.pj/badges/master/pipeline.svg :target: https://gitlab.com/metapensiero/metapensiero.pj/commits/master :align: left :alt: tests status

.. image:: https://gitlab.com/metapensiero/metapensiero.pj/badges/master/coverage.svg :target: https://gitlab.com/metapensiero/metapensiero.pj/commits/master :align: left :alt: tests coverage

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.. figure:: http://s3.amazonaws.com/fossbytes.content/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Javascripthon-python-js-converter.jpg :alt: JavaScripthon :align: left :width: 750px

..

(image courtesy of fossBytes__)

__ http://fossbytes.com/javascripthon-a-simple-python-to-es6-javascript-translator/

It is based on previous work by Andrew Schaaf <[email protected]>_.

:author: Alberto Berti :contact: [email protected] :license: GNU General Public License version 3 or later

.. contents:: Table of Contents :backlinks: top

Introduction

JavaScripthon is a small and simple Python 3.5+ translator to JavaScript which aims to be able to translate most of the Python's core semantics without providing a full python-in-js environment, as most existing translators do. It tries to emit code which is simple to read and check. It does so by switching to ES6 construct when possible/required. This allows to simplify the needs of polyfills for many of the expected Python behaviors.

It is designed to be the first step in a pipeline that translates your Python code into something that a browser can understand. Usually it is used with tools like BabelJS__ and Webpack__ to prepare the final bundle that will be served to the browser. The steps from the source code to the bundle are the following:

1. JavaScripthon converts your Python 3.5+ code to ES6 JavaScript modules;
2. the BabelJS loader (configured inside Webpack or standalone) translates the ES6 JavaScript to ES5 so that the browser can understand it;
3. Webpack parses the resulting source code and packages your source code with its dependencies by analyzing import statements and emits a bundle.js ready to be served to the browser.

Along this process the corresponding source maps__ are read and integrated at every step, allowing you to place breakpoints on your original Python source files when working with the developer tools of your browser.

An example of such setup is provided in the examples directory.

__ http://babeljs.io/ __ http://webpack.github.io/ __ http://blog.teamtreehouse.com/introduction-source-maps

In addition to that, you can choose to do most these steps without using external JS tools. It comes with an embedded js interpreter__ that loads a standalone version of BabelJS and converts your code to ES5 JavaScript without the need to install anything else. In fact most of the the test you can find in tests/test_evaljs.py use the embedded interpreter to dual evaluate the source code (one time in Python, one time in JavaScript) and simply check that the results are the same.

__ https://github.com/amol-/dukpy

Thanks to that, JavaScripthon can also be used as a server-side library to translate single functions or classes that you want your browser to load and evaluate.

The interface with the JS world is completely flat, just import the modules or use the expected globals (window, document, etc...) as you would do in JavaScript.

Brief list of the supported Python semantics

The fact that JavaScripthon doesn't reinvent the wheel by reimplementing in Python many of the features available with JavaScript translators/transpilers allows it to be lean while implementing quite a decent set of the core Python semantics. These are, briefly:

• Misc

  • list slices;

  • list's append();

  • dict's copy(), update();

  • len();

  • print();

  • str();

  • type(instance);

  • yield and yield from;

  • async and await;

  • import and from...import to use any JS module (see import statements_);

  • callable();

  • hasattr(), getattr(), setattr();

  • template literals with tmpl('a string with ${substitution}');

  • simple Python 3.6+ f-strings_ (see Strings_);

  • template literals and tagged_templates (see Strings_);

  • names starting with d_ and dd_ will have that part replaced with $ and $$, respectively;

  • names ending with an underscore will have it removed. Useful for example with the AVA ES6 test runner which has a check named is;

  • __instancecheck__ to [Symbol.hasInstance];

  • int to parseInt;

  • float to parseFloat;

  • dictionary keys are unambiguous when ES6 translation is enabled. For example the following code gets translated correctly:

    .. code:: python

    a = 'foo' d = {a: 1} print(d[a])

    prints 1 in both Python and JavaScript, while it prints undefined when translated and evaluated in JavaScript without ES6.

.. _f-strings: https://docs.python.org/3.6/reference/lexical_analysis.html#f-strings

• Comparisons (see section Simple stuff_ for the details)

  • most of the basics;
  • isinstance() and issubclass();
  • element in container for use with lists, objects, strings and the new ES6 collections like Map, Set and so on;
  • identity checks: foo is bar;
  • chained comparisons like x < y <= z;

• Statements (see section Simple stuff_ and for statement_ for the details)

  • if...elif...else;
  • while loop;
  • for over list, over range, over plain js objects, over iterables (JS iterables);
  • try...except...finally with pythonesque behavior (see try...except...finally statement_ section for the details);
  • assert statement;

• Functions (see Functions_ section)

  • standard functions, generator functions, async functions;
  • parameters defaults;
  • keyword parameters;
  • parameters accumulators (*args and **kwargs), with some restrictions;
  • functions in methods are usually converted to "arrow functions" (the new ES6 syntax like (foo, bar) => foo * bar;) because they automatically keep this from the enclosing scope. Appending _fn to a function declaration will force the translation to a normal function;

• Classes (see Classes_ section)

  • single inheritance;
  • Exception classes for use with except statement;
  • class decorators and method decorators;
  • property descriptors;
  • special handling of property and classmethod descriptors;
  • async methods, generator methods;
  • non-function body members (i.e. member_of_class_Foo = bar);

License

This package is covered by the GNU General Public License version 3 or later. The code produced by it (i.e. the transpiled JavaScript) is your code, and you are free to choose whatever license you like. The only runtime that exists is the file snippets.py from which some utility functions are picked when necessary and transpiled together with your code. While it's distributed with the same license as the other source code, in its transpiled form will have the license you choose.

So, to summarize, the license of the this tool is GPL, but it doesn't extends to the products of this tool, on which you are free to decide.

__ https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html __ https://github.com/azazel75/metapensiero.pj/blob/master/src/metapensiero/pj/snippets.py

Installation

Python 3.5 is required because Python's AST has changed between 3.4 and 3.5 and as of now supporting multiple Python versions is not one of my priorities.

To install the package execute the following command::

$ pip install javascripthon

or, if you want install it from sources::

$ git clone https://github.com/azazel75/metapensiero.pj $ pip install -r metapensiero.pj/requirements.txt $ pip install metapensiero.pj

Usage

To compile or transpile a python source module, use the commandline:

.. code:: bash

$ python -m metapensiero.pj source.py

or:

.. code:: bash

$ python -m metapensiero.pj -5 source.py

to transpile.

A pj console script is also automatically installed:

.. code:: bash

$ pj --help usage: pj [-h] [--disable-es6] [--disable-stage3] [-5] [--transform-runtime] [-o OUTPUT] [-d] [--pdb] [-s STRING] [-e] [file [file ...]]

A Python 3.5+ to ES6 JavaScript compiler

positional arguments: file Python source file(s) or directory(ies) to convert. When it is a directory it will be converted recursively

optional arguments: -h, --help show this help message and exit --disable-es6 Disable ES6 features during conversion (Ignored if --es5 is specified) --disable-stage3 Disable ES7 stage3 features during conversion -5, --es5 Also transpile to ES5 using BabelJS. --transform-runtime Add trasform runtime as plugin during transpile -o OUTPUT, --output OUTPUT Output file/directory where to save the generated code -d, --debug Enable error reporting --pdb Enter post-mortem debug when an error occurs -s STRING, --string STRING Convert a string, useful for small snippets. If the string is '-' will be read from the standard input. -e, --eval Evaluate the string supplied with the -s using the embedded interpreter and return the last result. This will convert the input string with all the extensions enabled (comparable to adding the '-5' option) and so it will take some time because of BabelJS load times.

This offers many ways to test the framework, both the string conversion and the evaluation using the embedded JavaScript interpreter are very handy. For example:

.. code:: bash

$ pj -s '"foo" if True else "bar"' (true ? "foo" : "bar");

and evaluating the same statement:

.. code:: bash

$ pj -s '"foo" if True else "bar"' -e foo

You can even try more fancy ES6 features, like destructuring assignment:

.. code:: bash

$ pj -s "a, b, c = (2, 3, 5) \na+b+c" -e 10

You can use metapensiero.pj in python code as well.

.. code:: python

from metapensiero.pj.__main__ import transform_string

transform_string("print()")

Reporting Bugs

The main development repository is the one on gitlab__, the one on github is just a mirror so please report issues and feature requests there__.

__ https://gitlab.com/metapensiero/metapensiero.pj __ https://gitlab.com/metapensiero/metapensiero.pj/issues

Conversions Rosetta Stone

Here is a brief list of examples of the conversions the tool applies, just some, but not all.

Simple stuff

.. list-table:: Most are obvious
  :header-rows: 1

  * - Python
    - JavaScript

  * - .. code:: python

        x < y <= z < 5

    - .. code:: javascript

        ((x < y) && (y <= z) && (z < 5))

  * - .. code:: python


        def foo():
            return [True, False, None, 1729,
                    "foo", r"foo\bar", {}]

    - .. code:: javascript

        function foo() {
            return [true, false, null, 1729,
                    "foo", "foo\\bar", {}];
        }


  * - .. code:: python

        while len(foo) > 0:
            print(foo.pop())

    - .. code:: javascript

        while ((foo.length > 0)) {
            console.log(foo.pop());
        }


  * - .. code:: python

        if foo > 0:
            ....
        elif foo < 0:
            ....
        else:
            ....

    - .. code:: javascript

        if ((foo > 0)) {
            ....
        } else {
            if ((foo < 0)) {
                ....
            } else {
                ....
            }
        }


  * - .. code:: python

        str(x)

    - .. code:: javascript

        x.toString()

  * - .. code:: python

        yield foo
        yield from foo

    - .. code:: javascript

        yield foo
        yield* foo


Then there are special cases. Here you can see some of these
conversions. JavaScripthon cannot do a full trace of the sources, so
some shortcuts are taken about the conversion of some core, specific
Python's semantics. For example Python's ``self`` is always converted
to JavaScript's ``this``, no matter where it's found. Or ``len(foo)``
is always translated to ``foo.length``. Albeit this an API specific of
just some objects (Strings, Arrays, etc...), it is considered wide
adopted and something the user may consider obvious.

The rules of thumb to treat things especially are:

* Is it possible to think of a conversion that covers most of the use
  cases?

* Is ts possible to find a convention widely used on the Python world
  to express this special case?

.. list-table:: There are special cases
  :header-rows: 1

  * - Python
    - JavaScript

  * - .. code:: python

        ==

    - .. code:: javascript

        ===

  * - .. code:: python

        !=

    - .. code:: javascript

        !==

  * - .. code:: python

        2**3

    - .. code:: javascript

        Math.pow(2, 3)

  * - .. code:: python

        'docstring'

    - .. code:: javascript

        /* docstring */

  * - .. code:: python

        self

    - .. code:: javascript

        this

  * - .. code:: python

        len(...)

    - .. code:: javascript

        (...).length

  * - .. code:: python

        print(...)

    - .. code:: javascript

        console.log(...)

  * - .. code:: python

        isinstance(x, y)
        isinstance(x, (y, z))

    - .. code:: javascript

        (x instanceof y)
        (x instanceof y || x instanceof z)

  * - .. code:: python

        typeof(x)

    - .. code:: javascript

        (typeof x)

  * - .. code:: python

        type(x)

    - .. code:: javascript

        Object.getPrototypeOf(x)

  * - .. code:: python

        FirstCharCapitalized(...)
        new(any_function(...))

    - .. code:: javascript

        new FirstCharCapitalized(...)
        new any_function(...)

  * - .. code:: python

        foo in bar

    - .. code:: javascript

        var _pj;
        function _pj_snippets(container) {
            function in_es6(left, right) {
                if (((right instanceof Array) || ((typeof right) === "string"))) {
                    return (right.indexOf(left) > (- 1));
                } else {
                    if (((right instanceof Map) || (right instanceof Set)
                        || (right instanceof WeakMap)
                        || (right instanceof WeakSet))) {
                        return right.has(left);
                    } else {
                        return (left in right);
                    }
                }
            }
            container["in_es6"] = in_es6;
            return container;
        }
        _pj = {};
        _pj_snippets(_pj);
        _pj.in_es6(foo, bar);

  * - .. code:: python

        foo[3:]
        foo[:3]

    - .. code:: javascript

        foo.slice(3);
        foo.slice(0, 3);

  * - .. code:: python

        list(foo).append(bar)

    - .. code:: javascript

        foo.push(bar);

  * - .. code:: python

        dict(foo).update(bar)

    - .. code:: javascript

        Object.assign(foo, bar);

  * - .. code:: python

        dict(foo).copy()

    - .. code:: javascript

        Object.assign({}, foo);


``for`` statement

The for statement by default is translated as if the object of the cycle is a list but has two special cases:

.. list-table:: for loops :header-rows: 1

• • Python
  • JavaScript
  • notes

• • .. code:: python

    for el in dict(a_dict): print(el)

  • .. code:: javascript

    var _pj_a = a_dict; for (var el in _pj_a) { if (_pj_a.hasOwnProperty(el)) { console.log(el); } }

  • With this kind of loop if you use dict(a_dict, True) the check on hasOwnProperty() will not be added, so the loop will include inherited (and enumerable) properties.

• • .. code:: python

    for el in an_array: print(el)

  • .. code:: javascript

    for (var el, _pj_c = 0, _pj_a = an_array, _pj_b = _pj_a.length; (_pj_c < _pj_b); _pj_c += 1) { el = _pj_a[_pj_c]; console.log(el); }

• • .. code:: python

    for i in range(5): print(i)

  • .. code:: javascript

    for (var i = 0, _pj_a = 5; (i < _pj_a); i += 1) { console.log(i); }

• • .. code:: python

    for el in iterable(a_set): print(el)

  • .. code:: javascript

    var _pj_a = a_set; for (var el of _pj_a) { console.log(el); }

  • This will loop over all the iterables, like instances of Array, Map, Set, etc. but not over normal objects.

Functions

Functions are very well supported. This should be obvious, you can say. Really
it is not so simple, if we mean functions in their broader meaning, including
the  *async functions* and *generator functions*.

.. list-table:: The various types of functions at play
  :header-rows: 1

  * - Python
    - JavaScript
    - notes

  * - .. code:: python

        def foo(a, b, c):
            pass

    - .. code:: javascript

        function foo(a, b, c) {
        }

    - Normal functions

  * - .. code:: python

        def foo(a, b, c):
            for i in range(a, b, c):
                yield i

        for i in iterable(foo(0, 5, 2)):
            print(i)

    - .. code:: javascript

        function* foo(a, b, c) {
            for ... { // loop control omitted for brevity
                yield i;
            }
        }

        for (var i of foo(0, 5, 2)) {
            console.log(i);
        }

    - Generator functions. They return an iterable and to correctly loop over
      it you should use the ``iterable(...)`` call, so that the Python's
      ``for...in`` will be converted into a ``for...of``

  * - .. code:: python

        async def foo(a, b, c):
            await some_promise_based_async


    - .. code:: javascript

        async function foo(a, b, c) {
            await some_promised_base_async;
        }

    - Async functions. They make use of the new ``Promise`` class, which is
      also available.


Function's args and call parameters
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Parmeters defaults and keyword parameters are supported and so is ``*foo``
accumulator, which is translated into the ES6 rest expression (``...foo``).

The only caveat is that JS support for keyword args sucks, so you will have to
**remember to fill in all the arguments before specifying keywords**.

On function definitions, ``**kwargs`` is supported if it's alone, i.e. without
either keyword arguments or ``*args``.

.. list-table:: function's args and call parameters
  :header-rows: 1

  * - Python
    - JavaScript

  * - .. code:: python

        def foo(a=2, b=3, *args):
            pass

    - .. code:: javascript

        function foo(a = 2, b = 3, ...args) {
        }

  * - .. code:: python

        def bar(c, d, *, zoo=2):
            pass

    - .. code:: javascript

        function bar(c, d, {zoo = 2}={}) {
        }

  * - .. code:: python

        foo(5, *a_list)

    - .. code:: javascript

        foo(5, ...a_list);

  * - .. code:: python

        bar('a', 'b', zoo=5, another='c')

    - .. code:: javascript

        bar("a", "b", {zoo: 5, another: "c"});

  * - .. code:: python

        def zoo(e, **kwargs):
            print(kwargs['bar'])

    - .. code:: javascript

        function zoo(e, kwargs = {}) {
            console.log(kwargs['bar'])
        }

  * - .. code:: python

        zoo(4, bar=6)

    - .. code:: javascript

        zoo(4, {bar: 6})

Classes
~~~~~~~

Classes are translated to ES6 classes as much as they can support. This means:

* no direct support multi-class inheritance, you have to come up with your own
  solution for now. Many established frameworks support this in a way or
  another so just use those facilities for now. I've read of some attempts,
  see for example the suggestion on `Mozilla developer`__ or the other about
  `simple mixins`__ on ``Exploring ES6``.

* external implementation for class-level non assignment members. Assignment
  members are those on the body of a class which are defined with: ``a_label =
  an_expression`` like:

  .. code:: python

    class Foo:

        bar = 'zoo' # or any kind of expression

  These members are removed from the translated body and submitted to a
  snippet of code that will run after class creation in JS land. This serves
  two purposes: if the value is *simple*, i.e. it isn't an instance of
  ``Object``, it will be setup as a *data descriptor*, and it will work mostly
  like you are used to in Python. The most noticeable caveat is that it will
  not be accessible through the class as it is in Python, you will have to
  access the class' *prototype*, so in the case above i mean
  ``Foo.prototype.bar``.

  The other purpose is to check for *accessor descriptors*. If the value on
  the right side of the assignment implements a ``get`` function, it will be
  installed as a property as-is, and its *get* and *set* members will be used
  to manage the value with the ``bar`` name.

* external implementation for method decorators whose name is different from
  ``property`` or ``classmethod`` (more on these later on), because these are
  already supported by the ES6 class notation.

* external implementation for class decorators. One caveat here is that the
  return value of the decorator has always to be a function with a prototype:
  unfortunately a ``new`` statement seems not to be *delegable* in any way. So
  for example a class decorator implemented like the following:

  .. code:: python

    def test_class_deco():

        counter = 0

        def deco(cls):
            def wrapper(self, *args):
                counter += 1 # side effect
                return cls(*args)
            return wrapper

        @deco
        class Foo:
            pass

  will never work. This will work instead:

  .. code:: python

    def deco(cls):
        def wrapper(self, *args):
            counter += 1 # side effect
            return cls.prototype.constructor.call(self, *args)
        wrapper.prototype = cls.prototype
        return wrapper

  So either return the original class or setup the wrapper appropriately.


__ https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Classes#Mix-ins
__ http://exploringjs.com/es6/ch_classes.html#_simple-mixins


Methods can be functions or async-functions although the latters aren't
officially supported yet by the JavaScript specification. You can disable them
adding a ``--disable-stage3`` to the command line utility.

Python`s ``super()`` calls are converted accordingly to the type of
their surrounding method: ``super().__init__(foo)`` becomes
``super(foo)`` in constructors.

Functions inside methods are translated to arrow functions so that
they keep the ``this`` of the surrounding method.

``@property`` and ``@a_property.setter`` are translated to ES6 properties.

Methods decorated with ``@classmethod`` are translated to ``static`` methods.

Special methods ``__str__`` and ``__len__`` are translated to
``toString()`` method and ``get length()`` property, respectively.

Arrow method expression to retain the ``this`` at method level aren't
implemented yet.


.. list-table:: Classes
  :header-rows: 1

  * - Python
    - JavaScript

  * - .. code:: python

        class Foo(bar):
            def __init__(self, zoo):
                super().__init__(zoo)


            def meth(self, zoo):
                super().meth(zoo)
                def cool(a, b, c):
                    print(self.zoo)


            async def something(self, a_promise):
                result = await a_promise

            def generator_method(self):
                yield something

            @property
            def foo(self):
                return self._foo


            @foo.setter
            def foo(self, value):
                self._foo = value


            @classmethod
            def bar(self, val):
                do_something()


            def __len__(self):
                return 1


            def __str__(self):
                return 'Foo instance'

    - .. code:: javascript

        class Foo extends bar {
            constructor(zoo) {
                super(zoo);
            }

            meth(zoo) {
                super.meth(zoo);
                var cool;
                cool = (a, b, c) => {
                    console.log(this.zoo);
                };
            }

            async something(a_promise) {
                var result;
                result = await a_promise;
            }

            * generator_method() {
                yield something;
            }

            get foo() {
                return this._foo;
            }

            set foo(value) {
                self._foo = value;
            }

            static bar(val) {
                do_something()
            }

            get length() {
                return 1;
            }

            toString() {
                return "Foo instance";
            }
        }

Only direct descendants of ``Exception`` are treated especially, but
just for them to be meaningful in JS land and to be detectable with
``instanceof`` in catch statements.


.. list-table:: Exceptions
  :header-rows: 1

  * - Python
    - JavaScript

  * - .. code:: python

        class MyError(Exception):
            pass

        raise MyError("An error occurred")

    - .. code:: javascript

        function MyError(message) {
            this.name = "MyError";
            this.message = (message || "Custom error MyError");
            if (((typeof Error.captureStackTrace) === "function")) {
                Error.captureStackTrace(this, this.constructor);
            } else {
                this.stack = new Error(message).stack;
            }
        }
        MyError.prototype = Object.create(Error.prototype);
        MyError.prototype.constructor = MyError;
        throw new MyError("An error occurred");


``try...except...finally`` statement

The conversion of this statement is mostly obvious with the only exception of the except part: it translates to a catch part containing one if statement for each non catchall except. If a catchall except isn't present, the error will be re-thrown, to mimic Python's behavior.

.. list-table:: try...catch...finally statement :header-rows: 1

• • Python
  • JavaScript

• • .. code:: python

    try: foo.bar() except MyError: recover() except MyOtherError: recover_bad() finally: foo.on_end()

  • .. code:: javascript

    try { foo.bar(); } catch(e) { if ((e instanceof MyError)) { recover(); } else { if ((e instanceof MyOtherError)) { recover_bad() } else { throw e; } } } finally { foo.on_end(); }

import statements

``import`` and ``from ... import`` statements are converted to ES6
imports, and the declaration of an ``__all__`` member on the module
top level is translated to ES6 named exports.

.. list-table:: import and exports
  :header-rows: 1

  * - Python
    - JavaScript

  * - .. code:: python

        import foo, bar
        import foo.bar as b
        from foo.bar import hello as h, bye as bb
        from ..foo.zoo import bar
        from . import foo
        from .foo import bar

        from foo__bar import zoo

        from __foo.zoo import bar

        from foo import __default__ as bar

        from __globals__ import test_name

        # this should not trigger variable definition
        test_name = 2

        # this instead should do it
        test_foo = True

        __all__ = ['test_name', 'test_foo']
        __default__ = 'test_name'

    - .. code:: javascript

        var test_foo;

        import * as foo from 'foo';
        import * as bar from 'bar';
        import * as b from 'foo/bar';
        import {hello as h, bye as bb} from 'foo/bar';
        import {bar} from '../foo/zoo';
        import * as foo from './foo';
        import {bar} from './foo';

        import {zoo} from 'foo-bar';

        import {bar} from '@foo/zoo';

        import bar from 'foo';

        test_name = 2;
        test_foo = true;

        export {test_name, test_foo};
        export default test_name;

About JS **default** ``export`` and ``import``
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you want to export something as *default export* in your modules,
declare a ``__default__`` member and assign to it the string of the
symbol you want to export. To clarify:

.. code:: python

  foo = 42
  bar = "hello"

  __all__ = ['foo', 'bar']  # foo and bar will be exported as named exports
  __default__ = 'bar'  # bar will also be exported as the *default*

This becomes:

.. code:: javascript

  var bar, foo;

  foo = 42;
  bar = "hello";

  export {foo, bar};
  export default bar;

For what concerns the ``import``, you can import the default export of
a module using the ``default`` name, as defined by the ES6
spec. However, as there were some issues reported to me with bundlers
not supporting the named import of the default export, a special
``import`` statement using ``__default__ as name`` has been added that
directly translates to the more common form of ES6 default import. So:

.. code:: python

  from foo import default as bar
  from foo import __default__ as zoo

Translates to:

.. code:: javascript

  import {default as bar} from 'foo';
  import zoo from 'foo';

The two imports should work the same, see `exploring js section`__ and
the linked spec. But if you encounter problems with the former use
the latter instead. Keep in mind that you cannot mix the
``__default__`` import with others (i.e. it needs to be on a line of
its own) and that you always need to specify an ``... as name ...`` part.

__ http://exploringjs.com/es6/ch_modules.html#sec_importing-exporting-details

Strings
-------

Javascripthon supports converting Python 3.6+ `f-strings`_ to ES6
`template literals`_. The expression in the braces gets converted, but
neither `conversion`__ nor `format_spec`__ are supported: ``f"Value of
{a}"`` becomes ```Value of ${a}``` and ``f"Value of {self.foo}"``
becomes ```Value of ${this.foo}```.

.. _template literals: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Template_literals
__ https://docs.python.org/3.6/reference/lexical_analysis.html#grammar-token-conversion
__ https://docs.python.org/3.6/reference/lexical_analysis.html#grammar-token-format_spec

You can also write *raw* template literals by using the function
``tmpl()`` it does only a conversion of the string markers, from those
used in Python's literal string notation to template literal notation.

There is also the way to express *tagged templates*, template literals
that are parsed using a provided function. This is done by using the
function ``__``. So for example:

.. code:: python

  __('A template ${string} with foo', bar)

gets translated to:

.. code:: javascript

  bar`A template ${string} with foo`

``bar`` will be executed with the value of ``${string}`` as a
parameter, see the link for `template literals`_ for help.

Verbatim JS
-----------

You can intermix Python and JS by using the
``JS('Your-JS-code-here')`` marker function. It will not be touched by
the ES6 transcoder but if you choose to also transpile it to ES5, il
will be considered by Babel.


Examples
--------

Execute ``make`` inside the ``examples`` directory.

Testing
-------

To run the tests you should run the following at the package root::

  python setup.py test

How to contribute
-----------------

So you like this project and want to contribute? Good!

These are the terse guidelines::

  There are some TODO points in the readme, or even the issue #6 is
  quite simple to fix. Feel free to pick what you like.

  The guidelines are to follow PEP8 for coding where possible, so use
  CamelCase for classes and snake_case for variables, functions and
  members, and UPPERCASE for constants.

  An exception to this rules are the function names inside
  ``metapensiero.pj.transformations`` subpackage. Those are matched
  against names of the AST objects coming from the ``ast`` module in
  standard lib, so they have to to match even in case.

  Try to keep lines lengths under 79 chars, more or less ;-)

  The workflow is to fork the project, do your stuff, maybe add a test
  for it and then submit a pull request.

  Have fun

Contributing
------------

Any contribution is welcome, drop me a line or file a pull request.

External contributions
----------------------

* `BrainBacon`__ has made a `JavaScripthon loader`__ for WebPack;

* `icarito`_ has contributed support for JavaScripthon to the
  `python-webpack-loader`__ for WebPack (Every valid JS package has at
  least two implementations! ROTFL);

* `icarito`_ has also `integrated JavaScripthon with Nuxt.js and
  Vue.js`__;

* `chfw`__ has integrated `JavaScripthon into pyecharts`__ to allow
  Python function translation.

.. _icarito: https://github.com/icarito
__ https://github.com/BrainBacon
__ https://github.com/Beg-in/javascripthon-loader
__ https://github.com/martim00/python-webpack-loader
__ https://nuxt-python.surge.sh/
__ https://github.com/chfw
__ https://github.com/pyecharts/pyecharts

Todo
----

This is a brief list of what needs to be done:

* refactor the comprehensions conversion to use the snippets facility;
* refactor snippets rendering to write them as a module and import
  them in the module when tree conversion is enabled;
* convert ``dict()`` calls to ES6 ``Map`` object creation;
* convert *set* literals to ES6 ``Set`` objects. Also, update
  "foo in bar" to use bar.has(foo) for sets;

Done
----

Stuff that was previously in the todo:

* translate *import* statements to ES6;
* translate ``__all__`` definition to ES6 module exports;
* write a command line interface to expose the api;
* make try...except work again and implement try...finally;
* convert *async* and *await* to the same proposed features for js
  (see BabelJS documentation);
* convert argument defaults on functions to ES6;
* convert call keyword arguments;
* convert `*iterable` syntax to ES6 destructuring;
* use arrow functions for functions created in functions;
* properties to ES6 properties (getter and setter);
* take advantage of new duckpy features to use a JS execution context
  that lasts multiple calls. This way the BabelJS bootstrap affects
  only the initial execution;
* class and method decorators;
* implement *yield*, *yield from* and generator functions;
* update "foo in bar" to use bar.has(foo) for maps;


External documentation
----------------------

A good documentation and explanation of ES6 features can be found on
the book `Exploring ES6`__ by Axel Rauschmayer (donate if you can).

__ http://exploringjs.com/es6/

An `extensive documentation`__ about Python's AST objects, very handy.

__ https://greentreesnakes.readthedocs.org/en/latest/

Tools
-----

Have a look at `ECMAScript 6 Tools`__ by Addy Osmani.

__ https://github.com/addyosmani/es6-tools

To debug *source maps* have a look at `source-map-visualization`__ and
its `package`__ on npm.

__ https://sokra.github.io/source-map-visualization/
__ https://www.npmjs.com/package/source-map-visualize

Still i found these links to be helpful:

* `BASE64 VLQ CODEC (COder/DECoder)`__
* `Testing Source Maps`__

__ http://murzwin.com/base64vlq.html
__ http://fitzgeraldnick.com/2013/08/02/testing-source-maps.html

Here is an `example`__ of the latter tool showing code generated by
JavaScripthon, have fun!

__ https://sokra.github.io/source-map-visualization/#base64,ZnVuY3Rpb24gc2ltcGxlX2FsZXJ0KCkgewogICAgd2luZG93LmFsZXJ0KCJIaSB0aGVyZSEiKTsKfQpmdW5jdGlvbiBhdHRhY2hfaGFuZGxlcigpIHsKICAgIHZhciBlbDsKICAgIGVsID0gZG9jdW1lbnQucXVlcnlTZWxlY3RvcigiYnV0dG9uIik7CiAgICBlbC5hZGRFdmVudExpc3RlbmVyKCJjbGljayIsIHNpbXBsZV9hbGVydCk7Cn0KYXR0YWNoX2hhbmRsZXIoKTsKCi8vIyBzb3VyY2VNYXBwaW5nVVJMPWh0bWxfdGVzdC5qcy5tYXAK,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,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


Notes
-----

* A `post`__ about proposed solutions to use ES6 classes with
  `Backbone`__. See also the `bug`__ open on github.

__ http://benmccormick.org/2015/07/06/backbone-and-es6-classes-revisited/
__ http://backbonejs.org
__ https://github.com/jashkenas/backbone/issues/3560


* A `benchmark of ES6 features`__ and `discussion about it`__ on
  hacker's news.

__ https://kpdecker.github.io/six-speed/
__ https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11203183

* A `compatibility table of ES6 features`__ showing completeness of
  support feature by feature.

__ http://kangax.github.io/compat-table/es6/

* `A story`__ about ES6 craziest stuff... symbols

__ http://blog.keithcirkel.co.uk/metaprogramming-in-es6-symbols/