"Boo" questions

Unity Engine
1

I’m a novice programmer. I like the syntax of Python and Boo seems even better at first look. I can speed-code using Python faster than any other language and I really like that.

But I read that it would be ‘stupid’ to use Boo as the scripting language in Unity and that Unity’s ‘support for “boo” is entirely mythical.’

Here is where I read that: http://www.eldergame.com/2009/04/unity-25-the-fast-track-to-an-indie-mmo/ Just ctrl+F the quotes I posted and you’ll find it.

I would have really liked to use Boo with Unity if it was indeed a viable choice. But I’m getting mixed answers.

Can anyone clarify this information for me? I don’t have specific questions, I’m too much a newbie to know what to ask. Is Boo just as viable an option for Unity as Javascript and C#? I need to know if me using Boo will devastate my game’s development or have any drawbacks (or advantages).

2

Unity’s Java support is built right on top of Boo, so it’s definitly fully functional.

The downside is that it’s syntax is completely undocumented.

I have personally never seen any Boo code snippets, or Boo code in Unify Wiki.

There is nothing stopping you from using it, and it’s not missing any functionality, but you are severely hampering yourself by removing the Script Reference samples and forum provided scripts from useable scripts.

3

I think the biggest problem you’ll face is lack of examples and support from the forums. This is of course self-reinforcing: people don’t use Boo because there are few examples or relevant discussions on the forums, so there continue to be few examples or relevant discussions on the forums.

Still, I’d probably recommend using C# or UnityScript instead, as you’ll most likely be able to get going faster that way. (I could be wrong though - you could always try Boo for a while and see how it goes. It’s not like you can’t switch to another language later.)

4

If you already know Python, then using Boo shouldn’t be a problem.

For support, there is the Boo website and there are a few people on the forum who do use it. Just not anywhere near as many people as UnityScript or C#.

The only real limitation you’ll see with Boo is that it doesn’t work for iPhone or iPad. So if you are targeting one of those as your game platform, then you’ll have to use C# or UnityScript.

5

Welcome to the forum, Aegon!

Just to reassure you, Boo is definitely supported by Unity. The code examples in the docs have thus far been in JavaScript only. However, in Unity 3.0 there will be examples in all three languages (JS, C# and Boo). Also, the creator of Boo is now working for Unity and can be poked if you have any tough technical questions about the language.