dotr should exec scripts

[tisonkun]

Consider script below

// script.scala
def truth(): Int = 42
println(truth())

In Scala, we can use command scala to exec it directly.

$ scala script.scala 
42
$ 

But dotr could not identify bare script, and it complains

$ dotr script.scala 
Error: Could not find or load main class script.scala
$ 

[tisonkun]

@smarter reminded of this issue, I wonder if dotty plans to support scripting. Sure it could be a compiled lang, but for wide use it would be awesome if support scripting. However, it would introduce extra complexity. What is the trade off dev team think of?

[liufengyun]

@tisonkun Initially, we plan to support features existent in Scalac. If you are looking for a scripting solution for Scala (e.g. handles dependencies), you can have a look at Ammonite.

[tisonkun]

@liufengyun how's it going? Is it planned to be implemented in the future or we just reject it?

[liufengyun]

@tisonkun This is definitely to be supported. There are also some thoughts to make the scripts more powerful by standardizing some features in Ammonite:

• express source file dependencies
• express lib dependencies
• @main functions Implement @main functions #6898

However, we are currently focusing on other priorities. External contributions are welcome.

/cc : @AleksanderBG

[deanwampler]

+1 for fixing this. It's a major pain for us book writers who have most examples in script form.

[philwalk]

I have never been able to get ammonite to work in windows, whereas generic scala scripting works just fine, and I use it quite a bit. My preference would be for script syntax to be 100% scalac compatible without special "script-only" syntax, which implies (among other things) that the compiler ignore a hash-bang line, and that scripts be permitted to declare a package. I would be willing to contribute to this, fwiw.

[liufengyun]

@philwalk I think initially 100% scalac compatibility makes perfect sense. Contributions on this will be much appreciated.

[bishabosha]

bump this issue