Programming Language Theory has a public relations problem

10 months ago

Programming Language Theory (PLT) is misunderstood by outsiders, seen as cryptic and impractical.
PLT is appreciated as a pure mathematical art, requiring education to fully understand.
Theoretical work in PLT is often overhyped for practical applications, leading to disappointment.
PLT lacks the interconnectedness seen in other branches of mathematics, making it harder to build upon previous work.
High levels of abstraction in PLT make it difficult for newcomers to grasp.
PLT is inherently hard due to the complexity and vast design space of programming languages.
Solutions include being honest about PLT's beauty, creating better introductory materials, and simplifying proofs.

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