CLI Languages are computer programming languages that are used to produce libraries and programs that conform to the Common Language Infrastructure specifications. With some notable exceptions, most CLI languages compile entirely to the Common Intermediate Language (CIL), an intermediate language that can be executed using an implementation of CLI such as the Common Language Runtime (CLR), a part of the Microsoft .NET Framework, Mono, or Portable.NET.
As the program is being executed by the CLR, the CIL code is compiled and cached, just in time, to the machine code appropriate for the architecture on which the program is running. This last set can be shortcut manually and cached at an earlier stage using an "ahead of time" compiler such as Microsoft's ngen.exe and Mono's "-aot" option.
[edit] CLI languages
- Common CLI Languages
- C#: Most widely used CLI language, bearing similarities to C++ and Java. Implementations provided by .NET Framework, Portable.NET and Mono.
- C++/CLI: A version of C++ including extensions for using CLR objects. Implementation provided only .NET Framework. Can produce either CIL-based managed code or mixed-mode code that mixes both managed code as well as native code. The compiler is provided by Microsoft.
- F#: A multi-paradigm CLI language supporting functional programming as well as imperative object-oriented programming disciplines. Variant of ML and is largely compatible with OCaml. The compiler provided by Microsoft.
- J#: A CLS-compliant implementation of Java. The compiler is provided by Microsoft. Microsoft has announced that J# will be discontinued.
- Windows PowerShell: An object-oriented command-line shell. PowerShell can dynamically load .NET assemblies that were written in any CLI language. PowerShell itself uses a unique scripting syntax, uses curly-braces, similar to other C-based languages.
- JScript .NET: A CLI implementation of ECMAScript version 3, compatible with JScript. Contains extensions for static typing. Deprecated in favor of Managed JScript.
- IronPython: An open-source CLI implementation of Python, built on top of the DLR.
- IronRuby: An open-source CLI implementation of Ruby, built on top of the DLR.
- Managed Extensions for C++: A version of C++ targeting the CLR. Deprecated in favor of C++/CLI.
- Managed JScript: A CLI implementation of JScript built on top of the DLR. Conforms to ECMAScript version 3.
- VBx: A dynamic version of VB.NET built on top of the DLR. See VBScript and VBA as this could be thought of being used like a Managed VBScript (though so far this name has not been applied to this) and could be used to replace VBA as well.
- VB.NET: A redesigned, object-oriented dialect of Visual Basic. Implementations provided by .NET Framework and Mono.
- A#: CLI implementation of Ada.
- Boo: A statically typed CLI language, inspired by Python.
- Cobra: A CLI language with both static as well as dynamic typing.
- Component Pascal: A CLI-compliant Oberon dialect. It is a strongly typed language in the heritage of Pascal and Modula-2 but with powerful object-oriented extensions.
- IronLisp: A CLI implementation of Lisp. Deprecated in favor of IronScheme.
- L#: A CLI implementation of Lisp.
- Mondrian: A CLI based functional language designed to provide an easy way of scripting components.
- Nemerle: A multi-paradigm language similar to C#, OCaml and Lisp.
- Oxygene: An Object Pascal-based CLI language.
- P#: A CLI implementation of Prolog
- Phalanger: An implementation of PHP with extensions for ASP.NET
- Phrogram: A custom CLI language for beginners and intermediate users produced by The Phrogram Company
- PowerBuilder: Can target CIL since version 11.1.
| - Other CLI languages
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