a million times this. Having written programming languages, this is the best adv... | Hacker News

Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit

login

mathgladiator on Feb 4, 2014 | parent | context | favorite | on: So you want to write your own language?

a million times this. Having written programming languages, this is the best advice to give. First, you focus on what makes you language novel, interesting, and special; once you know that have something worth while, you sit down and invent the syntax that makes it pretty and readable.

ahy1 on Feb 4, 2014 [–]

So what if the syntax is (part of) what makes your language novel, interesting and special?

mathgladiator on Feb 4, 2014 | [–]

From my experience, syntax tends to align with bike shedding. Semantics, on the other hand, tend to be nuclear reactors.

Consider applying for YC's Spring batch! Applications are open till Feb 11.
Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact