Comment by j on "JavaScript Interpreted or Compiled? The Debate is Over."

based on this definition php, python, perl are also compiled languages. actually every language that has a VM is compiled.

I know the definition changed over the years, but the reason those languages are not considered 'compiled' is the preprocessing/optimization step not the transformation itself. But ofc we could argue esp since graal in Java now supports compiled javascript to java-vm code and other things.

also since ES6 gets 'transpiled' it gets fuzzy quick. still it remains an interpreted language with JIT qualities to me.

Thanks j, never believed that, the debate is really over, ever 😄. About Js being compiled even with the qualities of the parsed language ..I have taken the answer is closer to Yes than No.

Thank you for reading through and Commenting, Appreciate!

Tapas Adhikary

I have taken the answer is closer to Yes than No

not really, the translation into the VM is a common step. js does JIT compilation though. and it's translated and executed on the fly. so ... nah ... or every modern interpreter language that does not basically just use eval is a compiled language.

Also there are no real optimizations or compile checks done in the compilation .... they are runtime checks mainly.

To me it's not closer to a compiled language than any other language with a VM. also it's a lot about NFA to DFA transformations which also don't really happen. There are a lot of subtle differences from the perspective of someone building a compiler.

But maybe it's just because I am building a compiler at the moment that I am so picky about this statement.

j No problem at all.. Glad to have this healthy discussion and hoping others will benefit too.

BTW.. All the best for your Compiler Development project. 👍

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