CLASP for Google Apps Scripts development evaluation / decision

[aricforrest]

Overview

Evaluate if Google's CLASP (Command Line Apps Script Projects) should be utilized for Google Apps Script development.

Action Items

Understand what Google Apps Scripts and Google CLASP is:

• Google Apps Scripts are serverless JavaScript runtime for G Suite.
• Google CLASP is a command-line tool that allows you to locally create, pull, edit, and deploy Apps Scripts.

Review benefits to using CLASP:

• Allows for collaboration of Apps Scripts using version control (e.g. GitHub)
• Allows creating Apps Scripts locally in preferred IDE
  -- Nicer user interface
  -- auto completion of Google Apps Script classes and methods
  -- syntax highlighting
  -- keyboard shortcuts
  -- additional plugins such as linters
• TypeScript support in Apps Scripts via ts2gas
• NPM/ES6 module support in Apps Scripts via Webpack

Review required changes:

• Existing Apps Scripts will need to be cloned via CLASP and pushed to GitHub
• Documentation will need to be created introducing the Google Apps Scripts development process using CLASP
• Node.js and NPM required on (Google Apps Scripts) developer workstation
• Google Apps Script API needs to be enabled on the users' Google account

Review potential downsides:

• Larger learning curve for Apps Script development

Review and Document

• Write up Decision Record
• Review with Team
• Let product know what you are recommending
• Get sign off
• Create issues

Resources/Instructions

• Google Apps Script - https://www.google.com/script/start/
• Google clasp - https://github.com/google/clasp
• clasp codelab - http://g.co/codelabs/clasp

[github-actions]

Hi @roslynwythe, thank you for taking up this issue! Hfla appreciates you :)

Do let fellow developers know about your:-
i. Availability: (When are you available to work on the issue/answer questions other programmers might have about your issue?)
ii. ETA: (When do you expect this issue to be completed?)

You're awesome!

P.S. - You may not take up another issue until this issue gets merged (or closed). Thanks again :)

[roslynwythe]

Availability: 2/6 3-5 pm, 2/7 4-11 pm, 2/8 5-11 pm, 2/9 9-noon
ETA: 2/20