Q: .bwextension vs .js

[DarkStar]

Disclaimer: I know nothing about JavaScript.

I understand that Controller Scripts are .js files and should be placed in (on Windows):
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Bitwig Studio\Controller Scripts\.

So I downloaded the 2 Akai MIDIMix scripts.
-- both have the file extension .bwextension
-- their installation notes say put the script in the Bitwig Studio/Extensions folder,
-- they both look like binary files.

What is the difference between a .js script and a .bwextension file?
Are the .bwextension files compiled JavaScript?
If so is there a performance gain?
Or other reasons for compiling them?
Where should both of files be placed?

[DarkStar]

... anyone?

[dgmulf]

The .bwextension files are essentially JAR files, in other words code written in the Java language, which is quite separate from JavaScript. Place them in Documents\Bitwig Studio\Extensions. Java extensions should theoretically perform better than JavaScript extensions, but since Bitwig controller scripts aren't very CPU-intensive to begin with, I doubt it will make a noticeable difference in most cases. Developers prefer coding in Java for various reasons, like better debugging.

[DarkStar]

OK, thank you.

[abique]

Choose java over javascript, you'll have better IDE support, you'll write your extension much quicker and you'll understand much better the API you're using.

Resulting in an higher quality extension.