 How an idea becomes a C# language feature?
started 6/9/2004; 12:33:21 AM - last post 6/11/2004; 8:45:52 AM
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Ehud Lamm - How an idea becomes a C# language feature? 
6/9/2004; 12:33:21 AM (reads: 7092, responses: 5)
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Dominic Fox - Re: How an idea becomes a C# language feature?
6/9/2004; 3:01:40 AM (reads: 400, responses: 3)
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It does seem as if many of the requested "language features" are the sorts of things that LISPers would do with macros...
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Ehud Lamm - Re: How an idea becomes a C# language feature?
6/9/2004; 3:44:14 AM (reads: 391, responses: 2)
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It is rather syntax directed isn't it? 
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Noel Welsh - Re: How an idea becomes a C# language feature?
6/11/2004; 1:46:21 AM (reads: 189, responses: 1)
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Yeah, it seems a bizarre approach to language design to me. Is syntax really the limiting factor? I've had no problem expressing logic, functional and OO features in Scheme...
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Peter Van Roy - Re: How an idea becomes a C# language feature?
6/11/2004; 8:45:52 AM (reads: 161, responses: 0)
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We use a very different approach. The two limiting factors are simple formal
semantics (the new 'feature', whatever it is, must result in a language with a
simple semantics) and efficient implementation (the new 'feature' must introduce
no hidden complexities). We reason in terms of a simple core, a kernel language,
and syntax enters the picture only later on. Of course, syntax can take up much of
the actual discussion time and ink, especially in designing how linguistic abstractions
expose the concept.
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Ziv Caspi - Re: How an idea becomes a C# language feature?
6/13/2004; 3:41:21 AM (reads: 104, responses: 0)
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Noel: Is syntax really the limiting factor?
Yes, it is (IMHO, of course). I'd even go further to say that a feature with a hard-to-get syntax won't be popular with its users, to the point that they won't use it unless they are really power users. Users would rather simulate such features using features whose syntax they can easily remember.
(BTW -- I'm surprised that a Schemer asks this.)
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