Highland.js vs RxJS: What are the differences?

Introduction

Highland.js and RxJS are both libraries that deal with asynchronous and event-based programming in JavaScript. However, they have some key differences that set them apart.

1. Execution Model: Highland.js uses lazy evaluation, which means that operations are only executed when the consumer asks for data. On the other hand, RxJS uses eager evaluation, where operations are executed as soon as they are defined.

2. Error Handling: Highland.js treats errors as values and allows you to work with them in a functional way, while RxJS treats errors as exceptions and handles them through try/catch blocks or error callbacks.

3. Interoperability: RxJS has better support for interop with other libraries and frameworks, such as Angular, React, and Vue.js, due to its popularity and widespread adoption in the community. Highland.js, while powerful, may have limited integration with other tools.

4. Syntax: Highland.js follows a more functional programming style, emphasizing on chaining functions and composing operations together. RxJS, on the other hand, provides a more object-oriented approach with a rich set of methods chained on observable sequences.

5. Community Support: RxJS has a larger community and ecosystem, with more resources, tutorials, and extensions available. This can be advantageous when looking for help, learning new features, or finding solutions to common problems.

6. Performance: In terms of speed and efficiency, RxJS tends to be faster and more optimized due to its wide usage and constant development. Highland.js, while performant, may not have the same level of optimizations and enhancements.

In Summary, Highland.js and RxJS differ in their execution model, error handling, interoperability, syntax, community support, and performance.