What programming languages and language features are under 10? [closed]

Answer 1

I'd say C# latest additions like LINQ, extension methods, lambda expressions and the rest are relatively new. If they are not big right now, they will be.

ASP.NET MVC though it is not a language feature is going to be big (I am almost sure), though I know many will never accept it.

Answer 2

The D programming language is just under 10 years old. Its unique features include transitive const (everything reachable from a const object is also const), compile time function evaluation, and the ability to annotate functions as pure and have them statically checked by the compiler for side effects visible outside the function. Also included is a template system that puts C++ templates, Java/C# generics, etc. to shame:

1. Variadic templates that "just work" for unlimited numbers of arguments.
2. Strings, floating point numbers, and function aliases can be template parameters.
3. The static if statement, similar to what exists on paper in C++0x, is actually implemented and works.
4. String and template mixins, which allow the injection of arbitrary parametrized boilerplate code into any place in your source, and for arbitrary compile time code generation. In the extreme case, this has been used by Don Clugston to build a matrix math library that actually parsed code given as string literals at compile time and generated optimal inline assembly code for these operations, before the compiler's code generation stage.
5. Structs can be represented as tuples, allowing iteration over their fields. This allows for some interesting generic programming with structs.
6. Ridiculously powerful compile-time reflection/introspection. I once wrote a function template that could deep copy any struct as long as no runtime polymorphic class objects (which compile time reflection simply can't work on) were involved. This was done using only compile time reflection. No runtime type information was used.

Answer 3

very much looking forward to Boo.

Boo is an object oriented, statically typed programming language in active development since 2003, which seeks to make use of the Common Language Infrastructure's support for Unicode, internationalization and web applications, while using a Python-inspired syntax1 and a special focus on language and compiler extensibility. Some features of note include type inference, generators, multimethods, optional duck typing, macros, true closures, currying, and First-class functions.

Answer 4

Lot of "new" language target one or the other well-in-place VM, namely JVM or CLR. It allows to concentrate on design of syntax and "philosophy" more than on implementation (leveraging existing optimized VM, GC, libraries, etc.).

Interestingly, some languages target both platforms, like the Fan Programming Language.

Other languages just translate themselves to another language (usually C), thus relying on some portable or local optimized compiler to do a good job.

I found Haxe interesting because it targets several languages/VM: JavaScript, Flash, NekoVM or even PHP.

As others said, it is hard to find really new concepts, today. Partly because a lot have been explored already, partly because lot of programmers are lazy and confused if a new language doesn't use a familiar syntax (I saw lot of complaints of people in the Lua mailing list, requesting the use of { and } instead of do/end -- see also complaints against JavaFX not being Java...), let alone a new concept!

Answer 5

The Scala programming language is under 10 years old (I believe it was originally released in 2001) and could be claimed to be the first:

• Real-world scalable language (e.g. from scripts and implicits to actors and modules). I'm saying real-world because some will claim others, starting with Lisp, were first here, but I believe Scala's Java compatibility, object-oriented features, type system etc. make it different
• Real-world fusion of functional and object-oriented programming (e.g. having higher-order functions, but also state and static typing). I'm saying real-world again because while e.g. Oz is older, I believe Scala's compatibility and pragmatism make a difference