Compiling JavaScript into Native Binaries: NectarJS

codeburst.io

8 pointsdmatteo2 comments

Not open source. This disappoints me a lot. I've never seen paid compilers or languages take off.

Would have been nice to have some details about the runtime, does it use LLVM? What's the GC like?

There are a few paid compilers but they are mainly targeted at niches. One example at the top of my mind is Xojo [1], which is basically a cross platform visual basic clone (although not as good, IMO, but that is mainly because it doesn't seem to understand the strengths of VB [2]) and i see it being mentioned more often lately than at the past (it used to be known as REALbasic but they changed the name because the "basic" part wasn't very marketable anymore).

Also Common Lisp and Smalltalk have several high quality commercial compilers. Generally you'll find that most commercial compilers tend to go after niche markets with less popular languages that still have some sort of demand and don't mind paying for software.

[1] https://www.xojo.com/ [2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16001418

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