Re: C# is not Dylan (was: Re: C# : The new language from M$)

To: info-dylan@ai.mit.edu
Subject: Re: C# is not Dylan (was: Re: C# : The new language from M$)
From: David Hanley <djh@ncgr.org>
Date: Fri, 7 Jul 2000 21:15:03 -0400 (EDT)
References: <57D01C66CBEFE28E.0140FBE2F42B8951.48F3FDB0A810D9E0@lp.airnews.net> <m3zoo7w69a.fsf@cadet.dsl.speakeasy.net> <huvjls0t6hfio3htr0r1ee3bk57b0th1dr@4ax.com> <c29g0pxbubg.fsf@nerd-xing.mit.edu> <kpamlscdjl89ihfhsdk3d4rinoa1hji78j@4ax.com> <bruce-3485B7.01374830062000@news.akl.ihug.co.nz> <m2u2ebzfyf.fsf@gododdin.internal.jasmine.org.uk> <58rolsg17q7154fdf6dq5l038rbbnl10jt@4ax.com> <3171354053463029@naggum.no> <j7175.9050$Zr5.877270@typhoon.ne.mediaone.net> <3171366678290484@naggum.no> <395C9ACA.5272174C@thecia.net> <kib75.251582$MB.4396963@news6.giganews.com> <fto75.10724$Zr5.951646@typhoon.ne.mediaone.net> <m2og4hajrm.fsf@euler.axel.nom> <Goq75.11081$ZI2.229846@news1.rdc1.on.wave.home.com> <sf8zvjqwzg.fsf@bstde026.bbn.hp.com> <slrn8m2hft.eq8.neelk@brick.cswv.com>
Xref: traf.lcs.mit.edu comp.lang.lisp:54363 comp.lang.dylan:12421



Neel Krishnaswami wrote:

> Jens Kilian <Jens_Kilian@agilent.com> wrote:
> > "Michael T. Richter" <mtr@ottawa.com> writes:
> > > That's the first time I've seen someone describe a profusion of parentheses
> > > as "clean".
> >
> > Hint: Write down a grammar for Lisp.  Write down a grammar for Dylan (or C,
> > or C++, etc.).  Compare their sizes.
>
> FTR, I disagree with Michael, but your response doesn't have the
> answer you apparently think it does: Dylan is the smallest of all of
> these -- Dylan plus its special forms is substantially less complex
> than Common Lisp and its special forms.

I would disagree that special forms which are amenable to macros
are part of a language's syntax.  But that's not a factual thing, but an
opinion.

dave

References: