fp-ts vs ts-toolbelt vs neverthrow vs ts-results
Functional Programming Libraries in TypeScript Comparison
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What's Functional Programming Libraries in TypeScript?

These libraries provide tools and abstractions for functional programming in TypeScript, enabling developers to write more predictable, maintainable, and type-safe code. They focus on handling errors, managing data transformations, and enhancing code clarity through functional paradigms. Each library offers unique features that cater to different needs in functional programming, making it essential to understand their specific functionalities and use cases.

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fp-ts4,520,84411,1914.74 MB1902 months agoMIT
ts-toolbelt4,373,9716,990-724 years agoApache-2.0
neverthrow855,1595,910112 kB604 months agoMIT
ts-results106,1771,310-404 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: fp-ts vs ts-toolbelt vs neverthrow vs ts-results

Error Handling

  • fp-ts:

    fp-ts offers a rich set of data types for error handling, including Either and TaskEither, which allow you to represent computations that can fail. This enables you to chain operations while gracefully handling errors without relying on exceptions.

  • ts-toolbelt:

    ts-toolbelt does not focus on error handling directly but provides utility types that can help enhance error handling patterns in TypeScript, allowing for more expressive and type-safe code.

  • neverthrow:

    neverthrow provides a simple Result type that encapsulates success and failure states. It allows you to handle errors in a functional way, promoting a clear separation between successful and erroneous outcomes without the need for try-catch blocks.

  • ts-results:

    ts-results introduces a Result type that simplifies error handling by explicitly representing success and failure. This encourages developers to handle errors at the call site, improving code readability and maintainability.

Type Safety

  • fp-ts:

    fp-ts leverages TypeScript's type system to provide strong type safety across its functional constructs. This ensures that operations are type-checked at compile time, reducing runtime errors and improving code reliability.

  • ts-toolbelt:

    ts-toolbelt enhances TypeScript's type system with advanced types, allowing developers to create more type-safe applications. It provides utility types that help enforce type constraints and improve type inference.

  • neverthrow:

    neverthrow emphasizes type safety by ensuring that the Result type is used consistently, preventing common pitfalls associated with error handling in JavaScript. It enforces a clear contract for functions that can fail, enhancing type safety.

  • ts-results:

    ts-results promotes type safety by using a Result type that clearly defines success and failure states. This helps developers avoid unexpected runtime errors related to unhandled cases.

Learning Curve

  • fp-ts:

    fp-ts has a steeper learning curve due to its comprehensive set of functional programming concepts and abstractions. Developers may need to familiarize themselves with Monads, Functors, and other functional paradigms to fully utilize the library.

  • ts-toolbelt:

    ts-toolbelt may require some time to learn due to its extensive set of utility types and advanced TypeScript features. However, once understood, it significantly enhances the developer experience in TypeScript.

  • neverthrow:

    neverthrow is relatively easy to learn, especially for developers already familiar with functional programming concepts. Its API is straightforward, focusing primarily on error handling, making it accessible for new users.

  • ts-results:

    ts-results has a gentle learning curve, as it provides a simple API for handling success and failure states. Developers can quickly grasp its usage without extensive knowledge of functional programming.

Use Cases

  • fp-ts:

    fp-ts is well-suited for complex applications that require advanced functional programming techniques, such as data transformations, asynchronous operations, and robust error handling. It is ideal for projects that prioritize maintainability and type safety.

  • ts-toolbelt:

    ts-toolbelt is useful for any TypeScript project that requires advanced type manipulations and utility types. It enhances the development experience by providing powerful tools to work with TypeScript's type system.

  • neverthrow:

    neverthrow is perfect for applications where error handling is critical, such as APIs and user input validation. It provides a clear and concise way to manage errors without complicating the codebase.

  • ts-results:

    ts-results is great for applications that need a straightforward way to handle operations that can succeed or fail, such as database queries or network requests. It simplifies the process of managing outcomes and promotes better error handling practices.

Community and Ecosystem

  • fp-ts:

    fp-ts has a growing community and a rich ecosystem of resources, including documentation, tutorials, and community support. It is widely adopted in the functional programming community, making it a reliable choice for developers.

  • ts-toolbelt:

    ts-toolbelt has a vibrant community and is frequently updated with new features. Its utility types are widely used in the TypeScript community, making it a valuable addition to any TypeScript project.

  • neverthrow:

    neverthrow has a smaller but dedicated community focused on functional error handling in TypeScript. It is gaining traction due to its simplicity and effectiveness, with increasing resources available for learning.

  • ts-results:

    ts-results has a modest community, but it is appreciated for its straightforward approach to error handling. As it gains popularity, more resources and examples are becoming available.

How to Choose: fp-ts vs ts-toolbelt vs neverthrow vs ts-results
  • fp-ts:

    Choose fp-ts if you want a comprehensive library that provides a wide range of functional programming constructs, including Monads, Functors, and more. It is ideal for projects that require advanced functional programming techniques and type safety.

  • ts-toolbelt:

    Use ts-toolbelt if you are looking for a utility library that enhances TypeScript's type system with advanced types and utility types. It is beneficial for developers who want to leverage TypeScript's capabilities to create more robust and type-safe applications.

  • neverthrow:

    Select neverthrow if you need a simple and effective way to handle errors in a functional style without throwing exceptions. It is particularly useful for applications where error handling is crucial, and you want to avoid the complexity of traditional error handling mechanisms.

  • ts-results:

    Opt for ts-results if you prefer a straightforward approach to handling success and failure states in your applications. It provides a Result type that makes it easy to work with operations that can succeed or fail, promoting better error handling practices.

README for fp-ts

Functional programming in TypeScript

build status npm downloads

📢 Important Announcement: fp-ts is Joining the Effect-TS Ecosystem!

We are excited to announce that the fp-ts project is officially merging with the Effect-TS ecosystem. This is a significant step forward in the functional programming landscape, bringing together two powerful libraries under one roof. Giulio Canti, the author of fp-ts, is being welcomed into the Effect organization, promising an exciting future with enhanced capabilities and support.

What This Means for New Users:

Effect-TS can be regarded as the successor to fp-ts v2 and embodies what would be considered fp-ts v3. This merger marks a significant evolution in the library's capabilities, integrating more features and functionalities tailored towards robust, type-safe, and scalable functional programming.

For more details on this merger and what it entails, please refer to the official announcement here. Additionally, you can explore more about Effect-TS and its offerings on our website and documentation.

Introduction

fp-ts is a library for typed functional programming in TypeScript.

fp-ts aims to allow developers to use popular patterns and abstractions that are available in most functional languages. For this, it includes the most popular data types, type classes and abstractions such as Option, Either, IO, Task, Functor, Applicative, Monad to empower users to write pure FP apps and libraries built atop higher order abstractions.

A distinctive feature of fp-ts with respect to other functional libraries is its implementation of Higher Kinded Types, which TypeScript doesn't support natively.

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Installation

To install the stable version:

npm install fp-ts

Make sure to always have a single version of fp-ts installed in your project. Multiple versions are known to cause tsc to hang during compilation. You can check the versions currently installed using npm ls fp-ts (make sure there's a single version and all the others are marked as deduped).

TypeScript compatibility

Strictness – This library is conceived, tested and is supposed to be consumed by TypeScript with the strict flag turned on.

| fp-ts version | required typescript version | | --------------- | ----------------------------- | | 2.0.x+ | 3.5+ | | 1.15.x+ | 3.1+ | | <= 1.14.4 | 2.8+ (*) |

(*) If you are running < typescript@3.0.1 you have to polyfill the unknown type. You can use unknown-ts as a polyfill.

Documentation

Disclaimer. Teaching functional programming is out of scope of this project, so the documentation assumes you already know what FP is.

Help

If you need help with fp-ts check out:

Development

License

The MIT License (MIT)