Re: [Caml-list] OCaml vs Ada and/or GUI options

[Gerd Stolpmann <info@gerd-stolpmann.de>]

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Am Freitag, den 20.09.2013, 06:51 +0200 schrieb Gour:
> On Thu, 19 Sep 2013 10:11:51 +0200
> Alain Frisch <alain@frisch.fr> wrote:
> 
> > Overall, we were impressed by the easiness to integrate js_of_ocaml
> > (no need to patch the compiler or do big changes to the build system)
> > and its faithfulness to the semantics of OCaml.  Really no big bad 
> > surprises, and it was amazing to see a complex piece of software
> > running in the browser.  
> 
> Great!
> 
> > js_of_ocaml opens many interesting doors for using OCaml in web
> > development!
> 
> Does it include writing desktop apps running in browser?
> 
> :-)

I would say so - although you won't get the "look and feel" of a desktop
app, but of a web app. From a design perspective, this is a big win
IMHO, and users probably even like this. E.g. you'll need to use
graphically designed menus, and no menu bars.

The biggest problem I see is that the interaction with the system is
limited (e.g. access to file system is generally not possible with the
exception of special browser-app areas - see "local storage" [1] and
"indexed database API" [2]; there are browser-specific API extensions,
though).

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_storage
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indexed_Database_API

If you are willing to accept browser differences, this is an interesting
option with some future - there is an enormous pressure on the desktop
vendors to make the desktop as easy as the web, e.g you can already run
web apps directly in the Windows 8 desktop (the user doesn't see that
there is a browser running it).

> 
> 
> Considering I have a need to call 3rd party C lib via OCaml bindings,
> does it change anything in the whole scenario?

This won't be directly available, but only with the indirection of
running the lib in a local server process, and accessing it via HTML
requests. (Unless you include it as browser plugin.)

Gerd

> 
> Sincerely,
> Gour
> 
> -- 
> From wherever the mind wanders due to its flickering and unsteady 
> nature, one must certainly withdraw it and bring it back under 
> the control of the self.
> 
> http://www.atmarama.net | Hlapicina (Croatia) | GPG: 52B5C810
> 
> 
> 

-- 
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Gerd Stolpmann, Darmstadt, Germany    gerd@gerd-stolpmann.de
My OCaml site:          http://www.camlcity.org
Contact details:        http://www.camlcity.org/contact.html
Company homepage:       http://www.gerd-stolpmann.de
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