Javascript as command line callable scripting language

Question

I'm looking for a way to write some simple scripts in javascript, like I would in ruby. For example, I might write a script like:

var str = "Hello World";
console.log(str);

And i want to able to call it from my command line like this:

js hello_world.js

Is there some sort of Javascript runtime, that includes a standard library that would allow me to do this style of script development? I know there is node.js, but that is specific to a web server, right?

• icktoofay: No, node.js is not specific to a web server.
• Helen: possible duplicate of Running javascript standalone engine?

Answer 1

Node.js has emerged as the clear winner here, at least for me.

http://nodejs.org/

Answer 2

Well, there's JScript.NET:

http://www.devsource.com/c/a/Techniques/JScriptNET-Applications-at-the-Command-Line/1/

Answer 3

As mentioned in this previous question, you might want to check out Rhino, an implementation of Javascript written in Java. Specifically, the page on the JavaScript shell might be of interest.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

what about mozilla's spidermonkey ?

apt-cache search javascript interpreter
spidermonkey-bin - standalone JavaScript/ECMAScript (ECMA-262) interpreter
libjenkins-htmlunit-core-js-java - Jenkins branch of the HtmlUnit Core JS Interpreter
gnome-js-common - Common modules for GNOME JavaScript interpreters

Answer 5

With Phantom JS you can easily run a javascript from command line and it naively supports DOM, CSS Selector and JSON.

Answer 6

Why do you want to do this in javascript? Why not use a language that is suitable for this type of command line environment such as Perl? Javascript's main purpose is to faciltate client-side browser control.

• Alex Wayne: Mainly because I want to play with it in this context. With javascript crossing the bounds of the browser, I figured it would be fun to explore building some simple stuff with Javascript the way that I use ruby.
• Robotbugs: Also, when someone asks a question like this then its because they are familiar with a language. If you say why not do it in perl... its not answering the question; its a lot of work to learn a totally new language. Also javascript is becoming used for server side stuff and app development and all kinds of stuff these days.