CoffeeScript
CoffeeScript is a little language that compiles into JavaScript. It provides a simple syntax without lots of braces and parentheses. The code compiles one-to-one into the equivalent JS, and there is no interpretation at runtime.
CoffeeScript is supported on both the client and the server. Files ending with .coffee, .litcoffee, or .coffee.md are automatically compiled to JavaScript.
Namespacing and CoffeeScript
Here's how CoffeeScript works with Meteor's namespacing.
Per the usual CoffeeScript convention, CoffeeScript variables are file-scoped by default (visible only in the
.coffeefile where they are defined.)When writing a package, CoffeeScript-defined variables can be exported like any other variable (see Package.js). Exporting a variable pulls it up to package scope, meaning that it will be visible to all of the code in your app or package (both
.jsand.coffeefiles).Package-scope variables declared in
.jsfiles are visible in any.coffeefiles in the same app or project.There is no way to make a package-scope variable from a
.coffeefile other than exporting it. We couldn't figure out a way to make this fit naturally inside the CoffeeScript language. If you want to use package-scope variables with CoffeeScript, one way is to make a short.jsfile that declares all of your package-scope variables. They can then be used and assigned to from.coffeefiles.If you want to share variables between
.coffeefiles in the same package, and don't want to separately declare them in a.jsfile, we have an experimental feature that you may like. An object calledshareis visible in CoffeeScript code and is shared across all.coffeefiles in the same package. So, you can writeshare.foofor a value that is shared between all CoffeeScript code in a package, but doesn't escape that package.
Heavy CoffeeScript users, please let us know how this arrangement works for you, whether share is helpful for you, and anything else you'd like to see changed.