Changelog Master Feed The Roc programming language (Changelog Interviews #645)
6 snips
Jun 11, 2025 
In this discussion, Richard Feldman, creator of the Roc programming language and author of Elm in Action, shares his passion for crafting user-friendly programming languages. He explores Roc's unique features, including static dispatch and purity inference, extending Elm's ideas beyond frontend development. Feldman compares Roc's performance and memory management strategies with mainstream languages and delves into its relationship with Large Language Models. He also highlights the innovative handling of algebraic data types and the importance of community support for Roc's evolution.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Static Dispatch Simplifies Methods
- Roc uses static dispatch to combine functional programming with method call syntax.
- This simplifies extending functionality like custom equality without classes or inheritance.
Prioritizing Compiler Speed Over Self-Hosting
- Roc's compiler is written in Zig for speed, rejecting self-hosting to retain safety.
- Fast compile times enhance developer experience with instant feedback cycles.
Platforms Enable Domain-Specific APIs
- Roc platforms tailor APIs and I/O to domain-specific needs like CLI, GUI, or web.
- Swapping platforms allows secure sandboxing, e.g., safer script execution by restricting unauthorized access.
