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There is a race going on for the first language not being javascript being compiled to javascript/webassembly and actually worth using. No, coffee-script, type

There is a race going on for the first language not being javascript being compiled to javascript/webassembly and actually worth using. No, coffee-script, typescript and the like don't really count, they are relatively thin layers. Several options are in the works. Implementations of Python and .Net (Blazor). Languages like Rust or Nim. The crucial point is that it needs to have a compelling framework like vuejs or react. Then the toolchain needs to be superb and result in small enough webassembly packages. No project is currently achieving this, to my knowledge. But the race is heating up!

golergka 8y ago
> No, coffee-script, typescript and the like don't really count, they are relatively thin layers. Why is being thin a disadvantage?
- bayesian_horse 8y ago
  Both coffeescript and typescript have a respectable following, and for good reason. But their data model is completely tied to javascript, and thus limited. Also they are pretty much stuck with javascripts performance. Basically, Webassembly was created for performance reasons. But you don't need Webassembly just to compile Javascript, Typescript and Coffee-script, and you can't use its benefits through these languages. On the other hand the performance of Webassembly, both in terms of size and speed, and they enable the use of other data models, like C, Python, Java, .Net or Rust. Webassembly gives us the chance to quit the memory management paradigms of javascript for other options, like manual management, ownership or various garbage collectors. But those advantages may not be good enough to justify leaving things like react or vuejs (or similar) behind, or glueing the new paradigms to those frameworks. Rust for example has a React-like framework for use in Webassembly.
weavie 8y ago
In my opinion, that race has been won. Ocaml, or it's cousin ReasonMl are well worth looking into. Compile to JS with Bucklescript. Compelling frameworks are Bucklescript-Tea for an Elm like experience or Reason-React as a layer over React. Both frameworks are excellent.
- bayesian_horse 8y ago
  Bucklescript doesn't really count, because it is a relatively thin layer on top of javascript, not even Webassembly. It looks interesting, but the lack of popularity argues somewhat against it. It may be still in the race...

golergka 8y ago

> No, coffee-script, typescript and the like don't really count, they are relatively thin layers. Why is being thin a disadvantage?

bayesian_horse 8y ago
Both coffeescript and typescript have a respectable following, and for good reason. But their data model is completely tied to javascript, and thus limited. Also they are pretty much stuck with javascripts performance. Basically, Webassembly was created for performance reasons. But you don't need Webassembly just to compile Javascript, Typescript and Coffee-script, and you can't use its benefits through these languages. On the other hand the performance of Webassembly, both in terms of size and speed, and they enable the use of other data models, like C, Python, Java, .Net or Rust. Webassembly gives us the chance to quit the memory management paradigms of javascript for other options, like manual management, ownership or various garbage collectors. But those advantages may not be good enough to justify leaving things like react or vuejs (or similar) behind, or glueing the new paradigms to those frameworks. Rust for example has a React-like framework for use in Webassembly.

weavie 8y ago

In my opinion, that race has been won. Ocaml, or it's cousin ReasonMl are well worth looking into. Compile to JS with Bucklescript. Compelling frameworks are Bucklescript-Tea for an Elm like experience or Reason-React as a layer over React. Both frameworks are excellent.

bayesian_horse 8y ago
Bucklescript doesn't really count, because it is a relatively thin layer on top of javascript, not even Webassembly. It looks interesting, but the lack of popularity argues somewhat against it. It may be still in the race...