[jlokier]

I used to work on a hardware compiler written in SML, which compiled a language called Handel to logic circuits for FPGAs.

Mostly I worked on fancy optimisation passes, and a fast gate-level simulator.

Similar to languages like Haskell which emphasise first-class algebraic datatypes (tagged unions) and pattern-matching in a concise but clear syntax, it's good for writing things that manipulate tree-like and symbol-heavy data structures like program syntax trees and circuit graphs, and quickly trying out new ideas with those.