Show HN: Imba – I have spent 7 years creating a programming language for the web

Article summary

The author, Sindre, has spent 7 years creating a programming language called Imba, which compiles to JavaScript and aims to make web development more productive. Imba has a unique syntax and features such as memoized DOM and built-in tags. The language is now ready for public consumption, and the author is seeking feedback. Imba can be used for both frontend and backend development, and it integrates with Node and the npm ecosystem.

Main themes

• Imba language
• web development
• syntax and semantics
• performance optimization
• language design
• JavaScript comparison
• web components
• framework separation

What commenters say

• Some commenters find Imba's syntax and features to be innovative and useful for web development.
• Others argue that Imba is more of a JavaScript preprocessor than a full-fledged language.
• There is disagreement about the naming of keywords, such as 'const' versus 'con', with some preferring shorter names and others valuing clarity.
• Some commenters appreciate the potential of Imba for building web components and its performance benefits.
• The use of 'const' in JavaScript is discussed, with some pointing out that it does not always guarantee immutability.
• The idea of using type annotations to simplify syntax is also proposed.
• The separation between the Imba language and its framework is questioned, with some wondering if the language can be used independently.
• The support for web development features, such as websockets, is also discussed.