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Programming language design
Here, I try to share some of my researches around programming language design. It’s a fascinating topic that every software engineer should study and follow. Other than books and blog posts, there are some podcasts that share interesting conversation around the history and design of different programming languages and their history and evolution.
Introduction to programming language design
Programming language design is the process of defining the syntax, semantics, and features of a programming language. It involves the development of a set of rules and conventions for writing and implementing software in a specific language.
There are several factors that go into the design of a programming language, including the intended use of the language, the target audience for the language, and the goals and constraints of the language’s design.
The syntax of a programming language refers to the way that code is written and structured. This includes the rules for naming variables and functions, the use of punctuation and whitespace, and the organization of code into blocks and statements.
The semantics of a programming language refer to the meaning of the code and how it is interpreted by the computer. This includes the rules for evaluating expressions, the way that variables and functions are used, and the control structures (such as loops and conditional statements) that are available.
There are many different features that can be included in a programming language, such as data types (such as integers, floating-point numbers, and strings), operators (such as arithmetic and logical operators), and built-in functions. The choice of features included in a programming language is often guided by the intended use of the language and the goals of its design.
In general, the design of a programming language is a trade-off between expressiveness (the ability to express complex ideas and algorithms) and simplicity (the ease of learning and using the language). A language that is too complex may be difficult for developers to learn and use, while a language that is too simple may not have the necessary features and capabilities to solve real-world problems.
