REBOL dialect Meta released for web browsers
The Meta language can now run in web browsers. Here is a web console that makes it even easier to use (hosted by Meta itself, of course):
https://console.metaproject.frl
You can download and modify the generated web applications to fit them into your own web pages.
posted by: Kaj de Vos 16-May-2022/13:58:58-7:00
I'm really happy to see this. I still dream of a full Rebol web development framework, with GUI in the browser... someday :)
posted by: Nick 17-May-2022/9:09:22-7:00
Thanks, Nick. We share the same dream, partly. For the longest time, I made my web sites and web apps, such as the old Try REBOL site, as simple as possible, using the minimal features needed, because web browsers are primitive, monstrous and incompatible with each other all at the same time. I considered that real apps should be made with REBOL/View. But the world has little appreciation for that and favours slightly simpler installation.
With REBOL/View having been abandoned, I decided to go all out in supporting browsers. I still want to replace View for native apps, but I want to do the same for browsers.
REBOL's main problem is not supporting the features of other sub-systems, so I will start with layers that support native features, and then build REBOL-like cross-platform dialects on top, so you will have the choice at which level to work.
Currently I am in the phase of showing what's possible. It will take years to match REBOL's features, but I am making sure that Meta is usable long before that, on a less powerful level.
There are many more possibilities than I can implement soon, so at first I give priority to what I need myself. I am open to funding by others to shift the development plan to what they need.
posted by: Kaj 18-May-2022/10:16:24-7:00
Made a series of improvements to the web console:
console.metaproject.frl
Layouting of long error messages is improved. Several bugs in the Meta web backend were fixed.
Thanks to iArnold for testing!
posted by: Kaj 26-Oct-2022/8:28:48-7:00
A comprehensive set of interesting demos, loadable and runnable with a click at console.metaproject.frl (and perhaps on the home page) , would make it come to life.
posted by: Nick 14-Nov-2022/22:33:08-8:00
Sure, that's all planned, but you know how much work that is. ;-)
language.metaproject.frl#when
With Arnold testing and writing examples now, I find myself spending all my time specifically improving Meta to support his work. This is how it will be: I need all my time for my own work, and I will support others who make contributions, then the day is done. Public projects always have endless discussions and tug-of-wars about what to implement and in what order. Spending that time on talking is disingenious, because there is already way more work to do than available capacity. So Meta will simply follow the path of concrete contributions, which is also the best indication of what people really need.
posted by: Kaj 15-Nov-2022/5:32:07-8:00
That's 100% understood and practical
posted by: Nick 15-Nov-2022/9:13:56-8:00
Sorry Kaj for claiming that much time from you! I know you do not mind because it improves the quality and usability of the language.
posted by: Arnold 20-Nov-2022/17:30:28-8:00
Definitely, your work is much appreciated! I do have to rearrange my planning for it, but that is exactly the project's strategy: to support users who make concrete contributions. There is so much possible work to do, that we need a way to establish what to do first. It's fairly straightforward for me to think what I need next, but I need to hear from others what they need most, in practice, not in theory.
posted by: Kaj 21-Nov-2022/4:05:26-8:00
Hey Kaj, I don't know if this might be of any use to you but I thought this was an interesting article: Develop a WASM-Edge Application in Rust https://github.com/kinfey/GitHubCodeSpaceWorkShop/blob/main/EN/02.CloudNativeInWasmEdge.md
I will try to make time to play with your Meta. I was looking on your site for a timeline or more details on what is implemented vs. what you still hope to implement.
I have played with REBOL and red, but never did any serious programming. It does seem, though, that WASM is going to eventually take off, and your Meta language might fit that niche better than anything else?
posted by: CuriousGeorge 15-Jan-2023/13:04:45-8:00
I do use such tutorials to target Meta to new environments, but this particular one uses too heavy parts and is too focused on Microsoft gear. I did save the WASM Edge site from it.
Meta has proof-of-concept backends that generate WebAssembly in text and binary forms. The web backend that is currently released uses Emscripten because it's production ready and comprehensive. All these three backends can be used to target WebAssembly environments.
I designed Meta to be a good fit for this. Whether it's a better fit than other languages comes down to whether you like REBOL better than other languages. :-)
Meta's time line is what it says in the road map. It depends on funding and my own needs:
language.metaproject.frl#when
What is already implemented should be better documented, but that also depends on when I can make time for it. I have to prioritise my own work, and therefore we bootstrap off of REBOL's documentation.
posted by: Kaj 16-Jan-2023/6:40:36-8:00
To see what is currently being worked on, follow the chat forum:
social.metaproject.frl/Meta/
posted by: Kaj 19-Jan-2023/6:20:09-8:00
The chat forum is currently the place for many details about Meta that are in the process of firming up. You can find them by reading the history.
posted by: Kaj 19-Jan-2023/6:28:28-8:00
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