Why Janet? (2023) (ianthehenry.com)

Article summary

The article discusses the author's experience with the Janet programming language, a Lisp dialect, and why they think others should give it a chance. Janet is described as simple, distributable, and having a unique set of features such as parsing expression grammars and embeddability. The author highlights the language's ability to compile to native executables and its small standard library. The article also mentions the author's book on Janet, available for free online.

Main themes

• Janet programming language
• Lisp dialects
• Language simplicity
• Distributability
• Parsing expression grammars
• Embeddability

What commenters say

• The syntax of Lisp-like languages, including Janet, can be off-putting to some due to its use of parentheses, but others find it unambiguous and easy to parse.
• Static typing is not essential for a scripting language, but some argue it is still useful even for small programs.
• Janet's performance is comparable to non-JIT Lua and is suitable for most scripting tasks, although it may not compete with compiled or JITed languages.
• The use of AI-generated content is a significant problem for online communities, and finding ways to keep AI out of these communities is a challenge.
• Some argue that the distinction between scripting and non-scripting languages is not meaningful, and that implementation details such as AoT/JIT compilation are more important.
• Janet's unique features, such as its parsing expression grammars and embeddability, make it an attractive choice for certain tasks, including text processing and scripting.
• The importance of syntax in programming languages is debated, with some arguing that it is not a significant factor in choosing a language, while others believe it is crucial.
• Online communities are exploring ways to prevent AI-generated content, including the use of webauthn credentials and whitelisting permitted devices.