NetRexx JSR 223 Script Engine

This document contains information about the NetRexx Script Engine created to allow NetRexx to run as a Java JSR 223 scripting language.

• The jar file containing the engine is NetRexxJSR223.jar and it must be installed along with the NetRexxC.jar language library in the same directory.
• The actual name of the script engine is jsr223.netrexx.NetRexxScriptEngine but only the last part of the name is needed for access from scripts.
• All engine scope bindings are passed to the script as variables - note that binding names containing periods have the periods changed to underscores.
• Arguments are passed both as the normal "arg" string and as the array binding "javax.script.argv" ie script variable "javax_script_argv".
• To return an object to the calling platform the script must place it in a binding before exiting like this: NetRexxScriptEngine.instance.put("returnobject",~someobject~)
• The current version of the engine has no optimization and only support for bare minimum features (No compilable, invokeable, preparse or caching or user profiles or console, etc.).
• Programs must be scripts only at this time - you cannot define the primary class or use imports yet like a full program might do.
• The jar file contains a simple "print hello" verification program which can be executed like this:  java -jar NetRexxJSR223.jar
• More complex testing can be done using the jrunscript program from the latest JDK as follows: 
• Prompt mode testing (one line ad hoc programs - use CTRL Z, ENTER to exit on Windows anyway): jrunscript -cp NetRexxJSR223.jar -l NetRexx
• Pass a script file to the engine like this: jrunscript -cp NetRexxJSR223.jar -l NetRexx -f myprogram.nrx
• Programs currently are copied to a file in System.getProperty('user.home')/scripts/prefixed with code added to the front to import bindings variables.

• Does it work on *nix systems also?
• Can it run as a JSR223 engine under the jEdit ScriptEnginePlugin?
• Can it run as a BSF 3.0 script engine?
• Can this run as an extension (ext directory)?
• What platforms can actually use a JSR223 engine? Eclipse? OpenOffice? ...?
• It seems like embedded web services might be a target for this application - can anyone test there? Glassfish?
• Who can help test this and provide suggestions?
• Can Rene act as a backup repository admin or provide a general NetRexx repository?

• NetRexxA parse and reflection call
• Cache parsed scripts
• Preparse any scripts in user.home/scripts directories
• Add support for user profile variables and options panel to set them
• Add an optional script console to view detailed script output and parse output
• Reflecting errors to the original code would be nice!
• Add compilable and invokeable support
• Add hashcode file signatures with length in case originating file system is not available to identify cached scripts
• build.xml that works for *nix and Windows both!
• Sample scripts to demo/test all features.
• Test generation of source code distributions.
• Obtain an online SVN repository location. 
• *** Add support for redirected print streams and input streams ***
• dynamic classpath support