Bizarre

This idea — a dataless programming language — at first, sounded bizarre to me.

A programming language that had no data?

Now, I find the idea more useful than Javascript, C, or, dare-I-say Common Lisp.  I don't even bother with Python or Rust or …

I first learned the technique in 1980 in a compiler course using S/SL (Syntax / Semantic Language, not Secure Socket Layer).

The essence of S/SL goes far beyond compiler-building.

Software Design in Layers

It seem "obvious" that we want to build software in layers.

Build-and-forget.

We just can't seem to do it, though.

Dependencies trickle throughout our code when using standard software techniques.

To build layered software:

• we must remove dependencies.
• To learn how to remove dependencies, throw away all crutches.  
• Don't use npm, make, asdf, etc. 
• Don't use any language that provides a + operator (or cons, or …). 

Gulp.

Function Calls, Handles, Control Flow

Use only function calls, internal and external (aka foreign, aka deferred) function calls, and use the least amount of control-flow possible.  

Handles to Data

Refer to data, but don't manipulate it directly.

This used to be called handles.

If you need to increment a variable, call a function.

For example, replace

a = b + c

with

assign (aHandle, plus (bHandle, cHandle)).

Compilers have become better.  

Compilers can do function inlining.  

Don't waste brain-power doing what compilers can do for you.

Loop

What is the simplest form of loop?

Not for.

Not while.

It's:

loop

  …

  exit when …

  …

end loop

Recursion is loop.  

How do you write the above recursively?

DRY

Don't waste brain-power doing DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself).

Have the computer/compiler do it for you.

Git, diff and friends know how to recognize code commonality.  It's time to lift up the game a notch, and to get git/diff/etc. to do DRY for you.^[1]  The Dragon Book^[2] shows how.

Software Architecture needs RY, not DRY.  Cut/Copy/Paste.

[Maintenance Engineering needs DRY.  Maintenance Engineering is not Software Architecture.]

S/SL

https://research.cs.queensu.ca/home/cordy/pub/downloads/ssl/

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[1] Is Cordy and Roy's NiCad this kind of thing?  I haven't read up on it enough.  https://research.cs.queensu.ca/home/cordy/software.html#NICAD

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compilers:_Principles,_Techniques,_and_Tools