Compile OCaml to JavaScript, use ReactJS, bindings to ReactJS, several examples (opens in new tab)

(github.com)

82 pointse_d_g_a_r9y ago29 comments

29 comments

For those interested in this, https://github.com/bloomberg/bucklescript is an alternate (albeit new) OCaml to JS compiler. There's already talk about supporting JSX syntax: https://github.com/bloomberg/bucklescript/issues/162

Scarbutt9y ago

Differences from js_of_ocaml (not an easy find)

Js_of_ocaml takes lowlevel bytecode from OCaml compiler, BuckleScript takes the highlevel rawlambda representation from OCaml compiler

Js_of_ocaml focuses more on existing OCaml eco-system(opam) while BuckleScript's major goal is to target npm

Js_of_ocaml and BuckleScript have slightly different runtime encoding in several places, for example, BuckleScript encodes OCaml Array as JS Array while js_of_ocaml requires its index 0 to be of value 0.

Both projects are improving quickly, so this can change in the future!

rajington9y ago

I haven't really gotten into much ML yet, and I'm curious to hear what people knowledgeable with OCaml think about http://facebook.github.io/reason/

The name makes it impossible to research to find any blog posts or anything, but the familiar syntax alone might make it at least a first step for me.

3 more replies

jordwalke9y ago

Sander sent a [Pull Request](https://github.com/facebook/reason/pull/647) to [Reason](http://facebook.github.io/reason/) which adds JSX syntax (which many React developers have found helpful)

Reason doesn't yet work with Edgar(OP)'s React bindings yet, but it could easily (and therefore JSX would work as well).

xamlhacker9y ago

In the same vein, there are also some F# to JS compiler projects such as Funscript (http://funscript.info/) and Fable (https://github.com/fsprojects/Fable). F# is an open-source Ocaml inspired language for .net.

piaste9y ago

Also plugging Websharper (http://websharper.com/) which is a full web framework that includes a F# to JS compiler to write the client-side part of the code.

Though you can use just the compiler inside a regular ASP.NET MVC project, if you so choose.

hongboz9y ago

FYI: you can try bucklescript compiler in browser, and see generated JS code side by side instantly https://bloomberg.github.io/bucklescript/js-demo/

e_d_g_a_rOP9y ago

opam version is a little bit behind curve, use `opam pin add -y reactjs git@github.com:fxfactorial/ocaml-reactjs.git`

magnumkarter9y ago

I've been learning OCaml and hoped I could find something like this. Thank you.

e_d_g_a_rOP9y ago

Thanks! Star it if you like it, use it and open issues if any arise.

e_d_g_a_rOP9y ago

Sean just made this awesome much more real world usage example of a TODO MVC : https://www.dropbox.com/s/um29z2793ta7s9l/todomvc_state_repl...

jiyinyiyong9y ago

ClojureScript is better than that, except for the type system.

sgrove9y ago

It's probably worth elaborating your opinion here. I've used ClojureScript heavily and feel I have a good sense of the comparison, but someone else reading your comment wouldn't be any better informed for it.

I'm genuinely curious as to your comparison though, would love to read it!

amelius9y ago

How is the performance?

Imho, we need an equivalent of the "great programming language shootout" for all the AltJS languages.

hongboz9y ago

For bucklescript, the performance is excellent, better than handwritten JS: https://github.com/bloomberg/bucklescript#more-examples-1

galfarragem9y ago

Isn't this a less polished version of Elm?

e_d_g_a_rOP9y ago

This has nothing to do with elm..

ilostmykeys9y ago

Why?

klibertp9y ago

A sane, powerful type system is actually enough of a rationale and a selling point, at least for me.

Also, allowing side-effects while still providing the mentioned type system makes it potentially much easier to integrate with existing JS code.

cies9y ago

Another reason for it being "much easier to integrate with existing JS code" is strict evaluation.

Haskell is lazy, which means using GHCJS to compile it to JS produces code full of explicit thunks (think of promises). Both Elm and PureScript are compile-to-JS-languages that inherit a lot from Haskell, but not it's laziness.

jackmott9y ago

You should give one of the OCaml languages a try. OCaml or F#. They have some very pleasant properties.

Generally this whole idea would make sense when you are writing a web application and you are using OCaml or F# on the server and want to use it for the client code too. Same justification for using node.js, but in reverse.

But I know that the Ionide plugin for Atom and VSCode is written in F# compiled to javascript just because the developers like to code in F#

ilostmykeys9y ago

I got downloaded for asking Why. Seriously sad.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

29 comments

btown9y ago

Scarbutt9y ago

Differences from js_of_ocaml (not an easy find)

Js_of_ocaml takes lowlevel bytecode from OCaml compiler, BuckleScript takes the highlevel rawlambda representation from OCaml compiler

Js_of_ocaml focuses more on existing OCaml eco-system(opam) while BuckleScript's major goal is to target npm

Both projects are improving quickly, so this can change in the future!

rajington9y ago

I haven't really gotten into much ML yet, and I'm curious to hear what people knowledgeable with OCaml think about http://facebook.github.io/reason/

The name makes it impossible to research to find any blog posts or anything, but the familiar syntax alone might make it at least a first step for me.

3 more replies

jordwalke9y ago

Sander sent a [Pull Request](https://github.com/facebook/reason/pull/647) to [Reason](http://facebook.github.io/reason/) which adds JSX syntax (which many React developers have found helpful)

Reason doesn't yet work with Edgar(OP)'s React bindings yet, but it could easily (and therefore JSX would work as well).

xamlhacker9y ago

piaste9y ago

Also plugging Websharper (http://websharper.com/) which is a full web framework that includes a F# to JS compiler to write the client-side part of the code.

Though you can use just the compiler inside a regular ASP.NET MVC project, if you so choose.

hongboz9y ago

FYI: you can try bucklescript compiler in browser, and see generated JS code side by side instantly https://bloomberg.github.io/bucklescript/js-demo/

e_d_g_a_rOP9y ago

opam version is a little bit behind curve, use `opam pin add -y reactjs git@github.com:fxfactorial/ocaml-reactjs.git`

magnumkarter9y ago

I've been learning OCaml and hoped I could find something like this. Thank you.

e_d_g_a_rOP9y ago

Thanks! Star it if you like it, use it and open issues if any arise.

e_d_g_a_rOP9y ago

Sean just made this awesome much more real world usage example of a TODO MVC : https://www.dropbox.com/s/um29z2793ta7s9l/todomvc_state_repl...

jiyinyiyong9y ago

ClojureScript is better than that, except for the type system.

sgrove9y ago

I'm genuinely curious as to your comparison though, would love to read it!

amelius9y ago

How is the performance?

Imho, we need an equivalent of the "great programming language shootout" for all the AltJS languages.

hongboz9y ago

For bucklescript, the performance is excellent, better than handwritten JS: https://github.com/bloomberg/bucklescript#more-examples-1

galfarragem9y ago

Isn't this a less polished version of Elm?

e_d_g_a_rOP9y ago

This has nothing to do with elm..

ilostmykeys9y ago

Why?

klibertp9y ago

A sane, powerful type system is actually enough of a rationale and a selling point, at least for me.

Also, allowing side-effects while still providing the mentioned type system makes it potentially much easier to integrate with existing JS code.

cies9y ago

Another reason for it being "much easier to integrate with existing JS code" is strict evaluation.

jackmott9y ago

You should give one of the OCaml languages a try. OCaml or F#. They have some very pleasant properties.

But I know that the Ionide plugin for Atom and VSCode is written in F# compiled to javascript just because the developers like to code in F#

ilostmykeys9y ago

I got downloaded for asking Why. Seriously sad.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse