node-clr : Node.js binding for .NET Framework API

Usage:

# npm install clr
# node

> require('clr').init();
> System.Console.WriteLine('Hello, {0}!', 'world');

'Hello, world!'


> var now = new System.DateTime(2013, 7, 1);
> now.ToString();

'2013/07/01 0:00:00'

Prerequisites:

• Node.js v0.10.12
• .NET Framework 4.5
• Visual Studio 2012
• Node.js native module build environment

clr.init([options])

Initialize CLR rutime with given options. Returns global namespace.

• options {Object}
  • assemblies {Array} - An array of assembly name (partial name, full name or absolute path to .dll/.exe). Defaults to ['mscorlib', 'System', 'System.Core'].
  • global {Boolean} - if true, CLR global namespace objects are injected into javascript global object. Defaults to true.

CLR namespaces

• {Object}

CLR namespace objects contain nested namespaces or types.

CLR types

• {Function}

CLR type functions work as constructor for corresponding CLR types. The constructor returns wrapped CLR object.

> var now = new System.DateTime(2013, 7, 1);

The code above invokes CLR constructor DateTime (Int32, Int32, Int32) and returns {Object} that wraps DateTime instance.

CLR type also contains static members.

> var now = System.DateTime.Now;

The code above invokes CLR static property getter DateTime.Now.

CLR objects

• {Object}

Javascript object that wraps CLR instance, which contains instance members.

> var now = System.DateTime.Now;
> now.ToString();

'2013/07/01 0:00:00'

CLR methods

• {Function}

CLR methods can be invoked as Javascript function. Arguments and return value are marshalled as conventions below.

> System.Console.WriteLine('Hello, {0}!', 'world');

'Hello, world!'

CLR properties/fields

• {Getter/Setter}

CLR properties/fields are exposed as object's getter or setter function.

> var now = System.DateTime.Now;

CLR events

• {Object}

CLR events can be hooked by add and remove function.

event.add(handler)

Add javascript event handler to specified event.

• handler {Function}

event.remove(handler)

Remove javascript event handler from event.

** This isn't working right now **

• handler {Function}

Marshaling:

V8 => CLR:

• null or undefined => null
• Boolean => System.Boolean
• Nubmer => Any numeric type or System.Double
• String => System.String
• Function => Any delegate type or System.Func<System.Object[], System.Object>
• Array => Any type of array or System.Object[]
• object => System.Dynamic.ExpandoObject

CLR => V8:

• null => null
• System.Boolean => Boolean
• Any numberic type => Number
• System.String => String
• Any other types => CLR wrapped object

Threading:

You can use .NET threads. All Javascript callback functions are invoked in main event loop.

> var t = new System.Threading.Thread(function () {
> ... console.log('Hello, world!');
> ... });
> t.Start();

'Hello, world!' // will be invoked asynchronously, but in main thread

TODO:

• Testing
• Better marshaling
  • String => Enums
  • Object => DataContract
  • Handle overflow
  • handle cyclic reference
• Better repl support
  • Custom inspect function
• New Event api, resembles to EventEmitter
• Prototype chain which reflects CLR inheritance
• Generics
• Array instantiation
• Cast
• Using