| >Are people not skilled enough to propose or send commits to an existing or alternative programming language? How would those "alternative programming languages" you propose have been created if people followed your "advice"? We'd still be sending patches to C and C++ or perhaps Algol? >What is the primary reason to create a new programming language? 1) Because you feel like it and you don't need to have approval for anybody to do so. 2) Because you want to explore some particular syntax/semantics combination other languages don't offer. 3) As a training exercise. 4) To cover some very specific needs you have, and don't like how other languages do it. 5) To introduce some new ideas into PL design, which might or might not be adopted by users or by a more mainstream language. |
With so many there is also a very low chance of any of them actually picking up because the useless ones drown out the C++es.
I think people should do what they want though. If you want to make a programming language you should, just don’t expect everyone to view your endeavors as useful.
As far as your fifth point goes, new languages aren’t a good way to influence programming in general. Stuff like lambdas weren’t born in some hipster language, they came from JavaScript. Because if you want to influence, you have to make sure people actually see your stuff.
That being said. Making a PL language is a much better use of your time than whining on HN.