Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Babel VS Progate

Compare Babel VS Progate and see what are their differences

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Babel logo Babel

Babel is a compiler for writing next generation JavaScript.

Progate logo Progate

Progate is an online platform to learn programming.
  • Babel Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-02
  • Progate Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-12

Babel features and specs

  • JavaScript Version Compatibility
    Babel allows developers to write code using the latest JavaScript features and syntax, and transpile it into a version of JavaScript that can run on older browsers. This ensures greater compatibility across different environments.
  • Future-Proof Code
    With Babel, developers can start using upcoming JavaScript features today. This means that codebases can stay modern and developers can take advantage of new functionalities without waiting for full browser support.
  • Ecosystem and Plugins
    Babel has a rich ecosystem of plugins and presets that can extend its capabilities, making it highly adaptable to different project needs. This modularity allows for customization and enhancement of the build process.
  • Integration with Modern Development Tools
    Babel integrates well with various development tools such as Webpack, making it easier to include in existing build processes and workflows. This helps streamline development and maintain efficient workflows.
  • Community and Support
    Babel has a large and active community, which means extensive documentation, tutorials, and support forums. This can be particularly useful for troubleshooting and staying updated with best practices.

Possible disadvantages of Babel

  • Performance Overhead
    Transpiling code with Babel introduces a performance overhead during the build process. This can slow down development workflows, especially for large codebases with many files.
  • Configuration Complexity
    Setting up Babel can be complex, particularly for beginners. The numerous options and plugins available can sometimes be overwhelming and require significant time to configure correctly.
  • Source Map Issues
    Generating accurate source maps can sometimes be tricky with Babel, leading to difficulties in debugging. Misconfigured source maps can make it harder to track down issues within the original source code.
  • Dependency Bloat
    Including Babel in a project can add a significant number of dependencies. This dependency bloat can increase the size of the project and potentially introduce maintenance challenges or security vulnerabilities.
  • Learning Curve
    There is a learning curve associated with Babel, especially for developers who are new to modern JavaScript tooling. Understanding how Babel works and how to effectively use its features can take time and effort.

Progate features and specs

  • Interactive Learning
    Progate offers interactive slides and coding exercises that allow users to learn by doing, which can enhance engagement and retention.
  • Beginner-Friendly
    Progate is designed to be accessible for beginners, offering a smooth introduction to programming concepts with clear explanations and progressive difficulty levels.
  • Range of Languages
    The platform covers a variety of programming languages including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, and more, providing a broad base for learners.
  • Progress Tracking
    Users can track their learning progress, which can help keep them motivated and provide a sense of accomplishment.
  • Community Support
    Progate has a community of learners where users can connect, share knowledge, and support each other, fostering a collaborative learning environment.

Possible disadvantages of Progate

  • Limited Advanced Content
    While Progate is excellent for beginners, it may lack depth for advanced learners who are looking to delve into more complex or specialized topics.
  • Language Availability
    The primary language of instruction is Japanese, although there are English courses available. This might be limiting for speakers of other languages.
  • Cost Barrier
    While Progate offers free content, more comprehensive courses and features are locked behind a subscription model, which may not be affordable for all users.
  • Lack of Real-World Projects
    Progate focuses heavily on exercises and small projects; it may not provide enough opportunities to work on larger, real-world projects.
  • No Certification
    Unlike some other learning platforms, Progate does not offer certifications upon course completion, which may be a disadvantage for those looking to boost their resumes.

Analysis of Babel

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Babel is widely considered a good tool for modern JavaScript development. It eases the use of cutting-edge JavaScript features and ensures broader compatibility, which is crucial for many projects. Its active community and continuous updates reflect its standing as a reliable and well-supported choice.

Why this product is good

  • Babel is a popular JavaScript compiler that allows developers to use the latest JavaScript features while maintaining compatibility with older environments that may not support these features natively. It transforms modern JavaScript code into a version that can run in current and older browsers or environments. Babel is highly configurable and has a rich ecosystem of plugins and presets that enable developers to tailor it to their specific needs, making development smoother and more efficient.

Recommended for

    Babel is recommended for web developers who want to write modern JavaScript but need to ensure that their code remains functional across different environments and older browsers. It is also valuable for projects where developers aspire to use the latest ECMAScript features without waiting for broad native support.

Analysis of Progate

Overall verdict

  • Progate is a solid choice for beginners who are looking to start their programming journey in a structured and engaging way. Advanced learners might find it too basic, but for those new to coding, it provides a strong foundation.

Why this product is good

  • Progate is considered good because it offers interactive and beginner-friendly programming courses. The platform provides a hands-on learning experience with its step-by-step approach, covering a variety of programming languages and web development concepts. Its intuitive interface and gamified learning paths help keep learners engaged and motivated.

Recommended for

    Progate is recommended for beginners, students, and hobbyists who are new to coding and prefer learning through interactive lessons. It's also suitable for individuals who enjoy gamified learning experiences and want to explore programming languages and web development basics at their own pace.

Babel videos

Babel - Movie Review

More videos:

  • Review - Day 16 | Babel Review | 365 Films
  • Review - Worth The Hype? - BABEL Review
  • Review - Book CommuniTEA: Is BABEL a rac1st mani!fest0? [you should know the answer]
  • Review - Babel is a Masterpiece, And Here's Why

Progate videos

Wanna learn to code online? Progate is worth a try!

More videos:

  • Review - Progate On Air: Top Tech Skills to upgrade your career in 2020

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Babel and Progate)
Development Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Online Learning
0 0%
100% 100
Javascript UI Libraries
100 100%
0% 0
Online Courses
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Babel seems to be a lot more popular than Progate. While we know about 153 links to Babel, we've tracked only 5 mentions of Progate. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Babel mentions (153)

  • Join me in building a community-maintained fork of the Quill Editor ๐Ÿ™Œ
    Can be used with promises, ES6 generators and async/await (using Babel). - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Anime Nexus โ€” a sleek community planner for anime fans
    @vitejs/plugin-react uses Babel (or oxc when used in rolldown-vite) for Fast Refresh. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • The Architecture Wars: How We Almost Built Everything Wrong ๐Ÿ—๏ธ (Part 2/5)
    I was convinced that Babel with full AST parsing was the "right" way to analyze code. I mean, that's what real tools do, right? VS Code uses it, TypeScript uses it, all the cool kids use AST parsing! - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • Quanter A pure JavaScript CSS Selector Engine
    There are several ways to use Webpack, Browserify or Babel. For more information on using these tools, please refer to the corresponding project's documentation. In the script, including Quanter will usually look like this:. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • Supporting multiple Javascript environments
    In order to accomplish this, I picked up a tool that I've been loathe to touch since the last time I used it, roughly a decade ago โ€” Babel. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
View more

Progate mentions (5)

  • Best site for on-going self-learning with GO
    Outside of what's been mentioned I'll add Progate. Source: over 3 years ago
  • From Student๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸŽ“ To DevRelย ๐Ÿฅ‘: A Memoir ๐Ÿ“ƒ
    The end of my sophomore year saw the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was a terrible time for most of us. As difficult as it may have been, it created a new set of remote work opportunities. One of the first ones I grabbed was my first internship as a Community Intern at Progate. Working with Progate has, till this day, been one of the most wholesome and fulfilling experiences that I have had on a... - Source: dev.to / over 4 years ago
  • Progate Code Community in Zambia - @ Cavendish University
    We wanted to create a service to allow even complete beginners to learn without frustration so we started Progate. Many people want to start programming, but donโ€™t know how or where to start. So they get stuck before they even begin. Our goal is to solve this problem by making the worldโ€™s best service for learning to code and delivering it to beginners all over the world. - Source: dev.to / over 4 years ago
  • Is it pointless for someone in late 30s to go to IT senmon gakkou now, hoping for a better job/life in future?
    Before making a large commitment, I'd try out programming, and see if it is something you enjoy and have an aptitude for. There's a large number of online resources for it. One easy way to get started is Progate, which offers interactive courses. I reviewed their introductory course and thought it was pretty well done. Source: about 5 years ago
  • Using the 3 month unemployment grace period to attend a coding boot camp
    That being said, I would recommend you at least learn some basic programming on your own first, just to confirm itโ€™s something you enjoy and have the aptitude for. Progate is one online option that has some free interactive courses, and from what Iโ€™ve seen of it looks decent at giving someone the sense if programming is for them. Source: over 5 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Babel and Progate, you can also consider the following products

jQuery - The Write Less, Do More, JavaScript Library.

Codecademy - Learn the technical skills you need for the job you want. As leaders in online education and learning to code, weโ€™ve taught over 45 million people using a tested curriculum and an interactive learning environment.

React Native - A framework for building native apps with React

Free Code Camp - Learn to code by helping nonprofits.

Composer - Composer is a tool for dependency management in PHP.

Egghead - Learn the best JavaScript tools and frameworks from industry pros. Video tutorials for badass web developers.