BuckleScript

BuckleScript is a de facto name for the OCaml to JavaScript compiler. Originally developed by Jordan Walke at Facebook, it's now a core component of the modern OCaml ecosystem. BuckleScript allows developers to write code in OCaml, a powerful statically-typed functional programming language, and compile it to highly optimized JavaScript. This enables the use of OCaml's features, such as its strong type system and pattern matching, for web development, both on the frontend and backend.

The compiler's primary goal is to produce JavaScript that is both readable and efficient. It achieves this by performing extensive optimizations, including dead code elimination and type-driven code generation. This results in JavaScript code that is often comparable in performance to hand-written JavaScript, while leveraging the safety and expressiveness of OCaml. BuckleScript's integration with JavaScript libraries is also a key feature, allowing developers to easily call and be called by existing JavaScript code.

The project is open-source and has a vibrant community. It has been renamed to "Rescript" in its latest iteration, signifying a broader vision beyond just OCaml compilation. However, the term "BuckleScript" is still widely recognized and understood within the community to refer to this technology. It's a popular choice for developers seeking a more robust and maintainable approach to JavaScript development.