Brightscript: A Powerful Language

08 Nov, 2017

Brightscript Makes Roku a Powerful Platform

Brightscript

Building attractive and powerful apps for streaming devices is no easy task. As I explored the Roku ecosystem, I discovered that its SDK revolves around a scripting language called Brightscript. If you’ve ever worked with this platform, you’ll know that to get good results, you need to blend its default functions with custom components using SceneGraph.

Today, users expect a smooth experience. The content might be amazing, but if the app is slow or unintuitive, users will simply leave. I’ve seen apps with must-watch series get abandoned due to poor UX. Often, this happens because developers don’t fully understand the Roku SDK or underestimate its learning curve. But once you learn how to make the most of Brightscript, everything changes.

The Roku SDK

Interestingly, Brightscript wasn’t originally created for Roku – it was developed for BrightSign products. Still, today it's a core part of Roku’s SDK. It’s designed to work directly with the hardware, which makes development more streamlined and efficient.

Of course, not everything is perfect. Unlike iOS or Android, Brightscript has a small community, and the documentation could be better. Fortunately, Roku has stepped up. They’ve moved away from older visual components and are more active on their developer blog, which gives us more resources to work with.

Fast Implementation is Key

One of the things I value most is time. And that’s where Brightscript shines. I don’t have to spend hours wrestling with complex APIs or heavy development environments. It’s an interpreted language, so I can run and test my code almost instantly, without compiling over and over again.

This lets me focus on what really matters: building solid multimedia experiences that integrate well with the network and take full advantage of the Roku device’s capabilities.

Written in C, But as Easy as BASIC

Roku devices run a customized version of Linux, known as Roku OS. And while Brightscript is written entirely in C, you don’t need to know C or even Linux to use it.

In fact, Brightscript’s syntax is closer to Visual Basic (classic) (including VBScript), classic BASIC, or even Lua. Visual components are defined using XML. It’s an accessible mix, especially if you already have some scripting or web development experience.

Getting the Most Out of a Non-Cross-Platform Scripting Language

Yes, it’s true: Brightscript is exclusive to Roku. If your goal is to build something that also runs on Android TV, Fire TV, or Apple TV, then this may not be the best option. Also, the lack of a large community and solid official documentation can sometimes be frustrating.

But if Roku is your target, then Brightscript is the tool. It has many built-in functions and is optimized to take full advantage of Roku’s hardware. You just need to be willing to supplement some things with your own components to take the experience to the next level.