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Crystal (programming language) VS Vala

Compare Crystal (programming language) VS Vala and see what are their differences

Crystal (programming language) logo Crystal (programming language)

Programming language with Ruby-like syntax that compiles to efficient native code.

Vala logo Vala

Vala is a new programming language that aims to bring modern programming language features to GNOME...
  • Crystal (programming language) Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-26
  • Vala Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-09-21

We recommend LibHunt Vala for discovery and comparisons of trending Vala projects.

Crystal (programming language) features and specs

  • Performance
    Crystal is designed to have the performance of C, thanks to its compilation to efficient native code. Its static type system and low-level memory management capabilities allow optimized execution.
  • Syntax
    Crystal offers a syntax that is heavily inspired by Ruby, making it intuitive and familiar for Ruby developers. This can significantly reduce the learning curve and improve developer productivity.
  • Type Inference
    Crystal provides powerful type inference, enabling developers to write less boilerplate code while still benefiting from the safety and performance of a statically-typed language.
  • Concurrency
    Crystal supports lightweight concurrency with fibers, which allows developers to write efficient and scalable concurrent programs with a simpler syntax compared to traditional threading models.
  • Community and Ecosystem
    Crystal has an active and growing community. It also boasts a rich ecosystem with libraries and tools, making it easier for developers to find resources and support.

Possible disadvantages of Crystal (programming language)

  • Maturity
    Crystal is still a relatively young language compared to more established languages like Python or Java. This can mean fewer resources, libraries, and tools, as well as potential instability in certain areas.
  • Compilation Time
    Crystal's compilation times can be slower compared to interpreted languages, particularly for larger codebases. This can impact development workflows and iteration speed.
  • Binary Size
    Compiled Crystal programs tend to generate larger binary sizes compared to other compiled languages like Go or Rust. This can be a consideration for resource-constrained environments.
  • Platform Support
    Being less mature, Crystal may have fewer options for platform-specific optimizations and integrations, which could limit its use in certain specialized applications.
  • Tooling
    Although the situation is improving, Crystal's tooling ecosystem is not as mature as those of older languages. This can affect the availability and quality of IDE support, debugging tools, and other development aids.

Vala features and specs

  • C-like Performance
    Vala compiles to C, which allows it to have performance characteristics similar to traditional C programs, providing efficient execution.
  • GObject Integration
    Vala is designed to work seamlessly with the GObject type system used in GNOME, making it a strong choice for GNOME application development.
  • Modern Syntax
    Vala features a modern and clean syntax similar to C# and Java, making it accessible to developers familiar with these languages.
  • Automatic Memory Management
    Vala provides memory management with reference counting and automatic cleanup, reducing the overhead associated with manual memory management.
  • Native Code Generation
    Since Vala compiles down to C, it can leverage existing C toolchains and produce native code without requiring an interpreter or VM.
  • Rich Ecosystem
    Developers can leverage a rich set of GObject-based libraries available in the GNOME ecosystem, enhancing productivity and functionality.

Possible disadvantages of Vala

  • Small Community
    Vala has a relatively small user community, which can result in limited resources, support, and documentation compared to more popular languages.
  • Error Prone Bindings
    Generating and maintaining Vala bindings for C libraries can sometimes be error-prone, potentially leading to runtime issues.
  • Limited Tooling
    Compared to more mainstream languages, Vala's tooling (IDEs, debuggers, etc.) can be limited, which might slow down development.
  • Language Specific Limits
    Some language features available in more mainstream languages might be missing or limited in Vala, reducing its appeal for certain applications.
  • Dependence on C Libraries
    Vala development often involves interfacing with C libraries, which can require a solid understanding of C and GObject, adding complexity.

Crystal (programming language) videos

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Vala videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Crystal (programming language) and Vala)
Programming Language
80 80%
20% 20
OOP
73 73%
27% 27
Generic Programming Language
Development
58 58%
42% 42

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Crystal (programming language) seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 114 times since March 2021. 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.

Crystal (programming language) mentions (114)

  • Rhombus Language
    Did you ever see Crystal? It's more or less a typed Ruby. I've heard that you can port some code directly. https://crystal-lang.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • Tiny JITs for a Faster FFI
    If you like the Ruby syntax (but want a statically typed language), you might want to take a look at Crystal: https://crystal-lang.org/ > Crystal is statically typed and type errors are caught early by the compiler, eliminating a range of type-related errors at runtime. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Advent of Code #1 (in Gleam)
    I really enjoyed using Crystal last year. It is a very ergonomic language with a featureful standard library. I was tempted to use it again this year, but I figured I should use this opportunity to try something new. After considering several languages including Go, F#, Nim, and Raku, I decided to go with Gleam. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Understanding Ruby 3.3 Concurrency: A Comprehensive Guide
    Also check https://crystal-lang.org/ which aims for ruby like syntax/dx but almost native performance. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • Crystal 1.11.0 Is Released
    I like the first code example on https://crystal-lang.org
        # A very basic HTTP server.
    - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
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Vala mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Vala yet. Tracking of Vala recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Crystal (programming language) and Vala, you can also consider the following products

Nim (programming language) - The Nim programming language is a concise, fast programming language that compiles to C, C++ and JavaScript.

Go Programming Language - Go, also called golang, is a programming language initially developed at Google in 2007 by Robert...

IronPython - Development

V (programming language) - Simple, fast, safe, compiled language for developing maintainable software.

C++ - Has imperative, object-oriented and generic programming features, while also providing the facilities for low level memory manipulation

D (Programming Language) - D is a language with C-like syntax and static typing.