>> I haven't tried it, but it looks interesting.
Arc is one of the despicable worthless shit there is.
Arc is the type of shit that when some person becomes famous for his
achivement in some area, who began to sell all sort of shit and
visions just because he can, and people will buy it.
So, please don't mention arc. Mention Qi, NewLisp, Liskell instead.
These are far more effort, dedication, earnestness, as well much more
technical merits or social benefits, than dignitary's fame selling
shits.
Qi is great because it adds advanced functional features to lisp yet
remain compatible with Common Lisp.
Liskell is worth looking into because it is a experiment exploiting
the the nested syntax, meanwhile brings in the semantics of a well
developed functional lang.
Qi and Liskell are very welcome, and non-trivial, addition to lisp
communities that can help lispers get new insights.
NewLisp is great because it is a earnest effort in modernizing lisp,
breaking away the ~3 decades of traditions and thought patterns that
are rooted in Common Lisp and Scheme. NewLisp's community is entirely
distinct from CommonLisp/SchemeLisp, attracting much newer generation
of hobbist and non-professional programers. NewLisp isn't one of the
fashionable new lang created for the sake of new lang. It has been
around more than a decade.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NewLisp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qi_(programming_language)
I support Qi, NewLisp, Liskell. Please mention these in your
socializing chats.
Paul Graham, the author of Arc, of course have every right to create
his lang just like anyone else, and even for the sole purpose of
selling his name just because he can. And perhaps due to his past
contribution in the lisp community, Arc might be successful and
getting a lot users purely due to Paul's fame. However, please
consider the real value of a new lang, from technical to social, and
not as opposed to who's more famous. (for example, technical
considerations can be such as what new functionality it brings, such
as Qi, or what insight it might bring, such as Liskell. Social
consideration can be such as whether it bring the ideas of lisp to
entirely new segments of society, such as NewLisp.)
See also:
What Languages to Hate
http://xahlee.org/UnixResource_dir/writ/language_to_hate.html
plain text version follows:
----------------------------------
What Languages to Hate
Xah Lee, 2002-07-18
Dear lisp comrades and other concerned parties,
First, all languages have equal rights. Do not belittle other
languages just because YOUR favorite language is a bit better in this
aspect or that. Different people have different ideas and manners of
perception. Ideas compete and thrive in all unexpected fashions.
Societies improve, inventions progress. Lisp may be a first in this or
that, or faster or flexibler, or higher level than other languages old
and new, but then there are other languages the like of Mathematica &
Haskell & Dylan et al which ridicule lisps in the same way lisp
ridicule other languages.
Just because YOU are used to more functional programing or love lots
of parenthesis doesn't mean they are the only and best concepts. The
so-called Object Oriented programing of Java fame, or the visual
programing of Visual Basic fame, or the logic programing of Prolog
fame, or the format-stable syntax of Python fame, or the “one line of
Mathematica equals ten to one thousand lines of lisp” of _A New Kind
Of Science_ fame... all are parts of healthy competing concepts,
paradigms, or directions of growth.
The way some of you deride other languages is like sneering
heterogeneousness. If unchecked, soon you'll only have your sister to
marry to. Cute, but you do not want incest to become the only sex.
Next time your superiority complex makes you sneer at non-lisp or
newfangled languages, remember this. It is diversity of ideas, that
drives the welfare of progress.
Now, there is one judgmental criterion, that if a language or computer
technology fits it, then we not only should castigate at their
missionaries, but persecute and harass the language to the harshest
death. That is: utter sloppiness, irresponsibility, and lies. These
things are often borne out of some student's homework or moron's dirty-
work, harbored by “free” and wanton lies and personal fame, amassed
thru ignorance.
Of my short but diligent industrial unix computing experience since
1998, i have identified the following targets:
* C (and consequences like csh, C++)
* vi
* Perl
* MySQL
* unix, unixism, and things grown out of unix. (languages,
protocols, philosophies, expectations, movements)
In our software industry, i like to define criminals as those who
cause inordinate harm to society, not necessarily directly. Of the
above things, some of their authors are not such criminals or are
forgivable. While others, are hypocritical fantastic liers selfish to
the core. When dealing with these self-promoting jolly lying humble
humorous priests and their insidious superficially-harmless speeches,
there should be no benefit of doubt. Tell them directly to stop their
vicious lies. Do a face-off.
As to their brain-washed followers for example the not-yet-hard-core
unix, C, or Perl coders rampant in industry, try to snap them out of
it. This you do by loudly snapping fingers in front of their face,
making it sound like a ear piercing bang. Explain to them the utter
stupidity of the things they are using, and the harm to their brain.
IMPORTANT: _teach_, not _debate_ or _discuss_ or falling back into
your philosophical deliberating indecisiveness. I've seen enough
criticisms among learned programers or academicians on these, so i
know you know what i'm talking about. When you see a unixer
brainwashed beyond saving, kick him out of the door. He has became a
zombie who cannot be helped.
There are other languages or technology, by itself technically are
perhaps mediocre but at least is not a egregious irresponsible hack,
therefore does not deserve scorn, but sometimes it comes with
overwhelming popular outrageous lies (euphemized as hype). Java is a
example. For this reason, it is equally deserving the harshest
treatment. Any loud proponents of such should be immediately slapped
in the mouth and kicked in the ass in no ambiguous ways.
Summary: all languages have equal rights. However, those utterly
SLOPPY and IRRESPONSIBLE HACKS with promoter's LIES should be severely
punished. It is these, that cause computing industry inordinate harm.
Meanwhile, it is wrong to haughtily criticize other languages just
because they are not your cup of tea. Now, please remember this and go
do society good.
Xah
∑
http://xahlee.org/
☄
