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Thought it was mostly summed up in the first paragraph... "Reason is a new approachable interface to the OCaml language, with the long-term goal of improving th

by GemG 10y ago

Thought it was mostly summed up in the first paragraph... "Reason is a new approachable interface to the OCaml language, with the long-term goal of improving the developer experience by providing a functional syntax and toolchain for writing, building and sharing code quickly and easily."

bcherny 10y ago
I think the question was, what's the relationship between Reason and JavaScript?
- justincormack 10y ago
  It is a new syntax for OCaml but OCaml can compile to JS really well so Reason can too.
- Touche 10y ago
  OCaml can be compiled to JavaScript. Therefore, so can Reason.
- ciniglio 10y ago
  Looks like their plan is to reuse the ocaml compiler backends that output javascript; but it doesn't sound like they're doing anything explicit to promote Reason -> Javascript compilation.
  - kbenson 10y ago
    Well, if you ignore the red button that runs you through comparisons of different Javascript syntax to the equivalent Reason syntax, then sure, they aren't doing anything explicit...
    - wtetzner 10y ago
      That's a comparison of syntax, which has nothing to do with compiling to Javascript.
      - kbenson 10y ago
        Whether they have an intermediate step that is OCaml or not is irrelevant. Most compilers have one of more intermediate representations between source and executable. I think providing a syntax comparison to Javascript right next to a syntax comparison to OCaml is a clear indication that they are marketing to Javascript programmers, and the only reason for that is if they intend thelanguage as a replacement or supplement to Javascript. That may or may not seem relevant to you based on ciniglio comment, but I think it's on point if you follow the thread from it's source down.
        jordwalke 10y ago
        In 2016, "marketing to JavaScript programmers" is pretty much the same thing as "marketing to programmers". Providing context that the vast majority of programmers will understand is helpful regardless of the compilation strategy. That being said, of course people want a language that can compile to JavaScript, and it's worth mentioning the expanding set of options for doing so. But the syntax comparison really would be worthwhile even if it weren't the case, if only to provide context to what is likely the largest developer community that exists today.
- jfb 10y ago
  The same as the relationship between OCaml and JavaScript, plus some braces.

by GemG 10y ago

bcherny 10y ago

I think the question was, what's the relationship between Reason and JavaScript?

justincormack 10y ago
It is a new syntax for OCaml but OCaml can compile to JS really well so Reason can too.
Touche 10y ago
OCaml can be compiled to JavaScript. Therefore, so can Reason.
ciniglio 10y ago
Looks like their plan is to reuse the ocaml compiler backends that output javascript; but it doesn't sound like they're doing anything explicit to promote Reason -> Javascript compilation.
- kbenson 10y ago
  Well, if you ignore the red button that runs you through comparisons of different Javascript syntax to the equivalent Reason syntax, then sure, they aren't doing anything explicit...
  - wtetzner 10y ago
    That's a comparison of syntax, which has nothing to do with compiling to Javascript.
    - kbenson 10y ago
      Whether they have an intermediate step that is OCaml or not is irrelevant. Most compilers have one of more intermediate representations between source and executable. I think providing a syntax comparison to Javascript right next to a syntax comparison to OCaml is a clear indication that they are marketing to Javascript programmers, and the only reason for that is if they intend thelanguage as a replacement or supplement to Javascript. That may or may not seem relevant to you based on ciniglio comment, but I think it's on point if you follow the thread from it's source down.
      - jordwalke 10y ago
        In 2016, "marketing to JavaScript programmers" is pretty much the same thing as "marketing to programmers". Providing context that the vast majority of programmers will understand is helpful regardless of the compilation strategy. That being said, of course people want a language that can compile to JavaScript, and it's worth mentioning the expanding set of options for doing so. But the syntax comparison really would be worthwhile even if it weren't the case, if only to provide context to what is likely the largest developer community that exists today.
jfb 10y ago
The same as the relationship between OCaml and JavaScript, plus some braces.