A few programming language features I'd like to see (2023)
13 days ago
- #syntactic-sugar
- #logic-programming
- #programming-languages
- Hillel Wayne's newsletter discusses 'microfeatures'—small conveniences in programming languages that enhance usability without major changes.
- E's quasi-literal syntax allows safe construction of values in other languages (e.g., SQL, HTML) using templates, improving safety and convenience.
- Datalog/Prolog as a sub-language proposes separating logic, control, and interaction in programming, focusing on pure logic for core algorithms.
- Teleo-Reactive Programs (TRP) offer goal-driven, reactive execution, useful for robotics and complex retry logic in everyday programming.
- Design by Contract suggests annotating methods with pre- and post-conditions for automatic checks and documentation.
- Combining pre/post-conditions with a STRIPS planner could automate method calls to achieve desired states, though debugging might be challenging.
- Responses highlight alternatives like Common Lisp macros, Raku's flexible syntax, and the Actor model as related concepts.