140 BoxLang modern JVM language that runs CFML code (new CFML engine and much more) with Luis Majano and Brad Wood

Luis Majano and Brad Wood talk about “BoxLang modern JVM language that runs CFML code (new CFML engine and much more)” in this episode of ColdFusion Alive Podcast with host Michaela Light.

“…BX is the acronym we use a lot like our file extensions are analogous to the cold fusion file extensions. So a CFM file, we call that bxm For box Lang markup, CMS, which Lucy six had his support for, which is cold fusion script”.

Show notes

What is BoxLang?

• A new language for the JVM that includes CFML
• Inspired by cool CF, Groovy, Rust, Go, PHP etc
• Compiles into Java byte code, just like CF
• A new language for 2024 and beyond
• Not just targeting web server - see below for all runtime targets
• 7 MB core
  • Tidy and lightweight core
    • Super fast start up time in 100-200ms
    • ACF core 120 to 300 MB 
    • Lucee core 20 to 120 - 300 MB
    • Node 80 MB
  • Add on modules for different target runtimes
    • Similar in ideas to ACF and Lucee packages
• Target runtimes
  • Web Server
  • Miniserver
  • Serverless
  • Jakarta
  • Android
  • Web assembly 
  • Command line use
• Modules are designed from the start vs separated out as in ACF or Lucee
  • Using tight Java libraries that are different from ACF or Lucee libraries
• Drastic architecture differences
  • No OSGi copies
    • See below for what OSGi is
  • MVP for this language
  • Created to be extensive in the core from the start
  • Not a monolith
  • Super strict on 3rd party JARs added to the core due to features in the modern JDK
    • Oracle improvements in Java language and JVM
    • Java 21 or higher only
  • Other JVM that are based on Oracle JVM 21 or higher
  • Fixes old syntax and function naming inconsistencies from CFML backwards compatible
  • Has two parsers
    • Antler parser library for BoxLang code
    • 100% legacy CFML code via transpiler
  • AST = Abstract Syntax Tree
    • This is what compiles to Java byte code
    • Linting and code quality metric tool and VS-code extension IntelliSense and semantics of the language.
    • Open source AST so easy to extend and hook into it.
    • In-line debugger is built in with scope introspection
  • Can innovate in BoxLang language without breaking legacy CFML

Transpiling

• • Dynamic and can continue to edit legacy CFML code
  • Or one-time translate to BoxLang language (BX)
  • Can you translate back from BoxLang to CMFL?
    • Not currently and technically it can be done - it is open source
    • The syntax is very close to CFML script and tags
  • Why <bx vs <cfscript
  • Not tag first language - it is script first then adds components / class (aka tag)

What is it really?

• • JVM 
  • 100% interoperable with Java
    • No bridge like ACF or Lucee
    • Extend from Java classes
    • Import Java classes
  • Framework capabilities built into BoxLang
    • Event-driven programming
    • Event listeners and extension is built-in
  • Cache engine built-in
    • vs added on
    • Can talk to Redis and Couchbase
  • Async and parallel programming 
    • Built into the core from Java
    • vs adding in Quartz Java library to do this
  • Easy unit testing of tasks
  • Keep the CFML productivities of RAD coding
  • BoxLang templating language
    • Like Groovy GSP
  • Most modern JVM language 
    • More modern than ACF, Lucee OR all other JVM languages such as Groovy, Clojure, Kotlin, Rust etc
    • Super dynamic language with built-in dynamic concepts from the modern Java engine vs a 3rd party library
  • Comparison chart to other languages?
    • Coming in future
    • Why are most modern languages similar in appearance?
      • Common programming metaphors over time are used with similar syntax.
      • But under the hood, they are different engines
      • Tooling
      • IDE
      • Community

Is ACF or Lucee embedded in BoxLang?

• • No
  • ACF is closed source
  • Lucee - separate development. Chinese wall separation of BoxLang development.
  • Can see the full source code edit history in GitHub which shows it is not a fork from Lucee

What about QA on the language?

• • 6000 automated tests in GitHub

Why did you create it?

• • A lot of work to make a new compiler etc
  • Alternatives not taken
    • Suggest features to ACF
      • Tried. Too radical a change
      • Have done for years. They have their own limitations.
      • Tickets exist for these feature requests
    • Pull requests to Lucee for a fork
      • Looked at this for several months 
      • Lack of docs from the lead of the Lucee open-source project
      • Major architecture differences with a fresh start
      • Tickets exist for these features for years
  • New JVM language without the emotional baggage of taggy CF

Fast release cycles

• • Weekly release cycles
  • Lucee monthly releases
  • ACF annual release plus as needed hotfixes 
  • CI process to immediate deployment
  • CommandBox can run different versions of BoxLang, just like it does for ACF and Lucee

What are you looking forward to at CF Summit?

• • Seeing other CFer
  • Teaching REST class
  • Ok to ask questions on the side and let’s respect Adobe CF conference is focused on ACF. 

Addendum - What is OSGi

OSGi, or Open Service Gateway Initiative, is a Java framework that allows developers to create and deploy modular software programs and libraries. It's based on a set of specifications that define a component system for Java, and includes a standard for building modular components called bundles. 

Here are some benefits of OSGi: 

• Loose coupling
  • OSGi focuses on loose coupling of functions, which allows for modular functionalities that can be easily moved between source codes.
• Dynamic component model
  • OSGi implements a dynamic component model that allows applications to be remotely installed, started, stopped, updated, and uninstalled without requiring a restart. 
• Microkernel architecture
  • OSGi utilizes the concepts of a microkernel architecture, also known as a plug-in architecture. 
• Reusable components
  • OSGi allows developers to create applications from smaller, reusable, and collaborative components. 

The OSGi Alliance was originally responsible for managing the OSGi framework, but in early 2021 the Eclipse Foundation took over the OSGi specification. 

 

Mentioned in this episode

• TeraTech’s BoxLang overview article 
• BoxLang Download - free download and paid options, plus lots of language info
• BoxLang Full source code repo on GitHub plus docs and 1000s of test cases
• Try BoxLang - similar to TryCF site to try out BoxLang code without having to install it first
• BoxLang book - full docs and examples to get you going fast. 

Listen to the Audio

[powerpress]

Bio

Luis Majano

Luis Majano is a Computer Engineer who has been developing and designing software systems since 2000. During economic instability and civil war, he was born in San Salvador, El Salvador, in the late 70s. He lived in El Salvador until 1995 and then moved to Miami, Florida, where he completed his Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering at Florida International University.

He is the CEO of Ortus Solutions, a consulting firm specializing in web development, BoxLang, Java development, and open-source professional services. He is the creator of ColdBox, ContentBox, CommandBox, WireBox, TestBox, LogBox, and anything "Box," and he contributes to over 250 open-source projects. He has a passion for learning and mentoring developers so they can succeed with sustainable software practices and the usage and development of open-source software. You can read his blog at www.luismajano.com

Luis is passionate about Jesus, tennis, golf, volleyball, and anything electronic. Random Author Facts:

• He played volleyball in the Salvadorean National Team at the tender age of 17
• His favorite books are The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit (Geek!)
• His first computer was a Texas Instruments TI-99 that his parents gave him in 1986. After some time digesting his very first BASIC book, he had written his own tic-tac-toe game at the age of 9. (Extra geek!)
• He has a geek love for circuits, microcontrollers, and overall embedded systems.
• He has, as of late, become a fan of organic gardening.

Links

• Luis Majano | LinkedIn
• Twitter 
• Ortus Solutions

 

Brad Wood

Brad grew up in southern Missouri and after high school majored in Computer Science with a music minor at MidAmerica Nazarene University (Olathe, KS). Today he lives in Kansas City with his wife and three girls. Brad enjoys all sorts of international food and the great outdoors. Brad has been programming ColdFusion since around 2002 and has used every version of CF since 4.5. He is a software engineer at Ortus Solutions, lead developer of CommandBox CLI, and open source contributor.

Links

• CFML Slack Box Channel
• Box Team Slack Channel
• Brad's Website
• Brad Wood | LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Ortus Community Forum
• Techempower Nightly Builds