Miel.js

A javaScript pre-loader to add indentation syntax, (a la Sass or CoffeeScript).

Check out the REPL: https://rawgit.com/collardeau/Miel-REPL/master/public/index.html

The blog post (rant): https://medium.com/@collardeau/what-craziness-drove-me-to-write-a-javascript-syntax-extension-fadc04bd36e9

Usage

function translate(word) {-}
    var translation = 'le ' + word
    if (word === 'miel') {-}
        translation = 'honey'
    return translation

compiles to:

function translate(word) {
    var translation = 'le ' + word
    if (word === 'miel') {
        translation = 'honey'
    }
    return translation
}

Installation

Use gulp-miel to run in a Gulp build.

Use miel-loader for a Webpack bundle.

You can run these in tandem with Babel.

Miel Syntax

{-} Wrap

The {-} syntax will wrap the code following it that is more indented than the line it is on. (It is a hyphen in between brackets). The hyphen can be spaced out: { - } and still be recognized by Miel.

{-} carries over comments, parenthesis, or semi-colons that are on the same line after it. For example:

describe("works with indentation", () => {-});
    it('smartly knows when to wrap code');

compiles to:

describe("works with indentation", () => {
    it('smartly knows when to wrap code');
});

{-} can be used anywhere that needs bracket wrapping like with if statement, or for an object literal:

javascript if(true){-} return true else {-} return false

var bee = {-} family: 'Honey Bee', colonySize: 50000

Miel does not touch semi-colons. You can have them in, or not, after {-} (and they will be carried down).

"{-}" (wrapped in single or double quotes) will never be invoked.

## Experimental

The following features are likely to change in the near future.

### Variable Declaration 

Miel recognizes a variable declaration using the Smalltalk type syntax ```:=```, and it will convert it to a ```var``` declaration.

```javascript
syntax:= 'miel';
language := 'javaScript';

compiles to:

var syntax= 'miel';
var language = 'javaScript';

Conclusion

Don't get bogged down counting and moving brackets, and you can better focus on the task at hand!