Importance of Scala.js
In order to understand the importance of Scala and why developers should start using it, we need first to understand the limitations of Javascript. Although Javascript is a powerful language that has transformed how we make web applications, it still has some limitations that have led to the development and adoption of strong typing languages. One of the challenges of javascript is its ineffectiveness with large projects requiring many lines of code. Tracking the methods the processes that were executed and the order in which they were executed becomes a tedious task that is prone to errors while using Javascript alone.
Javascript also leaves many important elements and approaches of handling these elements unspecified; it tries to solve this issue by providing emulation capability. For instance, there isn't a single way for all developers to follow while instantiating an object or defining a class. Instead, there are several ways that have been crafted without uniformity or consistency in approach. TypeScript and PureScript were created to resolve some of the Javascript limitations but still fell short while working with the client-side and server-side.
How can we get all the benefits of Javascript without adopting its limitations? Sébastien Doeraene solved this when he created the Scala.js compiler which transforms Scala code to Javascript capable of being run on web browsers or in machines with Node.js installed.
Why you should use Scala.js?
1. Code Sharing
For a long time now, developers have been required to write client-side code and server-side code in different languages while creating web applications. For instance, we would have PHP or Perl on the server-side and Javascript on the client-side. Even when using Typescript, the developer has to write and implement the server-side and client-side codes separately. The introduction of Node.js made this easier by allowing developers to reuse the code on the client-side on the server-side. The downside to Node.js solution was that the Javascript limitations were now being spread to the server-side from the client-side. Scala.js provides an efficient way of sharing code between the client-side and server-side without having to write the code twice. This is achieved by utilizing the same library when writing Scala web clients and Scala servers. The process flow is as follows:
-
One side uses Scalartags to share template language or it uses uPickle to share the serialization logic
-
The other side shares abstract libraries such asShapeless or cats
This simplifies the client-server operation logic without foregoing any functionalities. The developer benefits by:
- Only deploying one library to do common tasks
- Saving time by not implementing the same algorithms twice
- Not facing the implementation errors due to differences in the two codes
2. Client-Server Integration
Client-server integration has been an area of focus for many programming language developers for many years. It's been a challenge that has seen many hours invested in finding its solution with very few success stories. One of these success stories is Scala.js. Scala has achieved seamless client-server integration with few simple steps as well as simplified standard code. Scala also allows for method calls from client-side to server-side. The calls are statically verified to ensure that errors are caught and highlighted before the developer can even test the code manually.
Traditionally, the client-server connection was always tested manually either before the methods were called or during the method call. Developers can now completely skip this step when using Scala because any errors are automatically detected. This saves time for the developer and reduces the chances of errors normally introduced while manually testing the code.
In sum, Scala.js has transformed how web applications are developed in terms of ease and flexibility. The ability to share client-side and server-side code makes Scala one of the fastest-growing web application development languages. Compared to TypeScript, Scala's dynamic nature and effectiveness with both front-end and back-end features make a more complete language. It is easier to write Scala code than Javascript because it is more efficient, consistent and has many powerful libraries that simplify complex logic implementation. Developers who are not already using Scala are missing out on this powerful language that is guaranteed to benefit them immensely.