Hey there! I'm on a quest to find a full-stack tech stack that can handle various types of projects like simple websites, complex web apps, mobile apps, and even desktop apps. I want to have a toolkit that covers all these bases without having to start from scratch every time. Here's the catch: I'm not a fan of JavaScript or TypeScript's syntax, nor do I like C, C++, or OCaml. I find Python's syntax is decent and I really enjoy Kotlin's syntax, but I find Java's complexity and Gradle frustrations quite off-putting. I've also been looking into Rust, which has an appealing syntax, although I haven't delved into it much yet. I've heard about frameworks like HTMX and AlpineJS but I'm not sure if they'd work for complex web apps. What would you recommend as a tech stack that minimizes reliance on JavaScript or TypeScript, given my preferences? I'm open to any languages or frameworks you think I should consider. Thanks a lot!
3 Answers
Finding a mature stack that leans away from C-like syntax can be tricky. One option to check out is Dart, especially with Flutter for building apps. It allows for complex front-end development without diving deeply into JavaScript. However, your preferences are quite unique, so it's hard to pinpoint exactly what you'll love, apart from Python, haha!
Mobile apps are definitely the tough spot. The options for languages and frameworks can feel limited when you want to go mobile. If you exclude mobile too, you might find a few more choices, but mobile frameworks are where the bottleneck usually happens.
What are the alternatives if I remove mobile from the equation?
I'm curious about what specifically you dislike about JS. Basic scripting in JS can feel quite different from production-level web app development, which I find more enjoyable. But I get it, if C-style syntax is your main sticking point, then exploring options like Rust, Zig, or Scala might add to the headache of integration later on, especially since web development typically requires at least a little JavaScript, even when using Rust.
I'll definitely give Dart a shot. But you're right—skipping JavaScript for web development can be quite the challenge!