On 12/02/2015, at 12:57 AM, Shayne Fletcher wrote: > > On Wed, Feb 11, 2015 at 7:26 AM, john skaller <skal...@users.sourceforge.net> > wrote: > Ocaml lacks the ability for the end user to extend it. > > In the context of this discussion, I don't think that is entirely correct. > As of 4.02, OCaml has "extension points" (-ppx). See this post > http://www.lexifi.com/blog/ppx-and-extension-points. > t.
I had an argument with Minsky about this :-) I do not like it at all. However, it is only a pre-processing feature. It doesn't allow Ocaml code to be extended. It's also a supreme hack, unreadable crud, all so Minsky could continue to use his Emacs IDE (because it doesn't actually change the Ocaml syntax). What Felix does is much better and bad luck to IDE weanies with weak IDEs that can't be extended. (I use Vim as a weak IDE and have no problem extending it, but Ocaml IDE support often does a lot more like mouse-overs showing function types). Ocaml does have Dynload, which *does* allow extensions. However Dynload has some serious limitations since it mandates preservation of a rigid static typing system. It also requires having an Ocaml compiler available. And it's only available with either bytecode or on x86_64 processor with native code. Felix of course has a similar dynamic loading scenario using plugins: there are (theoretical) static typing constraints. However, Felix is "in principle" an interpreter of text. So extensions on the front end are more like Ocaml with a pre-processor running bytecode. The problem is Felix runs Ocaml native code. We can't afford the compiler to be bytecode, its too slow. So in practice, extending flxg with library code can't really be done by Ocaml's extension features. Dypgen+OCS scheme is much more powerful, natural, and too bad if you think an IDE is more important than a language. Felix isn't Java. You don't need a complex IDE to write, read, or refactor it. In fact flx IS already an IDE. It's just a command line based one. If I can get SDL to actually work and get the idiots to put mouse capture into it, we might end up with a graphical IDE for Felix anyhow. I already have a (extremely slow) syntax colouring editor written. -- john skaller skal...@users.sourceforge.net http://felix-lang.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dive into the World of Parallel Programming. The Go Parallel Website, sponsored by Intel and developed in partnership with Slashdot Media, is your hub for all things parallel software development, from weekly thought leadership blogs to news, videos, case studies, tutorials and more. Take a look and join the conversation now. http://goparallel.sourceforge.net/ _______________________________________________ Felix-language mailing list Felix-language@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/felix-language
