Life & fun · February 27, 2023
Dak – a Lisp-like language that transpiles to JavaScript
Hi HN, author here. Happy to answer any questions. I had an itch to make a lisp like language that was a thin layer on top JavaScript. Something that could leverage the thriving ecosystem that exists around JavaScript. It's brittle, hot off the oven. Besides being a fan of parenthesis, I think macros fill in a gap that the JavaScript ecosystem today fills in with one-off compilers, bundler plugins and such. Macros can't do everything, but for example I think they have the potential to enable things like JSX, Solid and Svelte style libraries. Take the tour to get a feel for what it can do and…
Dak – a Lisp-like language that transpiles to JavaScript launched on February 27, 2023 with 94 votes, #514 of 3,829 launches that month and more than 90% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 3 years on.
In plain words
Dak is a Lisp-like language that compiles to JavaScript, designed as a thin layer over the JavaScript ecosystem. It lets developers write code using Lisp syntax while accessing JavaScript libraries and tools. The language features macros, which the creator positions as a way to handle patterns typically addressed through separate compilers and bundler plugins, potentially enabling capabilities similar to JSX, Solid, and Svelte frameworks. Dak is in early stages and includes an in-browser code playground for exploration.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
Dak is a Lisp like language that transpiles to JavaScript.
If you want to jump in and see what it looks like, explore the Dak Tour . JavaScript is ubiquitous. It's ecosystem is diverse and populated. Dak attempts to provide a path to leverage and participate in this ecosystem, as a modern lisp like language. It is not a Lisp. It's still JavaScript, but wearing a Lisp outfit. It's not Common Lisp or Scheme, but a bit more like Clojure or Fennel. It doesn't hide it's true nature, and aims to provide access to every feature JavaScript has. Macros and the programmable aspects of Dak are what I consider to be it's selling points. It's much easier to achieve this in a Lisp like language. These are still very much a work-in-progress. Expect heavy…from daklang.com
In the maker’s words, at launch
Hi HN, author here. Happy to answer any questions. I had an itch to make a lisp like language that was a thin layer on top JavaScript. Something that could leverage the thriving ecosystem that exists around JavaScript. It's brittle, hot off the oven. Besides being a fan of parenthesis, I think macros fill in a gap…
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Source: Show HN post ↗ · launch text quoted in part
