----- Forwarded message from Yukihiro Matsumoto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -----
Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 03:29:46 +0900
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Yukihiro Matsumoto)
Subject: [ruby-talk:17165] Language desgin
Hi,
Here's my answer to the question about language design.
|dear yukihiro
<snip>
|I have visited Ruby site and downloaded the source, I liked it very
|much, I'm interested in developing a similar type of language, but
|I'm not sure how to start, can you please guide me or give me the
|information where i will get the information on designing a language?
I'm not sure I have proper information for you about designing
language. Three little things I can tell you are:
* learn as many language as possible
You cannot invent everything by yourself. You can rely on
forerunners. There're tons of languages you can learn from.
* listen to your heart
You will be the first user of your language. I think it's good to
design a language that satisfy YOU. If the language makes you
feel good, it probably satisfy others too.
* don't go too far
If you want your language to be used by many, stay as traditional
as possible. Drastic changes may appear cool, but it would result
otherwise in most of the cases. Of course you want to introduce
something new in your language (unless you don't need to design
a new language, do you?), I think it's better to focus on a few
new thingy.
Hope this helps.
matz.
----- End forwarded message -----
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