Introduction to CoffeeScript

CoffeeScript is a little language that compiles into JavaScript. It is an attempt to expose the good parts of JavaScript in a simple way. CoffeeScript syntax is inspired by Ruby, Python, and Haskell, which encourages more readable and maintainable code.

Getting Started with CoffeeScript

  # Simple Hello World in CoffeeScript
  console.log 'Hello, CoffeeScript!'

Variables and Functions

  # Variables
  name = "CoffeeScript"
  age = 10

  # Functions
  greet = (name) -> "Hello, #{name}!"
  console.log greet(name)

Control Structures

  # If-Else
  score = 75
  result = if score > 60 then "Pass" else "Fail"
  console.log result

  # Looping
  for num in [1..5]
    console.log num

Arrays and Objects

  # Arrays
  fruits = ["Apple", "Banana", "Cherry"]
  for fruit in fruits
    console.log fruit

  # Objects
  person = 
    name: "John Doe"
    age: 30
    greet: -> "Hello, my name is #{ @name }."

  console.log person.greet()

Classes and Inheritance

  # Class Definition
  class Animal
    constructor: (@name) ->

    speak: -> console.log "#{ @name } makes a noise."

  class Dog extends Animal
    speak: -> console.log "#{ @name } barks."

  tom = new Dog "Tommy"
  tom.speak()

API Example: Building a Simple To-Do App

Let’s create a simple To-Do Application leveraging some of the CoffeeScript features described above.

  class Task
    constructor: (@title) -> @done = false
    complete: -> @done = true

  class TodoList
    constructor: -> @tasks = []
    addTask: (task) -> @tasks.push task
    completeTask: (index) -> @tasks[index].complete()

  # Create a new Todo List
  myList = new TodoList()

  # Add Tasks
  task1 = new Task "Learn CoffeeScript"
  task2 = new Task "Build a To-Do App"
  
  myList.addTask task1
  myList.addTask task2

  # Complete the first task
  myList.completeTask 0

  # Display tasks
  for task in myList.tasks
    console.log "#{ task.title }: #{ if task.done then 'Done' else 'Pending' }"

This simple To-Do application showcases the creation of classes, instantiation of objects, and manipulation of arrays in CoffeeScript.

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