Rust vs TypeScript: A Code-Based Comparison

Introduction

Programming languages come in various flavors, each designed to tackle specific challenges and cater to unique development needs. In this article, we’ll compare Rust and TypeScript by examining code examples in both languages. Whether you’re a seasoned developer exploring new horizons or a newcomer choosing the right language, this code-based comparison will shed light on the strengths and differences between Rust and TypeScript.

Origins and Background

Rust:

fn main() {
    println!("Hello, Rust!");
}

Rust, developed by Mozilla, is a systems programming language known for safety, concurrency, and performance. Let’s start with a simple “Hello, Rust!”, program. Rust’s syntax is similar to C/C++, but with a strong focus on memory safety.

TypeScript

function sayHello() {
    console.log("Hello, TypeScript!");
}

sayHello();

TypeScript, a superset of JavaScript, enhances JavaScript with static typing. In this example, we define a simple function to print “Hello, TypeScript!”.

Type System

Rust

fn add(a: i32, b: i32) -> i32 {
    a + b
}

Rust’s type system is expressive. It allows you to specify types explicitly, enhancing safety. Here’s a function to add two integers, ensuring both inputs and outputs are of type i32.

TypeScript

function add(a: number, b: number): number {
    return a + b;
}

TypeScript’s static typing enforces type safety in JavaScript. In this example, we declare types for the function’s parameters and return value.

Memory Management

Rust

fn main() {
    let s =  String::from("Hello, Rust!");
    println!("{}", s);
}

Rust’s memory management is known for its ownership model. In this snippet, we create a string and print it. Rust automatically handles memory, ensuring safety without a garbage collector.

TypeScript

function useMemory() {
    let message: string = "Hello, TypyeScript!";
    console.log(message);
}

useMemory();

TypeScript relies on JavaScript’s memory management. In this code, we declare a string, and JavaScript takes care of memory allocation and deallocation.

Concurrency and Parallelism

Rust

use std::thread;

fn main() {
    let handle = thread::spawn(|| {
        println!("Hello from a thread!");
    });
    handle.join().unwrap();
}

Rust’s ownership model also makes it a great choice for concurrency. In this example, we create a new thread to print a message concurrently.

TypeScript

function doWork() {
return new Promise((resolve) => {
		setTimeout(() => {
			console.log("Hello from a Promise!");
			resolve();
		}, 1000);
    });
}

async function main() {
	await doWork();
}

main();

While TypeScript doesn’t offer native thread support, it leverages JavaScript’s async/await and Promises for asynchronous operations. In this code, we create a Promise and use async/await to handle concurrency.

Community and Ecosystem

Rust

extern crate reqwest;

fn main() -> Result<(), reqwest::Error>> {
	let response = reqwest::blocking::get("https://www.rust-lang.org")?;
	println!("Status: {}", response.status());
	Ok(())
}

Rust’s community emphasizes safety, and its ecosystem is growing. Rust’s package manager, Cargo, simplifies package management. In this example, we use the reqwest library to make an HTTP request.

TypeScript

import axios from "axios";

async function fetchData() {
	const response = await axios.get("https://www.typescriptlang.org");
	console.log(`Status: ${response.status}`);
}

fetchData();

TypeScript’s community is deeply integrated with the JavaScript ecosystem. In this code, we use the Axios library for making an HTTP request, reflecting TypeScript’s web development strengths.

Conclusion

In the Rust vs TypeScript comparison, we’ve seen code examples that highlight the unique strengths of each language. Rust excels in system programming, offering precise memory control and concurrency features. TypeScript, on the other hand, enhances JavaScript with static typing, making it a robust choice for web development.

Your choice between Rust and TypeScript should depend on your project’s specific needs. Both languages have their own merits and can help you achieve your programming goals effectively, and it all comes down to the task at hand.