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Elm VS Eloquent JavaScript

Compare Elm VS Eloquent JavaScript and see what are their differences

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Elm logo Elm

A type inferred, functional reactive language that compiles to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

Eloquent JavaScript logo Eloquent JavaScript

Free ebook for the JS Beginners
  • Elm Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-23

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

  • Eloquent JavaScript Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-22

Elm features and specs

  • Strong Type System
    Elm's type system is designed to catch errors at compile-time, reducing runtime errors and improving code reliability. It emphasizes immutability, making it easier to reason about and maintain code.
  • No Runtime Exceptions
    Elm enforces safety with its type system, ensuring that runtime exceptions are almost impossible. This leads to more robust and predictable applications.
  • Friendly Error Messages
    Elm's compiler provides exceptionally helpful and user-friendly error messages, which make debugging easier and learning the language more approachable.
  • Optimized Performance
    Elm's compiler generates highly optimized JavaScript, resulting in fast and efficient applications. Performance tuning is handled by the compiler, freeing developers from many optimization concerns.
  • Functional Programming
    Elm is purely functional, promoting a clear and declarative coding style. It encourages developers to write more predictable and maintainable code by leveraging functional programming principles.
  • Built-In Architecture
    The Elm Architecture (Model-Update-View) provides a consistent pattern for building applications, which can simplify the development process and improve code organization.
  • Interoperability with JavaScript
    Elm allows you to seamlessly integrate with existing JavaScript code through ports, giving you the flexibility to gradually adopt Elm or work with libraries that are not available in Elm.

Possible disadvantages of Elm

  • Small Ecosystem
    Elm's ecosystem is relatively small compared to more established languages like JavaScript or TypeScript, meaning there are fewer libraries and tools available, which might limit certain functionalities out of the box.
  • Learning Curve
    Elm’s functional programming paradigm and strict type system can be challenging for developers who are not familiar with functional programming, leading to a steep learning curve.
  • Limited Developer Community
    The Elm community is smaller compared to other languages, which can make finding support or example projects more difficult. This might also affect the availability of tutorials and learning resources.
  • Interoperability Overhead
    While interoperability with JavaScript is possible through ports, it introduces additional complexity and overhead, making integrated projects more challenging to manage.
  • Slower Release Cycle
    Elm's development and release cycle can be slower compared to other technologies. Updates and new features might take longer to be released, impacting the adoption of cutting-edge practices.
  • Single File Approach
    In Elm, managing large codebases can be problematic due to the lack of support for splitting code into multiple modules or files akin to solutions in other languages, which can make the code less modular and harder to navigate.

Eloquent JavaScript features and specs

  • Comprehensive Learning Resource
    Eloquent JavaScript covers a wide range of topics, from basic syntax to advanced concepts like asynchronous programming and web development. This depth makes it a valuable resource for both beginners and advanced programmers.
  • Interactive Code Examples
    The book contains numerous interactive code examples that allow readers to see the effects of their code in real-time. This hands-on approach reinforces learning and helps solidify concepts.
  • Free Online Access
    Eloquent JavaScript is available for free online, making it accessible to anyone with an internet connection. This allows learners from around the world to benefit from its content without financial barriers.
  • Engaging Writing Style
    The author, Marijn Haverbeke, writes in an engaging and clear style, making complex topics more understandable and keeping readers interested.
  • Good Balance of Theory and Practice
    The book strikes a good balance between theoretical explanations and practical exercises, allowing readers to apply what they have learned immediately.

Possible disadvantages of Eloquent JavaScript

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Some readers may find the book's progression to be rapid, especially if they are complete beginners. The book quickly moves from basic to more complex topics, which can be overwhelming.
  • Lacks Visual Aids
    While the text is clear and the code examples are helpful, the book could benefit from more visual aids like diagrams and illustrations to explain complex concepts.
  • Assumes Some Prior Knowledge
    Although it's aimed at beginners, the book sometimes assumes that readers have some prior programming experience, which can make it less accessible to absolute novices.
  • Limited Coverage of Latest ES Features
    The book may not cover some of the latest features and best practices introduced in newer versions of JavaScript (e.g., ES2019 and beyond), meaning readers might need to supplement their learning with additional resources.
  • Web Development Sections Could Be More Detailed
    While the book does touch on web development, the sections on this topic are not as in-depth as some readers might hope. Those looking to get a more thorough grounding in web development may need to consult other sources.

Analysis of Elm

Overall verdict

  • Elm is a good choice for developers who appreciate functional programming and want a robust, type-safe environment for web development. Its features make it particularly well-suited for projects where reliability and maintainability are critical.

Why this product is good

  • Elm is a functional programming language that is designed for building reliable and maintainable web applications with a focus on simplicity and quality tooling. Its strong type system helps catch errors during compile time, eliminating a whole class of runtime exceptions. Elm also has an emphasis on immutability and functional programming practices, which can lead to more predictable code.

Recommended for

  • Developers interested in functional programming
  • Teams looking for a language with a strong type system
  • Projects where web application stability and reliability are crucial
  • Those wanting to avoid runtime errors with compile-time guarantees
  • Developers who value simplicity and developer-friendly tooling

Analysis of Eloquent JavaScript

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Eloquent JavaScript is considered a good and valuable resource for learning JavaScript. It effectively balances theory with practical application, making it a popular choice among students and developers wishing to deepen their understanding of the language.

Why this product is good

  • Eloquent JavaScript is widely regarded as a strong resource for learning JavaScript due to its comprehensive coverage of both fundamental and advanced concepts. It is praised for its clear explanations, practical examples, and engaging writing style, which help readers understand complex topics. Its focus on best practices and problem-solving skills makes it a valuable reference for both beginners and experienced developers.

Recommended for

  • Beginners looking for a solid introduction to JavaScript
  • Intermediate developers seeking to reinforce their knowledge
  • Experienced programmers wanting to explore more advanced JavaScript topics
  • Anyone interested in functional programming concepts
  • Developers aiming to improve their problem-solving skills in JavaScript

Elm videos

Nightmare on Elm St (series review)

More videos:

  • Review - A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - Movie Review
  • Review - A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master - Movie Review

Eloquent JavaScript videos

Eloquent JavaScript A Modern Introduction to Programming 3rd Edition by Marijn Haverbeke review

More videos:

  • Review - Eloquent JavaScript review
  • Review - Book Review: Eloquent Javascript by Marijn Haverbeke

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Elm and Eloquent JavaScript)
Programming Language
100 100%
0% 0
Text Editors
0 0%
100% 100
OOP
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Eloquent JavaScript should be more popular than Elm. It has been mentiond 217 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.

Elm mentions (123)

  • 3 Options to Avoid Side-Effects in Web Dev
    Use languages that don’t have side-effects; Elm for UI, and Roc for API/CLI. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Reactivity in Programming
    Reactive programming itself is rarely found in pure form. It is often combined with other paradigms. This is how such mixes as Imperative Reactive Programming, Object-Oriented Reactive Programming and Functional Reactive Programming appeared. The latter is the most popular, and the Elm language is considered one of its main representatives. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Tsonnet #13 - Carets, columns, and clues: adding lexing error tracing
    I've drawn inspiration from Elm and the blog post Compiler Errors for Humans -- it is nearly a decade old and still inspiring to read. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • An Ode to TypeScript Enums
    When I see this it makes me want to run for ReasonML/ReScript/Elm/PureScript. Sum types (without payloads on the instances they are effectively enums) should not require a evening filling ceremonial dance event to define. https://reasonml.github.io/ https://rescript-lang.org/ https://elm-lang.org/ https://www.purescript.org/ (any I forgot?) It's nice that TS is a strict super set of JS... But that's about the only... - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • TypeScript's Lack of Naming Types and Type Conversion in Angular
    Elm, ReScript, F#, Ocaml, Scala… it’s just normal to name your types, then use them places. In fact, you’ll often create the types _before_ the code, even if you’re not really practicing DDD (Domain Driven Design). Yes, you’ll do many after the fact when doing functions, or you start testing things and decide to change your design, and make new types. Either way, it’s just “the norm”. You then do the other norms... - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
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Eloquent JavaScript mentions (217)

  • How do we learn to get good at programming
    Videos, blogs, text-based teachings, YouTube project-based learning, books, and the like are all examples of various methods and mediums of acquiring skills, especially in the software engineering industry. As I continue to navigate this challenge, I've made major changes, one being that I will now document the journey, and the other, I switched to reading books on JavaScript. I currently use the book ELOQUENT... - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • Ask HN: Changing my mind about JavaScript
    Seconded. I won't recommend it and no one I know has recommended it for a decade. It's hard for someone who doesn't know JS to know which parts has changed and is no longer the way to do things. https://github.com/getify/You-Dont-Know-JS are the 2 best source for learning JS. If you don't have time to read both, just go with https://eloquentjavascript.net/ If one needs to go further, go through... - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Ask HN: Changing my mind about JavaScript
    > Do you have any tip for learning js at it's fundamentals? I would recommend: - https://eloquentjavascript.net/ - https://javascript.info/. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Top 12 JavaScript Resources for Learning and Mastery
    Eloquent JavaScript is a free online book by Marijn Haverbeke. It's a great resource for learning JavaScript from scratch, with a focus on writing clean and effective code. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • How to Get Started as a New Open Source Contributor to PgAdmin4
    Beginner Resources: Start with the basics using resources like Eloquent JavaScript and JavaScript.info. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Elm and Eloquent JavaScript, you can also consider the following products

Elixir - Dynamic, functional language designed for building scalable and maintainable applications

VS Code - Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

Kotlin - Statically typed Programming Language targeting JVM and JavaScript

CodePen - A front end web development playground.

Clojure - Clojure is a dynamic, general-purpose programming language, combining the approachability and interactive development of a scripting language with an efficient and robust infrastructure for multithreaded programming.

Node.js - Node.js is a platform built on Chrome's JavaScript runtime for easily building fast, scalable network applications