CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javafunctioninputscripting
Andrea Alciato
Andrea Alciato

Reputation: 199

User script input in java

I am developing a java app where the user inputs certain functions through a property files. The functions are then evaluated at runtime with variable values provided by the app.

Here a simple example. The user wants to calculate the return on investment for a certain capital allocation over the next n years. He should be able to input not just relevant parameters, but a function that calculates the return year by year.

Can anyone suggest or recommend a scripting language which is simple , so that the user learning curve is not too steep, and for which a standard library providing integration with java code is available?

A related example would be welcome too.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 995

Answers (4)

udalmik
udalmik

Reputation: 7998

My suggestion is to use ScriptEngine and evaluate Javascript functions. As simple as:

public class TestScriptEngine {

    private static final String script = "var customFunction = function(parameter) {\n" +
            "\treturn parameter*parameter;\n" +
            "};\n" +
            "\n" +
            "println(customFunction(10));\n";

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        ScriptEngineManager factory = new ScriptEngineManager();
        ScriptEngine engine = factory.getEngineByName("JavaScript");
        // evaluate JavaScript code User's input
        try {
            engine.eval(script);
        } catch (ScriptException e) {
            e.printStackTrace(); 
        }
    }

}

Upvotes: 1

heldt
heldt

Reputation: 4266

You could take a look at Groovy. It can be embedded in Java applications and be a useful tool for scripting in applications.

http://groovy.codehaus.org/Embedding+Groovy

Upvotes: 1

Waleed Almadanat
Waleed Almadanat

Reputation: 1037

You could use JavaScript or Ruby, they should be convenient enough.

Upvotes: 0

Olimpiu POP
Olimpiu POP

Reputation: 5067

I would suggest using javascript. It is simple enough and the Rhino library is integrated with java. Complete information can be found here: Rhino

Upvotes: 1

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