Scala.js vs TypeScript

Overview

TypeScript

Stacks105.1K

Followers74.2K

Votes503

GitHub Stars106.6K

Forks13.1K

Scala.js

Stacks48

Followers66

Votes0

GitHub Stars4.7K

Forks401

Scala.js vs TypeScript: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will discuss the key differences between Scala.js and TypeScript. Scala.js is a JavaScript runtime that allows developers to write client-side web applications using the Scala programming language. TypeScript, on the other hand, is a superset of JavaScript that adds static typing and other features to JavaScript. While both Scala.js and TypeScript offer advantages for web development, they have some important differences.

Language: Scala.js uses the Scala programming language, which is a statically typed, object-oriented language that runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). TypeScript, on the other hand, is a superset of JavaScript and can be used with any JavaScript runtime.
Compilation: Scala.js compiles Scala source code directly to JavaScript, allowing developers to write web applications in Scala that can run in any modern web browser. TypeScript, on the other hand, compiles TypeScript code to JavaScript, which can then be executed by a JavaScript runtime.
Type System: Scala.js uses the type system of the Scala programming language, which includes features such as type inference, generics, and pattern matching. TypeScript, on the other hand, introduces static typing to JavaScript with features such as interfaces, generics, and union types.
Tooling and Ecosystem: Scala.js has its own set of tools and libraries specifically designed for Scala.js development. It integrates well with the wider Scala ecosystem, which includes frameworks, libraries, and tools for server-side development. TypeScript, on the other hand, has a rich ecosystem of tools and libraries specifically designed for TypeScript development, and it integrates well with popular JavaScript frameworks and libraries.
Community and Adoption: Scala.js has a smaller community and adoption compared to TypeScript. TypeScript has gained significant popularity and adoption in recent years, with many large companies adopting it for their web development projects.
Learning Curve: Scala.js has a steeper learning curve compared to TypeScript, especially for developers who are not familiar with the Scala programming language. TypeScript, on the other hand, is easier to learn for developers who already have experience with JavaScript.

In summary, Scala.js and TypeScript differ in terms of the programming language used, compilation process, type system, tooling and ecosystem, community and adoption, and learning curve. While Scala.js offers the benefits of using the Scala programming language for web development, TypeScript provides a superset of JavaScript with static typing and a wider community and ecosystem.

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Manual

Advice on TypeScript, Scala.js

Peter

May 17, 2019

Reviewon

TypeScript

I use TypeScript because:

incredible developer tooling and community support
actively developed and supported by Microsoft (yes, I like Microsoft) ;)
easier to make sense of a TS codebase because the annotations provide so much more context than plain JS
refactors become easier (VSCode has superb support for TS)

I've switched back and forth between TS and Flow and decided a year ago to abandon Flow completely in favor of TS. I don't want to bash Flow, however, my main grievances are very poor tooling (editor integration leaves much to be desired), a slower release cycle, and subpar docs and community support.

135k views135k

Comments

Jarvis

May 16, 2019

Reviewon

TypeScript

Flow (JS)

I use TypeScript because it isn't just about validating the types I'm expecting to receive though that is a huge part of it too. Flow (JS) seems to be a type system only. TypeScript also allows you to use the latest features of JavaScript while also providing the type checking. To be fair to Flow (JS), I have not used it, but likely wouldn't have due to the additional features I get from TypeScript.

168k views168k

Comments

David

VP Engineering at Trolley

May 16, 2019

Reviewon

JavaScript

Flow (JS)

TypeScript

We originally (in 2017) started rewriting our platform from JavaScript to Flow (JS) but found the library support for Flow was lacking. After switching gears to TypeScript we've never looked back. At this point we're finding that frontend and backend libraries are supporting TypeScript out of the box and where the support is missing that the commuity is typically got a solution in hand.

173k views173k

Comments

Detailed Comparison

TypeScript	Scala.js
TypeScript is a language for application-scale JavaScript development. It's a typed superset of JavaScript that compiles to plain JavaScript.	It is a safer way to build robust front-end web applications. With it, typos and type-errors are immediately caught and shown to you in your editor, without even needing to compile your code. Refactor any field or method with ease, with the confidence that if you mess it up the editor will tell you immediately
-	Strong typing; optimizes your Scala code into highly efficient JavaScript; use any JavaScript library right from your Scala.js code
Statistics
GitHub Stars 106.6K	GitHub Stars 4.7K
GitHub Forks 13.1K	GitHub Forks 401
Stacks 105.1K	Stacks 48
Followers 74.2K	Followers 66
Votes 503	Votes 0
Pros & Cons
Pros 173 More intuitive and type safe javascript 105 Type safe 80 JavaScript superset 48 The best AltJS ever 27 Best AltJS for BackEnd Cons 5 Code may look heavy and confusing 4 Hype	No community feedback yet
Integrations
No integrations available	JavaScript React AngularJS Scala

What are some alternatives to TypeScript, Scala.js?

JavaScript

JavaScript is most known as the scripting language for Web pages, but used in many non-browser environments as well such as node.js or Apache CouchDB. It is a prototype-based, multi-paradigm scripting language that is dynamic,and supports object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles.

Python

Python is a general purpose programming language created by Guido Van Rossum. Python is most praised for its elegant syntax and readable code, if you are just beginning your programming career python suits you best.

PHP

Fast, flexible and pragmatic, PHP powers everything from your blog to the most popular websites in the world.

Ruby

Ruby is a language of careful balance. Its creator, Yukihiro “Matz” Matsumoto, blended parts of his favorite languages (Perl, Smalltalk, Eiffel, Ada, and Lisp) to form a new language that balanced functional programming with imperative programming.

Java

Java is a programming language and computing platform first released by Sun Microsystems in 1995. There are lots of applications and websites that will not work unless you have Java installed, and more are created every day. Java is fast, secure, and reliable. From laptops to datacenters, game consoles to scientific supercomputers, cell phones to the Internet, Java is everywhere!

Golang

Go is expressive, concise, clean, and efficient. Its concurrency mechanisms make it easy to write programs that get the most out of multicore and networked machines, while its novel type system enables flexible and modular program construction. Go compiles quickly to machine code yet has the convenience of garbage collection and the power of run-time reflection. It's a fast, statically typed, compiled language that feels like a dynamically typed, interpreted language.

HTML5

HTML5 is a core technology markup language of the Internet used for structuring and presenting content for the World Wide Web. As of October 2014 this is the final and complete fifth revision of the HTML standard of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The previous version, HTML 4, was standardised in 1997.

C#

C# (pronounced "See Sharp") is a simple, modern, object-oriented, and type-safe programming language. C# has its roots in the C family of languages and will be immediately familiar to C, C++, Java, and JavaScript programmers.

Scala

Scala is an acronym for “Scalable Language”. This means that Scala grows with you. You can play with it by typing one-line expressions and observing the results. But you can also rely on it for large mission critical systems, as many companies, including Twitter, LinkedIn, or Intel do. To some, Scala feels like a scripting language. Its syntax is concise and low ceremony; its types get out of the way because the compiler can infer them.

Elixir

Elixir leverages the Erlang VM, known for running low-latency, distributed and fault-tolerant systems, while also being successfully used in web development and the embedded software domain.

Related Comparisons

Scala.js vs TypeScript: What are the differences?

Introduction

Language: Scala.js uses the Scala programming language, which is a statically typed, object-oriented language that runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). TypeScript, on the other hand, is a superset of JavaScript and can be used with any JavaScript runtime.
Compilation: Scala.js compiles Scala source code directly to JavaScript, allowing developers to write web applications in Scala that can run in any modern web browser. TypeScript, on the other hand, compiles TypeScript code to JavaScript, which can then be executed by a JavaScript runtime.
Type System: Scala.js uses the type system of the Scala programming language, which includes features such as type inference, generics, and pattern matching. TypeScript, on the other hand, introduces static typing to JavaScript with features such as interfaces, generics, and union types.
Tooling and Ecosystem: Scala.js has its own set of tools and libraries specifically designed for Scala.js development. It integrates well with the wider Scala ecosystem, which includes frameworks, libraries, and tools for server-side development. TypeScript, on the other hand, has a rich ecosystem of tools and libraries specifically designed for TypeScript development, and it integrates well with popular JavaScript frameworks and libraries.
Community and Adoption: Scala.js has a smaller community and adoption compared to TypeScript. TypeScript has gained significant popularity and adoption in recent years, with many large companies adopting it for their web development projects.
Learning Curve: Scala.js has a steeper learning curve compared to TypeScript, especially for developers who are not familiar with the Scala programming language. TypeScript, on the other hand, is easier to learn for developers who already have experience with JavaScript.

Scala.js vs TypeScript

Overview