Preferences

Slightly orthogonal...

In my Sciter, that uses QuickJS (no JIT), instead of JIT I've added C compiler. That means we can add not just JS modules but C modules too:

   import * as cmod from "./cmodule.c"
Such cmodule will be compiled and executed on the fly into native code. Idea is simple each language is good for specific tasks. JS is flexible and C is performant - just use right tool that is most optimal for a task.

c-modules play two major roles: FFI and number crunching code execution.

Sciter uses TCC compiler and runtime.

In total size of QuickJS + TCC binary bundle 500k + 220k = 720k.

For the comparison: V8 is of 40mb size.

https://sciter.com/c-modules-in-sciter/ https://sciter.com/here-we-go/


Interesting project! After clicking around on the website:

> In almost 10 years, Sciter UI engine has become the secret weapon of success for some of the most prominent antivirus products on the market: Norton Antivirus and Internet Security, Comodo Internet Security, ESET Antivirus, BitDefender Antivirus, and others.

What an intriguingly specific niche of customer! How come all these different anti-virus companies decided to use your platform?

> anti-virus companies decided to use your platform?

One of the reasons: AV application should look modern to give an impression that the app is adequate to modern threats. So while app backend is relatively stable, its UI shall be easily tweakable. CSS/HTML is good for that.

Check this: https://sciter.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/n360.png

I actually really love it. Typically AV products UIs feel snappy and lightweight and it is the backend engine that does most of the work and feels horrendously as a bottleneck. Which I think is an interesting phenomena when considering modern desktop applications where typically the backend code does very little and the frontend one is the one being bloated (Electron).

It's a bit sad that there is not a lot of talk and re-usable components from these companies for Sciter that can help us create snappy apps!

Even if I am not a big C fan, the idea is rather cool, it is a bit like having C++ on .NET via C++/CLI.

This item has no comments currently.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Story Lists

j
Next story
k
Previous story
Shift+j
Last story
Shift+k
First story
o Enter
Go to story URL
c
Go to comments
u
Go to author

Navigation

Shift+t
Go to top stories
Shift+n
Go to new stories
Shift+b
Go to best stories
Shift+a
Go to Ask HN
Shift+s
Go to Show HN

Miscellaneous

?
Show this modal