C# to Boo Converter

The easiest way to see how code in boo differs from C# is to use the C# to boo converter included in the Boo AddIn For SharpDevelop.

The converter is also accessible online via a webform here: http://developer.sharpdevelop.net/codeconvert.net/

While viewing a C# file in SharpDevelop, you can select from the menu: Tools -> Convert C# to boo. Or you can convert an entire C# project at once by right-clicking on the project icon and selecting: Convert -> C# to boo. Note, however, the converter is still new and in development.

The converter will convert C# to legal boo code, but it will not show you the simplest way to write that code. For example, instead of "System.Console.WriteLine ", in boo you can simply say "print x". And many times the type will be declared "x as int" when it is unnecessary since the type can be inferred by the boo compiler: "x = 3" or "m = MyClass()".

C# vs. Boo Syntax Examples

Here is a table noting some diffences between C# and boo, based on this table from the Nemerle programming language site. See also the C# language specification.

Expressions

C#	Boo	Remarks
		Types are inferred, no semicolons needed

		No "new" keyword required
		See Lists and Arrays
		See Generics
		Types are inferred when you use arrays





		Use "raise" to generate an exception.
		See Casting Types

		You can creates aliases for namespaces. Also use print instead of console.writeline.

		Read-only and constant fields.

Type definitions

C#	Boo	Remarks
		Use "def" for methods and functions. Types are declared with the "as" keyword like VB.
		Illustrates a class with a superclass and a constructor
		a class with a field
		or else a "const" keyword may be added to boo
		Implementing two interfaces that have the same named method.
		Use the DefaultMember attribute.
		char() builtin
		Uses "single" instead of "float"

Miscellaneous Differences and Similarities

C#	Boo	Remarks
		C++ style commenting plus Python # comments.
		Quoted string literals. Triple-quoted strings can span multiple lines, too.

Other Notes on Differences Between C# and Boo

These are some early notes from looking at the C# language specification.

Assigning multiple variables at once

In C#, you can assign a value to two variables at once like so:

In boo, however, "a, b" refers to a sequence. So you would instead use:

Note also declaring the type is unnecessary because of boo's Type Inference.

Use "a, b" when unpacking multiple values. For example:

Also note in boo you can use the "print" statement instead of System.Console.WriteLine.

Buffer overflow checking

You can turn off overflow checking in boo like so:

Variable number of parameters.

Boo uses syntax similar to python:

By reference and output parameters.

In C# you can pass types to functions by reference using "ref" or "out" keywords.

Boo supports the "ref" keyword, too, but not "out", which is unnecessary in boo.

Note though that in this particular sample, you can swap two values more easily like so:

As a more general alternative to by reference parameters, in boo you can also return multiple values from a function instead:

Boo

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