JavaScript vs. PureScript vs. Vala vs. ZenScript Comparison Chart

PureScript is a strongly typed, purely functional programming language that compiles JavaScript. It enables developers to build robust web applications, web servers, and mobile apps using functional programming techniques. PureScript offers features such as algebraic data types, pattern matching, row polymorphism, extensible records, higher-kinded types, type classes with functional dependencies, and higher-rank polymorphism. The language emphasizes strong static typing and pure functions, ensuring code reliability and maintainability. Developers can compile PureScript code into readable JavaScript, facilitating seamless integration with existing JavaScript codebases. The ecosystem includes an extensive collection of libraries, excellent tooling, and editor support with instant rebuilds. An active community provides numerous learning resources, including the PureScript book, which offers practical projects for beginners.

ZenScript originated from MineTweaker where a simple programming language is needed to allow users without programming knowledge to be able to execute simple commands by following the tutorials for it. Originally MineTweaker had a simple one-line-at-a-time parsed scripting system, but it quickly became clear that it wasn't flexible enough, so a simple parsed language was created. This parsed language worked quite well but was very inefficient as each value was wrapped into its own object. ZenScript allows mixed typed and typeless behavior. You don't need to define types anywhere, the compile will infer them where possible and exhibit typeless behavior when the type is effectively unknown. In nearly all the cases, the type is perfectly known and execution runs at native Java speed. Since there are types, they can be documented and enforced.