Re: A few things I would like to see in a new programming language.

> > Therefore, it should be possible to understand the 
> > program when 
> > reading it in a natural way. Lines at the top should 
> > not need 
> > to reference things which are below. When you are 
> > writing a book, 
> > you are warned to reference material which is 
> > explained further 
> > on. Why do language developers insist that their 
> > languages are 
> > "more simple" when they break this golden rule? 
 
 
Oddly enough, this was one of my favorite features when I learned 
Haskell. Why?  Because when I'm comprehending somone else's code, 
that's how I think.  I try to get a high level idea of what the 
functions do, and then dig down deeper if I need to.  The Haskell 
syntax facilitates this process:  the first line gives you an 
overview, and then the lines following 'where' let you in on the 
details, indexed by variable name.  I don't think this style should 
be mandatory, but I like having it available. 
 
> > In the end, even a fool should be able to write 
> > working 
> > programs. 
 
I heartily disagree with that statement.  A programming language 
should be as simple as possible, but no simpler.  (Who said that? 
Dijkstra?)  When you try to make programming simpler than it really 
is, you wind up with Java (hopelessly verbose and inexpressive) or 
VB (baroque).  We're in the business of solving problems, not of 
making the problem-solving process look like child's play.  I don't 
think code should be needslessly obfuscated, but too many horrors 
have been committed in the name of "simplicity" (COBOL, anyone?). 
 
~Avdi 


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