The seven programming ur-languages
9 hours ago
- #ur-languages
- #language families
- #programming fundamentals
- Fundamentals in programming involve mastering patterns like iteration and recursion, which differ across language families, leading to distinct 'ur-languages'.
- Seven ur-languages exist: ALGOL (imperative/structured languages like C, Java, Python), Lisp (macros and code-as-data), ML (functional with Hindley-Milner types), Self (object-oriented message passing), Forth (stack-based and parser-replaceable), APL (array-oriented operations), and Prolog (logic-based search).
- ALGOL is the oldest, dating to Ada Lovelace and early computers, with modern languages often incorporating features from other ur-languages like Self (OOP) and ML (functional concepts).
- Lisp, second oldest after Fortran, uses prefix expressions and macros, enabling language redefinition; it influenced AI research and development environments.
- ML languages emphasize first-class functions, recursion, and type systems, with variants like Haskell (lazy) and OCaml (merging OOP).
- Self represents pure object-oriented programming without classes, influencing Smalltalk and JavaScript; programs modify live environments rather than text files.
- Forth is stack-based with reverse Polish notation, allowing grammar replacement; used in embedded systems and PostScript.
- APL operates on n-dimensional arrays with terse symbols, influencing tools like NumPy and used in numerical/financial contexts.
- Prolog uses facts and rules for logic programming, enabling searches; applied in niches like type checking and database queries.
- For learning, start with an ALGOL-family language, then SQL (from Prolog family), and explore other ur-languages to broaden problem-solving perspectives.