Melange 1.0: Compile OCaml / ReasonML to JavaScript

Melange approaches the problem from the perspective of compatibility with OCaml / ReasonML. We've focused very hard on vertical integration with the OCaml Platform[1] and we're getting all the benefits with this release!

That said, both communities are fairly small, and I don't doubt that somewhat competing projects have some impact on community. From our perspective (the Melange team), our goals fit a specific use case, and e.g. Ahrefs, one of the leading SEO engines in the world, is using Melange[2] in production to power all their web experiences.

[1]: https://ocaml.org/docs/platform [2]: https://tech.ahrefs.com/ahrefs-is-now-built-with-melange-b14...

Re: Melange 1.0: Compile OCaml / ReasonML to JavaScript

#4

Post by colesantiago » Mon, Jun 12, 2023, 5:32 PM UTC

Do I need OCaml installed to use this, why not a single binary?

Re: Melange 1.0: Compile OCaml / ReasonML to JavaScript

#5

Post by chrischen » Mon, Jun 12, 2023, 5:32 PM UTC

ekosz wrote: post #2

Interesting to see oh this will affect (or not) the Rescript project.

I'm using both, with with Rescript primarily on the front-end and Melange on the backed... both targeting JS/NodeJS.

Re: Melange 1.0: Compile OCaml / ReasonML to JavaScript

#6

Post by freedomben » Mon, Jun 12, 2023, 5:34 PM UTC

anmonteiro90 wrote: post #3

ekosz wrote: post #2

Interesting to see oh this will affect (or not) the Rescript project.

Melange and ReScript target different audiences. AFAIU, ReScript is a new language that offers an alternative to TypeScript. Melange approaches the problem from the perspective of compatibility with OCaml / ReasonML. We've focused very hard on vertical integration with the OCaml Platform[1] and we're getting all the benefits with this release! That said, both communities are fairly small, and I don't doubt that somew…

Great work on this write-up! Super informative and well written. It's refreshing to read posts like this

Re: Melange 1.0: Compile OCaml / ReasonML to JavaScript

#7

Post by anmonteiro90 » Mon, Jun 12, 2023, 5:35 PM UTC

colesantiago wrote: post #4

Do I need OCaml installed to use this, why not a single binary?

Melange approaches the problem from the OCaml perspective. It inserts itself within the OCaml community, so you need the OCaml Platform[1] tooling to install and use it.

This way, you get all the benefits of having a native toolchain and build system, and a great integration with modern JavaScript with e.g. npm or yarn.

[1]: https://ocaml.org/docs/platform

Re: Melange 1.0: Compile OCaml / ReasonML to JavaScript

#8

Post by tylerag » Mon, Jun 12, 2023, 5:35 PM UTC

In the unlikely event you are confused on the difference between ReScript, Reason, and ReasonML, I recommend this post:

https://ersin-akinci.medium.com/confused-about-rescript-resc...

Re: Melange 1.0: Compile OCaml / ReasonML to JavaScript

#9

Post by sp33der89 » Mon, Jun 12, 2023, 5:37 PM UTC

What is the status of ReasonML? My first experiences with ReasonML were very nice, because I found OCaml syntax confusing. I kinda left around the time ReScript got introduced. But OCaml syntax after a while isn't that bad, and in F# and Scala land I do miss the compile time speed of OCaml.

Re: Melange 1.0: Compile OCaml / ReasonML to JavaScript

#10

Post by Weebs » Mon, Jun 12, 2023, 5:39 PM UTC

I have nothing to say other than thank you! I might not use OCaml often myself, but I appreciate the effort to improve the ML ecosystem in any way :) I was a bit disappointed with the ReScript fork abandoning the compatibility with OCaml so this project was welcome news