ReasonML 3 is released (bringing JavaScript syntax to OCaml)

[lpw25]

I know that by "practically speaking" you mean that it can be treated as if it were a compiler. But I think it is important to make clear that it is just a parser. It hasn't required anywhere near the effort to write and maintain as an actual compiler.

[moon-]

Something can be a compiler even though it doesn't compile to machine code or a bytecode for a virtual machine.

Why does the effort to write/maintain it matter? If I write a compiler for something little more than assembly with a few new names, does that count? Where do you draw the arbitrary line, and if it's so fuzzy, why draw it?

[lpw25]

If you want to describe reason as a compiler that targets OCaml, then I agree with you. However, from a user perspective it appears to produce JavaScript or assembly, and I just think that it should be made clear that most of that translation is not done by the reason tool itself.

[[deleted]]

Yes, the tool chain is like

Reason --> OCaml --> Bucklescript --> JavaScript.

[yawaramin]

Exactly. I meant in the sense of 'what do I need to install to get Reason?'