Script# 0.5 Update and Associated CodePlex Project

This is a quick post on the latest release of Script# (Build 0.5). I'll be following up with subsequent posts with more details on some of the specific feature additions, but here is a list of whats new (besides bug fixes, and improved compiler error reporting):

• Support for localization based on .resx files - now you can generate localized script files while using strongly typed resources using .resx tooling available in Visual Studio and other localization tools.
• Support for generating script doc-comments - now XML doc-comments are automatically transformed into ASP.NET Ajax-style doc-comments, which are useful for driving intellisense in Visual Studio, if you're creating script libraries that will be used by others.
• Updated compat layer to abstract browser differences now works for not just Mozilla but also WebKit-based (Safari, iPhone), and Opera browsers.
• Support for creating overloaded APIs, and creating and invoking functions dynamically (these were limitations in the past).
• Support for creating Silverlight 2 plugin instances.

Also, Script# is now on CodePlex (actually it has been on there for a month or so, but this is the first release since). The forums associated with the CodePlex project should significantly improve the experience around sending feedback, and having discussions around the technology and using it. Several folks have asked me in the past about open sourcing it. My plan is to eventually have the source out there as the project approaches its v1 status, starting the with the core framework and runtime, and subsequently the compiler itself. Stay tuned on that front for more in the next few months.

There are a couple of related CodePlex projects to call out:

• Messenger Developer Samples - contains MIX08 Messenger samples including how you can use Messenger APIs using Script#
• Script# proxy generator - Think wsdl.exe for Script#. A number of you have sent me mail about this feature. This project basically takes care of generating C# proxies for ASP.NET Ajax-enabled Web services.

Finally, I've updated my project site as well with more introduction to Script#, release notes, and a high-level roadmap. I will also be transitioning the documentation that is currently available in pdf form to the site over time.