One of the types of software that’s important for a web developer is the web framework. A framework “is a code library that makes a developer’s life easier when building reliable, scalable, and maintainable web applications” by providing reusable code or extensions for common operations. By saving development time, developers can concentrate on application logic rather than mundane elements.
A web framework offers the developer a choice about how to solve a specific problem. By using a framework, a developer lets the framework control portions of their application. While it’s perfectly possible to code a web application without using a framework, it’s more practical to use one.
F# (pronounced F sharp) is a general purpose, strongly typed, multi-paradigm programming language that encompasses functional, imperative, and object-oriented programming methods. F# was modeled on Objective Caml (OCaml), a successful object-oriented functional programming language, and then tweaked and extended to mesh well technically and philosophically with .NET.
Here’s our verdict captured in a legendary LinuxLinks-style ratings chart.
Let’s explore the 9 F# web frameworks. For each program we have compiled its own portal page, a full description with an in-depth analysis of its features, together with links to relevant resources.
| F# Web Frameworks | |
|---|---|
| Giraffe | Native functional ASP.NET Core web framework |
| Saturn | Implements the server-side, functional MVC pattern |
| WebSharper | Full-stack, functional reactive web programming |
| Falco | Toolkit for building fast, functional-first and fault-tolerant web applications |
| Suave | Simple web development F# library |
| Bolero | Tools and libraries to run F# applications in WebAssembly |
| Felicity | Idiomatic JSON:API |
| Frank | F# computation expressions |
| Freya | Modern functional stack for web programming |
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 Read our complete collection of recommended free and open source software. Our curated compilation covers all categories of software. The software collection forms part of our series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. There are hundreds of in-depth reviews, open source alternatives to proprietary software from large corporations like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. There are also fun things to try, hardware, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. |