Opal is a Ruby to JavaScript source-to-source compiler with a complete Ruby corelib and stdlib implementation.
Opal is a Ruby to JavaScript source-to-source compiler that allows developers to write web applications in Ruby. It translates Ruby code into JavaScript that runs in browsers, and includes implementations of Ruby's core library and standard library. This enables Ruby developers to use their preferred language for both backend and frontend development.
Ruby developers who want to write frontend code in Ruby, full-stack teams seeking language consistency across their stack, and projects looking to leverage Ruby's expressiveness for browser-based applications.
Opal provides the most complete Ruby-to-JavaScript compilation available, with full support for Ruby's corelib and stdlib. Unlike simpler transpilers, it maintains Ruby's semantics and idioms while producing production-ready JavaScript compatible with all major browsers.
Ruby ♥︎ JavaScript
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Implements Ruby's corelib and stdlib, allowing developers to write browser code with complete Ruby syntax and libraries, as demonstrated in compilation examples like Opal.compile.
Offers CLI tools, Ruby API (Opal.compile, Opal::Builder), and browser-based opal-parser for flexible development and deployment, as shown in the usage sections.
Officially supports all major browsers including IE11, ensuring compiled code runs reliably across different environments without extra polyfills.
Includes Opal::Builder for managing dependencies and creating optimized JavaScript bundles, similar to Ruby asset pipelines for scalable projects.
The README explicitly warns against using opal-parser for production, necessitating a build step that adds complexity to deployment and debugging.
Compiling Ruby to JavaScript includes the Opal runtime and libraries, leading to larger file sizes that can slow down page loads and affect performance.
While Opal provides Ruby stdlib, integrating with popular JavaScript libraries or frameworks may require additional bridging or custom code, increasing development overhead.