CoffeeScript vs ReScript
CoffeeScript
coffeescript.org
ReScript
rescript-lang.orgSide by side
| Figure | CoffeeScript | ReScript |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 0 | 0 |
| Spec score · Code Transpilers | 7.9 (#11) | 7.2 (#24) |
| Compatibility limit | JSX output always requires transpilation, and CoffeeScript says users are responsible for ensuring their runtime supports the modern features they use or transpiling the output. | The installation guide notes that Yarn versions above 1 require nodeLinker set to node-modules. |
| Editor support | The integrations page lists CoffeeScript support for code editors including Atom, Emacs, Vim, and Visual Studio Code. | The editor plugin provides syntax highlighting, autocomplete, type hints, formatting, code navigation, and code analysis; the guide lists VS Code, Vim/Neovim, and Zed. |
| Node.js | The command-line utility requires Node 6 or later, while the core compiler can run in any JavaScript environment or in a browser. | ReScript-compiled JavaScript can run in Node.js, and installation requires Node.js version 22 or later. |
| Purpose | CoffeeScript is a language that compiles into JavaScript. | ReScript is a strongly typed language that compiles to clean, efficient JavaScript. |
In their own words
CoffeeScript
CoffeeScript is a language that compiles to JavaScript, so its output runs without a CoffeeScript interpreter. It can use existing JavaScript libraries, and JavaScript can use libraries written in CoffeeScript. Version 2 produces modern JavaScript syntax, including classes and arrow functions, and supports async functions and JSX. The `coffee` command runs scripts, compiles `.coffee` files to `.js`, and opens an interactive REPL; it can also generate inline or external source maps. Install it through npm, globally or as a project dependency. The core compiler can run in a browser or another JavaScript environment, while the command-line utility requires Node 6 or later. Its Node API compiles CoffeeScript strings and can return source maps or an abstract syntax tree. Babel transpilation is available when `@babel/core` is installed. The integrations section links to build tools, editors, frameworks, linters, formatters, and testing resources. JSX output always needs transpilation, and users must ensure their runtime supports the modern features they use or transpile the result. CoffeeScript is free and open source.
ReScript
ReScript has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.