Compile to JavaScript module

[epost]

During the Summit, @clayrat, @marcosh and @epost found that the compiler-generated JavaScript wasn't usable with our existing code. What we want is for idris to generate a (CommonJS) module that we can include and use from other code.

• Summarise current output format of idris compiler
  • format 1 (browser): TODO
  • format 2 (node): TODO
• Describe in what way these formats are not what we need. (We need (CommonJS) modules).
• Consider solutions
  • Patch idris to generate sensible js output.
  • Use a bundler? (Jelle's suggestion.)
  • Other?

[sjoerdvisscher]

Both javascript and node formats generate a single javascript file that runs the main function. There is no way to call other functions. As long as this is all we need, a bundler would work indeed.

[sjoerdvisscher]

This is the way to create a CommonJS module:

test : String -> String
test a = a ++ a

lib : FFI_Export FFI_JS "" []
lib = Fun test "test" $
      End

Compile this with idris --codegen node --interface

[sjoerdvisscher]

Information came from typedefs, see JS.Main there.