The Howdy Glossary

Amber is an open-source programming language crafted for web and mobile platforms, integrating elements from Smalltalk and JavaScript. It functions within web browsers or on Node.js, facilitating live development that enables real-time code modifications without necessitating a full restart of the application. This feature significantly enhances the development process by allowing developers to see immediate changes while the application runs.

The language was developed by a team including notable contributors like Nicolas Petton and Andreas Hiltner, aiming to provide an efficient solution for modern web and mobile programming. By merging Smalltalk's object-oriented features with JavaScript's widespread applicability, Amber creates a robust environment conducive to flexible and powerful application building. It stands out due to its real-time editing capability, which eradicates the need for frequent restarts, thus boosting developer productivity.

Amber competes with prominent languages and frameworks such as JavaScript (and popular frameworks like React), TypeScript, Dart, and Python (with Django). Despite stiff competition, Amber distinguishes itself through its seamless integration of Smalltalk and JavaScript components along with its support for live development. These unique characteristics make it an appealing choice for developers desiring a dynamic, interactive environment that streamlines their workflow while providing flexibility in deploying applications on both client-side browsers and server-side via Node.js.