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ReasonML VS Crystal (programming language)

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

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ReasonML logo ReasonML

ReasonML is a new face to OCaml that--when coupled with BuckleScript--makes web development easy...

Crystal (programming language) logo Crystal (programming language)

Programming language with Ruby-like syntax that compiles to efficient native code.
  • ReasonML Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-20
  • Crystal (programming language) Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-26

ReasonML features and specs

  • Type Safety
    ReasonML offers strong type inference and static type checking, which helps catch errors at compile time rather than at runtime, leading to more reliable code.
  • Compiled to Efficient JavaScript
    ReasonML can compile to highly efficient JavaScript through the BuckleScript backend, allowing developers to build performant web applications.
  • Interoperability
    ReasonML is designed to interoperate smoothly with JavaScript, which means you can incorporate it into existing JavaScript codebases without major restructuring.
  • OCaml Ecosystem
    ReasonML is built on top of the OCaml language, allowing developers to leverage the robust OCaml ecosystem, tools, and libraries.
  • Familiar Syntax
    ReasonML provides a syntax that is more familiar and approachable to JavaScript developers, making it easier to adopt and learn.

Possible disadvantages of ReasonML

  • Steep Learning Curve
    For developers not familiar with functional programming or OCaml, ReasonML can present a steep learning curve due to its paradigmatic differences from JavaScript.
  • Smaller Community
    ReasonML has a comparatively smaller community compared to other languages and frameworks, which might make finding resources or getting support more challenging.
  • Limited Libraries
    While it benefits from the OCaml ecosystem, the specific set of libraries and resources for ReasonML is still limited compared to JavaScript and its numerous frameworks.
  • Complex Tooling
    Setting up ReasonML projects can be complex due to its tooling and build systems, which might require more time to configure and understand.
  • Evolving Language
    ReasonML and its ecosystem are still evolving, with changes and updates that might require developers to frequently adapt their codebases.

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.

ReasonML videos

ReasonML for Skeptics || Eric Schaefer

More videos:

  • Review - Ken Wheeler - ReasonML is Serious Business
  • Review - Gage Peterson - Why your ReasonML Evangelism isn't working | ReasonConf 2019

Crystal (programming language) videos

No Crystal (programming language) videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ReasonML and Crystal (programming language))
Personal Finance
100 100%
0% 0
Programming Language
18 18%
82% 82
Financial Planner
100 100%
0% 0
OOP
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Crystal (programming language) should be more popular than ReasonML. 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.

ReasonML mentions (40)

  • A 10x Faster TypeScript
    OCaml and Haskell already have that nice type system (and even more nice). If OCaml's syntax bothers you, there is Reason [1] which is a different frontend to the same compiler suite. Also in this space is Gleam [2] which targets Erlang / OTP, if high concurrency and fault tolerance is your cup of tea. [1]: https://reasonml.github.io/ [2]: https://gleam.run/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • Ask HN: What less-popular systems programming language are you using?
    > The syntax is also not very friendly IMO. Very true. There's an alternate syntax for OCaml called "ReasonML" that looks much more, uh, reasonable: https://reasonml.github.io/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 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 / 2 months ago
  • How Jane Street accidentally built a better build system for OCaml
    Https://ocaml.org/docs/toplevel-introduction#loading-libraries-in-utop https://reasonml.github.io/ looks cool, OCaml with javascript. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • OCaml Syntax Sucks
    Fortunately, the OCaml compiler is very modular, and there have been efforts to make things more... reasonable. - Reason, a different syntactic frontend for regular OCaml: https://reasonml.github.io/ - ReScript, a language with OCaml semantics that compiles into: JS https://rescript-lang.org/ (I suppose it's a reincarnation of js-of-ocaml). - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
View more

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
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

Mint - Free personal finance software to assist you to manage your money, financial planning, and budget planning tools. Achieve your financial goals with Mint.

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

PureScript - PureScript is a small strongly typed programming language that compiles to JavaScript.

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

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

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