Which extension would I use to make a JS API call?

[RGBreality]

Hey, folks!

Does MMF2 have an extension which I can use to make a JavaScript API call? Would I use the Lua object (and use the "Call a string" action)?

Please note that I'm new to JavaScript, so any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!



Most appreciatively...

RGBreality

[LB]

You'd use the Vitalize object. As far as I know, XLUA isn't ported for any of the Java exports, and the call a string is for LUA, not Java :p

[RGBreality]

Hey, LB! How are you? Thanks for the quick reply!

Let me ask you this: I intend that the JavaScript API open HTML in a Web Control object--not an external Web browser. Can the Web Control object make JavaScript API calls?



RGBreality

[LB]

Oh, I actually have no idea. You'd have to ask FVivolo, or someone who uses the Web Control object. He recently released an update to his VideoPro extension, so I think he'll be around for a while to answer questions...

[MuddyMole]

Yes, it can - using the "do script" action. I haven't tried it myself (don't have MMF2 Developer) but it looks pretty basic (read the help file - that's what it's there for).

Sadly there's no proper Javascript extension that's the equivalent of the Lua extensions - a real shame considering JS is much nicer IMO, and certainly far more widely used.
Maybe one day someone will make a decent JS extension, and NOT make it Developer only...

[LB]

How would you have a JavaScript extension for MMF2 JavaScript is for webpages mostly, unless I'm just unaware that it just happens to be used in webpages...(I probably am)

[MuddyMole]

There's no reason why you couldn't use any scripting language in MMF2 - they can all be used to run a specified function with a set of arguments, and return a value.

Yes, Javascript is for webpages mostly, but what's that got to do with anything?

It's still a very powerful scripting language - more powerful than Lua in fact. It's actually quite suitable for use in games - Actionscript (used to code Flash games) is basically the same thing as JS, and there are now plenty of games being made using HTML5 and JS.

Lua:
* Faster - not really important, as the speed of the scripting language is very unlikely to be the limiting factor in the speed of the overall game (graphics, collision-detection, etc).

Javascript:
* More powerful - not really important, as Lua can do everything game makers are ever likely to need.
* Far more widely used - anyone who ever did webpage design or made Flash games will already know JS. This also means there are far more books, online tutorials, etc to help newcomers learn JS. It also means that if you're learning JS to use in MMF2, you're learning something you might find other uses for as well.